Day 29 - Saturday 15th July 2000

Horsens - Ellidshoej
153 km. Total 4600 km

"In spite of ourselves we'll end up sitting on a rainbow"

"Why are you doing this", Kerstin from Sweden asked me when we met in Stadt Lauringen in Germany?
Of course I tried to give her a bright reply, and I believe I succeeded in creating a plausible explanation. But it is a very difficult question indeed !
Why are we doing this"
"Is it to get home again"?
Could be.

At any rate that was item number one on the agenda, when I packed my tent this morning. I did not do it as careful as I normally have done, because I knew that the next place to put up the tent would be on my very own lawn.

I did not feel well at all this morning, and I was very happy that I had ridden so long the day before.

Horsens had nor risen, when I very slowly passed through. In my opinion there is something absolutely fascinating about a sleeping city.
It's quite different from what you normally see. You pay attention to other things.

East Jutland is a very hilly area, but with a lot of patience it is possible to get through.

Skanderborg - Stilling.
Now I pass towns, where I have been many times before. Everything is well known.
I even saw a sign, which showed me the way to Hadsten.
Dear me, I don't need that kind of signs. I know where Hadsten is. I didn't even need a map any more. It's stowed away in my bag. I have no idea where it is.

The weather was wonderful.
I think I am going to write that again to make sure I make myself clear.
The weather was wonderful.

I had coffee and rolls at a well-equipped gas station in Sabro, which apparently acted as a local super market. I was served on by a very pleasant young man, who was interested in a little bicycle talk.

In my family we sometimes play a little game. Before we go into a shop we decide that we are going to provoke a smile to appear on the person, who serve on us. It is amazing how easy it normally is to make this project work. But sometimes it demands a little energy from yourself.

This day there was no need to play this little game, because the young man was prepared to establish a good contact to his customers. An incident like this I can spend quite a long time on, after I have taken up the ride again.
I "play" it on my internal cinema.

Randers: Now I am able to put forward a qualified guess as to when I can cross the border to Ellidshoej.
Near the harbour in Randers I witnessed a big boy on a bike overturn a younger lady who was also on a bike. He did not even stop. She had to help herself to her feet:
bastard!

Hadsund. This was the place where I took one decisive decision: I wanted to make a phone call from Skoerping and order my welcome committee

After Astrup I could prepare myself for the big pleasure it always is to ride through Rold Forest. If you don't know this forest, you really have something to look forward to.
In Skoerping I went into a gas station to borrow their phone. I made an arrangement wih the home government, that she was going to leave right away and we thought we'd meet in Stoevring.

It was wonderful to see her again. "
Oh, how you have changed", she exclaimed when she spotted my explorer-beard.
"You have to get rid of that before the end of the day", she added.

I mumbled something, she could nor hear, and we tackled the last few kilometres.

"I think the mileage recorder will stop on a fine round number", I said when we left Stoevring.

Just before the entrance to Ellidshoej, we made a stop.
I turned around and looked south.
" We could use a sign here showing the direction to Vysoke Myto", I thought be myself. "And when they are in full swing, they might just as well put up a Silvretta sign.

I think that would be very useful. "

CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE

"Dear me, it looks just the same", I said when we wheeled up the main street in Ellidshoej, where the green gable of Apotekervej 1 became more and more visible.
"Look here, the mileage recorder ended on 4600 km", I said with childlike enthusiasm.

I moaned a little, when I for the last time got off the bike.
"Finished" I said.

Very careful I placed my procession against the wall.

"Any mail", I said and went into the house….

EPILOQUE

This is where the account of my month on the European roads ends. Of course things could have been tackled differently, and probably also much better, but never mind about that now.

To me the trip was a fantastic experience, and I hope that others can get a little pleasure from joining me on the luggage carrier. If you have enjoyed my story a little bit, please send me a small letter: Getting positive letters always make me very happy.
hcand@daks.dk

I also have something to say to the people, who have found my diary boring, stupid and a waste of time. Please press any "Back" button and find something else to read.
Then I pretend, that you enjoyed my story, but forgot to write me. I have no need to hear about all the things I made wrong. I know I am not perfect.
But I am able to live on in ignorance of that fact.

And one last thing: I think it's time to start preparing the next expedition: Too much carelessness in this country.
See you.

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