Thursday, August 30: Rain overnight (one shower), overcast during the day
Sea kayaking: 4.9 km
Home
The plan was for an early start: Up @ 7:00, leaving by 9:00, with the hope of reaching home some time in the night.
All of the coffee, sugar and milk were put into one cup; Kirsten offered her milk as well, but by the time I had put it into the coffee I noticed that it was curdled (hardly detectable smell of lactic acid). Then everything was packed up for the last time and we were away half an hour before plan.
Interactive Map
The final trip across the sound to the mainland was nothing much but at least it offered an opportunity for all to enter the bay together and reach the slip which had been our starting point. Van and trailer were in the best condition, boats were unpacked, and the rubbish was collected in one spot. After putting my stuff in the trailer and packing my backpack and bumbag I took off to reconnoiter the area a bit. Found a rubbish dump & a toilet and reported that back to Philipp.
Then it was a quick trip for those who needed it to the toilet & the rubbish dump. I was told that a code was needed for the regular toilet, but the handicapped toilet didn’t require one, so everyone used that. Then the general rubbish container also appeared to be locked, except for one opening on one side & in went the rubbish. With that out of the way, everyone piled into the van and Max & Franzi were taken to the central station to await their bus; the rest of us were en route to the supermarket just to the south of town where we stocked up for the trip home (except for me as I still had some muesli bars).
Back on the road for a second breakfast (which seemed to contain quite a bit of chocolate) Jörn offered me some baguette, but it cut the gum @ around tooth 2.4, which was painful for the rest of the trip (in fact, 2.4 had finally broken apart). Then the back row (Kirsten, me & Jörn) went to sleep sitting up for most of the way to Malmö.
Philipp had been unpleasantly surprised by the Øresund toll (nearly €200) and wanted to try the Helsingborg ferry (around €50) but could get no information online, so we had to go there and ask first. He found the price acceptable & we were soon on he boat and in the restaurant deck watching the rapid approach of Hamlet’s castle on the other side.
Here is where a bit of time was lost, as we were soon in Copenhagen’s rush hour, with bumper to bumper traffic. Once out of there things moved much more smoothly and after a stop near Nyborg – where we had stayed the night on the way up – we approached the German border as night fell.
We were in Norderstedt to hand the boats in at around 10:30; we dropped Jörn off at his parents’ place and were then in a construction site heading for Hannover.
Final destination was arrived at just before 1:00. I gathered what I could carry together, leaving the cooker, gas bottle & empty water bottles for collection later. Philipp had been right about a tram (the very last one on a weekday) leaving in my direction @ 1:42. There were hugs all around to conclude with, then Jan, Simon & I made our way on foot, Philipp was taking the last three – Kirsten, Lena & Rouven – onto their destinations to south of town.
I had a little while to wait, but at least I wouldn’t be needing a taxi. Got some weather forecast in the tram. No bus was waiting at Misburger Str, so I had to walk the last bit. Although we had had some rain (especially in Denmark) the sky had cleared in the evening and the last quarter of the moon was clearly visible.
Back here at just after 2:00 had to take two disprin for the tooth and wash my mouth out with the disinfectant mouth wash, fire up the fridge, shower, discovered that the bathroom light had been left on the entire time, reconfigure the lighting in the flat. Then it was time for one still quite warm beer & a couple of others that were reaching a drinkable temperature before turning in just before 4:00.
