We arrived safely back to Harwich after a peaceful crossing. Unfortunately this crossing will cease to run later this month. There may be an alternative via Hull or Newcastle but otherwise planes are the only way.
On the ferry we exchanged experiences with other cyclists had done the same route as ours and one couple had been touring Denmark. All had only positive experiences to relate - interesting the latter couple had sent their bikes packed in cardboard boxes from a local dealer - using BA not the Irish Plight. No problems at all.
As I had been "ordered" to bring home loads of Danish Cheese and several jars of Herring a lift awIted me on the dockside whereas Darren conttinued on pedal power - I was a bit envious, it was a lovely day.
At home three very enthusiastic dogs greeted me, and it took a while until calm set in.
So what is the overall impression:
THE GOOD SIDES:
Relatively easy to follow routes , although we often got lost in the country side where signposting was scarce. One of the other couples on the ferry had used the Garmin Edge Touring which had a much bette battery life than our Garmin 800 (and much cheaper too!
The guidebooks were excellent but came with a weight penalty, and are written in German.
The locals were generally helpful, espec. as we made it further north.
Bike shops are mainly geared for a different kinds of bikes but the bike shop Radsport Cycle Factory on Max Brauer Allee in Hamburg, and the bikeshop on Industrivej in Ribe were absolutely fantastic.
The road surfaces were in general excellent - in some places with attacks of "tarmac acne" but in general, and especially towards the end they were as smooth as silk .
LESS GOOD SIDES:
Very flat and somewhat uninspiring landscape. Lovely if you are fond of "sheepish dikes". Most towns were best forgotten - Leer, Emden, Hamburg, Elmshorn, Glückstadt, Wedel, Büsum, and Ribe stood out from the crowd.
Lots of closed shops - are they so rich in Germany that they can stay closed until Christmas?
No hotel had any tea or coffee making facilities on the rooms. Very disappointing and we just had to drink more beer!
But the great things about these road trips are the ability to inhale the landscape at a steady pace, chat to the locals (easier if you speak more than one language, unless of cause it is theirs), see a completely different(cycle) culture - I had a chat with our Mayor after the service in the cathedral this morning and urged him to use his influence to improve our local facilities.
The bikes behaved well - mine was just a love affair from start to finish; in spite of it loosing a few teeth and requiring German (made in Japan) dentures. But as Frank in the bike shop in Hamburg said when I told him about my bike selection at home and why I had chosen the Mercian " jah, das Mercian , es hat Soul!" And I could not disaggree with him there.
So even though the song is ended the melody will linger on for a long time and I will soon look for new challenges! Thanks for all support and incredulity at our adventure.
