Day 351 5th July
11 miles (Trelleborg to Travemunde) Average speed 8.9 mph Top speed 21 mph
I was up at 6 as I didn’t trust the alarm or myself not waking up. I made tea and toast with pate and went in search of a shop to buy more food for the ferry. I tried the 7/11 at a garage but too pricey for me, I managed to find a baker’s and bought a fresh loaf cheaper than the supermarket’s. I followed the signs for the ferry and joined the queue of lorries. I waited about an hour to board, these places should really have a cafe, they would be raking it in.
Before boarding I re-packed my bags to make it easier once on, but overloaded the dodgy front pannier. As I was going up the ramp I lost the screw for it, so now I had to repack with tools and spares to see if I could fix it. On board the kids’ cinema or gambling machines didn’t appeal but the sun deck with outside plugs was a bonus. I charged batteries, bought a coffee and had some lunch. I also noticed several insects about my person, including ants and an earwig, no wonder people were giving me a wide berth, they must have been there since six.
Then just as we were docking at Rostock I discovered the gym and sauna with spa baths were open and only cost a two pound deposit which was returned when producing the entry card. Why had I waited so long to ask!!! So I had an hour and a quarter of luxury but forgot to bring a towel so used the hairdryer in the gym shower.
The afternoon was spent sunbathing, reading my book and more charging batteries. As we docked I realised it’s only 50 miles to Hamburg, so decided to stay in Travemunde tonight. So with a campsite in mind and not far to go I joined the mass of lorries and sucked up their fumes on the way out of the docks. Before long though I arrived at the campsite so bought a beer from the shop but unfortunately they don’t take cards so I had to go into town to get cash. I’d got so used to paying by card for everything in Sweden I didn’t realise. Once back I paid, set up and went for a pizza next door to campsite.
It was good to be back in the land of reality pricing. As I sat with a beer about to go to bed I was joined by a friendly field mouse. After a day of ferry travel I feel more tired than cycling 60 miles and my shoulder is no better from the dive.
Camping Ivandorf 13 €