Some big heavy clouds about as we emerged from our overnight shelter and rode straight out onto the Great Belt Bridge in Denmark. There was a strong, gusting, wind that made the 20km crossing quite 'entertaining', but we managed to get to Odense despite a bit of impromptu synchronised lane swapping.
We had plenty of time to get to the ferry, so rather than sit on a motorway, we picked our way through Odense and headed north to Ottup and then Bogense, just because the Michelin map showed it as a scenic route. An interesting concept 'MapNav', don't you think? Wonder if it'll catch on.
After a very nice run through the Danish countryside and having succeeded in avoiding the showers, we stopped for a coffee in the very nice village of Bogense, before making our way back to the E20 for a short run to Kolding. Then we were off north west again on another Michelin green run up to Billund and Grinsted.
Riding through the quieter parts of Denmark, you could be in rural England I thought, perhaps unsurprisingly. It's definitely cycling country and I reckon that'd be the best way to explore the country's back lanes and byways.
We had a lunch stop in Grinsted, finding a quirky little cafe (at least I think it was a cafe - it was opposite a church and might have been a day centre judging by the clientele) and had a suspiciously cheap smorgasbord.
After a couple of hours wandering around Esbjerg town centre, we arrived at the docks and joined the line with about 30 other bikers of varying nationalities. We ended up chatting to a Cockney, who lived in Gothenburg, and his Swedish mate. They were riding a couple of post-war Harley's, obviously via the UK, to a rally in southern France. A late Knuckle-head and an early Pan-head for those interested? Both hand change, foot clutch jobbies, the Knuckle-head was ex NYPD and the original cable operated siren was still fitted, which works by being forced into contact with the rear wheel (watch a 50's Yank B movie for the sound they make). You should have seen the looks on the faces of the loading crew when he engaged it driving onto the boat :-)
With me mate, while he was still ginger...
We managed a great steak dinner on the Dana Sirena, accompanied by a very friendly, slightly posh, elderly English couple and two Norwegian guys who, it turns out, we're both into their Ducatis in a big way....so you can imagine how the next couple of hours went!
About 10 pm, the boat started to properly rock n roll on heavy seas. The 'G' in SGD became green, so he quickly made for the cabin to suffer in isolation. I sat up and enjoyed the ride.....it's like being pissed, but without spending the money :-D
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