browser icon
You are using an insecure version of your web browser. Please update your browser!
Using an outdated browser makes your computer unsafe. For a safer, faster, more enjoyable user experience, please update your browser today or try a newer browser.

Day 121

Posted by on August 5, 2019

Start:  Heiligenhafen 

Finish:  Puttgarden

Distance:  17

Total:  1828

Today I reached another major milestone. I completed my walk across Germany by reaching the Baltic coastal town of Puttgarden.  It was 642 miles across Germany and it took 42 days to walk it, with 4 of those days being days off. Tomorrow I take a short, 45 minute ferry ride across the Baltic Sea to Rodyhavn, Denmark, where I’ll start walking across my 5th European country.  

Today was a picture-perfect day to walk; partly cloudy skies and mid-60s temperatures. I walked along bike paths most of the day, and had a big bridge to cross from the German mainland onto Fehmarn Island at about the 7 mile mark. I followed a very narrow walking path along the traffic lanes of the bridge and shared the lane with bikers and walkers going in both directions on the bridge. Once I reached the far end of the bridge, there was a noticeable increase in the number of hikers, bikers, campers, and other vacation activities. Fehmarn Island is about 10 miles wide and is predominately farmland, but there is also a significant number of vacationers too. 

At lunch, I stopped in the town of Landkirchen, where I shared a picnic table with Hanelite and Will Hannore, a delightful German couple who were out riding two of those bicycles I mentioned yesterday that are assisted by an electric motor when the rider is peddling. I asked Hanelite about hers. She told me they’re called E-bikes. Specifically, I wanted to know how much one costs.  She thought for a second, and then said 3,500 Euros. I thought she misunderstood the question, or I misunderstood the answer. 3,500 Euros is $3,900 U.S..  I checked online when I finished the day and sure enough, they start at around $2,500 and go up from there. We talked for a while, even though Will spoke no English. Then they went peddling away on their two $3,900 E-bikes.

After lunch, my route took me winding through farmland on some back roads.  When I got about 30 minutes from my hotel, I saw a combine working it’s way through a wheat field and it looked like it would get very close to me just as I walked by the wheat field.  I’d been hoping for this ever since I started seeing this year’s crop being harvested. I pulled out my iPhone and took a video. You can see it by clicking on the video tab at the top of this page.  My friend Brad Johnson will be particularly happy that I made this video. 

Tonight’s hotel is right next to the ferry port. Tomorrow morning I’ll have a five minute walk to the terminal. The ferries run twice per hour. After I get to the Danish port, I need to convert some money from Euros to Danish Krone. In fact, all three of my remaining countries; Denmark, Sweden, and Norway; use their own currencies.  That will take some effort to keep straight. Then I’ve got a 17 mile walk to the town of Sakskobing, Denmark to spend the night. 

I think that about wraps up Day 121. Germany was great. I loved the scenery, food, climate, and especially the walking/bike trails. Now I’m looking forward to the last 30 days of this adventure. Thanks for reading. JB. 

Taking the bridge from the German mainland to Fehmarn Island.

Meet E-bicycle riders Hanelite and Will Hannore.

Hanelite’s $3,500 E-bike.

A windsurfing shop in Landkirchen, Germany.

Walking into my last German town, Puttgarden, on Day 121.

Looking out my hotel window at tomorrow’s ferry port.


0 0 votes
Article Rating
Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments