June 3: Day 33, Bremen-Itzehoe
The room last night had character; it was on the 4th floor and the lift only went to 3. The ceiling was sloped, on one side was waist high so I really could only use one side of the room. The head end of the bed was under the low side; I had a premonition about sleepily getting out of bed at 4am and collecting a concussion. So I slept the other way around.
I avoided the head trauma, but had a dry throat this morning - maybe I picked up a slight cold instead. I'd slept with a window open, to cool the room down because the beds just have a duvet and no matter how I sleep I wake up at some awful hour sweating like a pig... I slept very well but if the cost is a cold, that's a serious dilemma.
Breakfast was so good I have to talk about it. Croissants, for the first time in days. Pastries! Eggs! There was even bacon. I had all that plus cereal and juice and coffee and ran out of space before I was able to try the chocolate pots. Going to remember it for a long time. (Also the place I'm staying tonight doesn't offer breakfast and I foresee a mediocre start tomorrow...)
The route out of Bremen was along a nice tree-lined path; there were quite a few people walking their dogs. Quiet and scenic.
But most of the day was on cyclepaths beside major roads. I can't really complain, because they were wide and safe and had a good surface but I've now been spoiled and think that is the bare minimum. Also, there's very few interesting things along the way; interesting things are kept a safe distance away from the busy road. So the day was pretty dull.
I picked up some lunch at 11; once again there was a good-looking bakery and I wasn't sure when the next one would be. At around 12 I started looking for a nice place to stop and the options were so charmless that I ended up stopping next to a field.
From left to right: The route out of Bremen. Two statues along the way. This was outside the village of Wiste, 800 years is worthy of respect. The day is so mundane that this sign was good enough to photograph…
More road. And more road. Some light hills. At about 2 I figured I'd earned some more calories so I looked for cafes on Google Maps. Nothing nearby; but there was a good one 10km ahead in the next town. I suppose I should get used to this; in the far north there's probably nothing at all... but I cycled the 10km and had the best chocolate cake this week.
After that there was more road, getting passed by a road bike, very polite drivers causing delays while waiting for me to cross at intersections. The sun came out, the headwind did too; I pressed on.
From left to right: cyclepath beside road. Cyclepath beside road - there was 100km of this. Lunch; so exciting I took a picture. On the ferry.
The only interesting thing this afternoon was the ferry over the Elbe. It's a big roll-on roll-off ferry, and I guess there are three or more because the one I was on got underway the moment another one came into view, and the same thing happened when we got to the other side. Busy crossing.
Then, more road. (Surprise.) Got to Itzehoe about 6 with no excitement, which is on brand for the day I suppose. My throat is still dry so I might take a rest day. Unfortunately today's hotel is not so nice, so I'll aim to do that tomorrow night, in Flensburg.
What I’m listening to: Increasing Ambition / Michna: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8eGkhlbBig
More chillish techno. To go with an uninspiring day.
