Wednesday, July 11, 2007

Departure and misshaps

After last minute packings, we finally got going. Many hugs to the ones we left behind and then we were off. We had to get some Danish currency so I took the team to Malmoe through the back roads in the neighbourhood. The ride to Malmoe went fine, except that we were pulled over by the police who did a routine alcohol check on everybody that passed. We were sober enough so we could go on.





In Malmoe, Nimbelle died. It turned out to be a loose connector. Then Nimrod died. We could not determine what it was. So, we parked down the harbour and I snuck away to get cash from the FOREX exchange office in the central station. When I got back, Nimbelle had fallen over Miles who got his legs stuck below. MAN! Miles was a bit sore but nothing serious, it seemed, so we set off through Malmoe, via the Turning Torso building to the Oresund bridge.










We went through Copenhagen to JC Nimbus to say good bye to our friends, get some last moment advice from John and grab a quick lunch that I had been mashing in my saddle bag. We took the motorway around Copenhagen but Miles calf went from bad to worse, and so did the weather. And the traffic. The team was at a certain low at this stage especially since Miles new kick stand just folded up when he was to park his bike.





We decided to ride on a bit and see how things developed when it suddenly dawned on me that we were actually in Ishoj, south of Copenhagen. I got a good friend there (Jan Hauge) and we fired a shot into the dark and called him up. Lo and behold, the man was at home! His wife Kirsten was sleeping when we tip-toed in to have a closer look at Miles. Bad bad swelling but no broken bones. We ice packed Miles' calf and wrapped it in an elastic bandage. Miles had a few pain killers and was much better again, so we could continue through the rain. Jan gave us directions for how to get on an alternative road and we managed to cover ALMOST the entire planned distance, regardless of all the misfortune we had had. We parked at a nice (but wet) camping in Maribo and set up our tents. We did not have the strength to go shopping so we bought a beer or two from the reception, a bag of crisps, a small bottle of red wine and then we cooked Tortelini on the big kerosene cooker that Miles has on the back of his bike. We all slept soundly that night and next morning, we were soon off to new (wet) adventures.

1 comment:

Patootzie said...

Dear Larses & Honorary Lars,
May your first day be the broken glass at a Jewish Wedding.
("This should be the worst thing that happens to you on your voyage!)
Lucky you passed on the booze
at breakfast.

Thank God for Good Friends and tortellini!