monday, 28th of july - 45 km by bike, 50 km on a ferry, 33 km by bike

another morning without breakfast, but i felt much better than yesterday. i just cycled along and within a few kilometers a fancy little shop showed up, eaststyl . i asked like always and kalli, the friendly and funny shopkeeper had a fine breakfast for me. 

other people there were interested in my project as well, and for the first time spontaneously someone wanted to join. well, she gave me her change instead, but it was a nice gesture. 

that was enough food to let me reach rostock around noon. i would have liked to sneak onto the ferry, but there was no way to do that. the ticket was not too expensive and i have money left over for the next ferry i need to take. 

some of the nicest experiences are unexpected. at the ferry terminal there was a bistro. it looked very much like a typical ferry/ train station or airport terminal restaurant and i didn't expect to get any food. but i only had kalli's sandwich so far, so i had to try. surprise, not only did i  get a real meal,  the entire staff was very interested in what i'm doing. another guest took notice, too and even donated some ferry money.

happy with my gifts i got on the ferry later, with lots of other cyclists (mostly families). 

two hours later i set foot on scandinavian soil the first time in my life. as everyone had told me, danish people are very friendly and helpful,  so i dared to cycle on, even though it was past five o'clock. i wanted to reach the bridge to lolland, to have less to travel the next day.

what struck me as unusual was, that i hardly saw any people, restaurants or small shops. the only one i found, donated a bunch of rolls and bread.

up north the days are longer, so i managed to get to lolland. when i started to look for a place to stay, i couldn't find anybody to ask. lolland seemed to be deserted. 

it was almost dusk when i saw two men working in a garden. they told me, that  in danmark there are places, called shelter, purpose built for people needing a place to stay. their daughters would show me one. they also lent me an isomat. 

as we got there it turned out to be a place for bbq. i wasn't too happy, but the girls were so happy to have helped me, that i didn't have the heart to reject this offer.