Day 26 – Brande to Esbjerg – Safe Return Doubtful

59 miles (95 km) – Total so far: 1,528 miles (2,458 km)

Great food last night. Each night there is a special and it was the Danish national dish, not surprisingly pork, potatoes and beetroot. Tremendous. No sign though of any change to the weather early this morning. Heavy showers peppered the tent me I took a chance to get packed up between them (and failed) at just after 8:30. Despite last night’s dinner being so good, breakfast cheese sandwich was not, cheese not a Danish speciality.

I had planned to stay clear of as many main roads as possible and this worked quite well. It added a few kilometres but the riding on quiet roads is enjoyable, whereas the main roads with no shoulder is not. Though the wind was less in the morning, I was still into it, and the showers were as heavy as ever and very regular. Swings and roundabouts – less showers in the afternoon more wind, back up at 25 mph plus, and tough riding again. For the last 4 days there has been no freewheeling, the hills aren’t big enough, and the wind is too strong.

I had a close escape when a vehicle passed me at speed on one of the main roads. I had plenty of room, but his right wheels went through a dead creature – unpleasant parts of it flew up, and I just dodged them. Innards of some description. It was almost as bad a situation as when I had dozed in the States a couple of years back and ridden through a dead rodent.

I was headed to Esbjerg as its one of my free hotel nights (from 1 in 10 free from work nights). It isn’t the most attractive city, but very quiet at present, and cheap.

Distance 59.2 miles Time left 10:50 am Time arrived 6:10 pm Time riding 5 hours 2 minutes Height gained 359 metres