Tønder 2023

Today was very much a job to get done. Lovely ride though it was I wanted it out of the way. I wanted to know I could do it and to know that all of this hadn’t been a terrible idea.  With that in mind, I decided to call it a half day. It was about 50km so hopefully more than half, but it was easy quick riding and it just took me the afternoon. 

A whizz through Flensburg for camping gas (bought none brand, it leaked and the whole canister was empty by the morning) then a visit to the harbour. Somewhere in my head a plan has formed that involves doing a loop and ending up back at Flensburg so I fancied that as an anchor point. As ever, to get out of a seaside town there was a climb but it didn’t last long and wasn’t too tough. 

A trundle along suburban streets, into the woods, down a little lane and into Denmark. I wouldn’t have known the border without electronic mapping. The art installation of some stocks followed closely by - shall we call it a toy store for grown ups? - certainly made statements, of what I’m not sure. 

Through the town and I was into rural Denmark. In the main smooth roads (one short gravel section but you can’t complain at that. An older Danish gentlemen and I had a good natter about it, I nodded and gesticulated along, threw in the odd word, told him where I was heading which seemed to be the right answer - no idea what he was saying). 

After a bit of a slow start I found my stride, or pedal I suppose, especially as I was buoyed along by the most elusive of all cycling conditions, a tail wind. It was a little too hot but as ever I didn’t really want to stop. I did persuade myself that needs must so I topped up my water (from the extra I was thankfully carrying - no shops after the ‘toy’ emporium) and ate the last of my sweets.   I arrived at the site just after 4. Reception has closed but instructions say to pitch up which I dually did. 

Tomorrow I’m heading over to the coast to see how far I get.