#EURO 2012 on bicycle 2

ENGLISH VERSION:

25/5-12, The First days on the bicycle...

It felt so great to pull out of the driveway, turn right and know that a bicycle journey to Ukraine and the EURO 2012 had begun.
On the first kilometers children walking to school joined from the secondary roads, and their radiance was so confident that for a moment it felt as if we had switched roles.

When I coincidentally entered this room, it was like to visit an isolated village in Indonesia, everything felt so different. Someone said strange noises, others made grand gestures and a few reacted with drumming at the tables; one guy stood up and walked so close to me that I could feel his breath swirling against my face. They touched my arms, studied my biking outfit, they offered me a glass filled with an indefinable lukewarm liquid. With gracious eyes they awaited an explanation of my unannounced visit.
And so I explained to a guy - who's function now was to translate - that I just were in search for drinking water.
To make it clear for you: I had ended up in a room for disabled persons who were employed by a furniture company to assemble and pack spare parts. I had cycled against the strong headwind all day, had got three flat tires and an undramatic crash in the middle of a traffic light. For many hours I had not spoken to one a single person. All these factors made me vulnerable and extremely sensitive and therefore this meeting in many ways touched me. I left with a water bottle filled with water and a whole lot of “good luck”.
I only got to Schleswig, but felt so far away from home...

First flat tire. And definitely NOT the last
Where: Kolding, Denmark

First border crossing and definitely NOT the last!!
Where: Krusaa, Denmark

In Schleswig I was hosted by an older lady by the fjord. She lived along with her teenage son and was obviously happy for company. She gave me two hearts, one for me, one for someone I might meet that would have need of some extra love. So sweet of her...
With hearts in my luggage I went with an average speed of 27 km/h to Hamburg - the last two hours on the bike I hardly remember.

On www.couchsurfing.org I was invited by a travel blogger on this very day - he stuck his head out the window at Barmbeker Strasse with the words "Herzlich Willkommen", I felt immediately at home. He produced a little video about my recent years with the passport in my pocket and no future concerns at all, which he will use on his blog site www.back-packer.org (I'm uploading the video here once it's done).

Tonight we go down to the Elbe to have a german “currywurst” on the BBQ. Listening the sounds of summer and German pop music.

A different way to the EURO2012 is already rolling and even though unimaginably many miles of biking are waiting ahead for a farmer like me, it has been such an adventure that I can't wait to continue!

/T-spotter