Eckenforde to Klappholz – 30km
20C
Terrain: cycle paths and road – a little hilly

So excited to see Uncle Peter and family today, I think I smiled the whole way. I already look pretty loopy with Bob (the looks I get are quite something) so was smiling crazy woman today!

Still needed to get those miles done though. Started in pretty heavy rain so both Bob and I had our rain gear on.

We took our third ferry today. It was tiny with capacity for about 5 cars to cross a 50 meter stretch of water but better than swimming.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the sign on the right, wouldn’t want to misjudge.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Pretty soon after, I turned the corner and came across these little guys, so so cute!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Continued along the way and then shortly before getting to Klappholz where I’d arranged to meet my Uncle Peter, I started to get quite emotional. Flensburg is the end of Stage 1 of this challenge (Unieradz – where my gran grew up – to Flensburg) and I’m almost there, over 500km. While it’s still only really the beginning of the entire project, I didn’t know whether I would even be capable of achieving this and just felt quite overwhelmed with emotion. With everything I’ve been through over the past year, the amazing family and friends who have supported me, coming up with this idea and then actually doing it! Just so incredibly grateful for everything.

So whilst I was in the middle of this self indulgence, mother nature snapped me out of it pretty quickly. Having stopped raining for a while, not only was it raining cats and dogs but also gail force winds and horizontal rain! Not ideal running weather but I was almost there so onwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few minutes later, somewhat drenched and bedraggled, I was ecstatic to see Uncle Peter. He had so kindly driven about 50km from his home to pick me up and take be back to their house.

Here I am arriving with Bob

 

 

 

 

 

 

I’ve just had the most wonderful day. Peter took me straight to the best hotdog place “in the world”, his words not mine but I wholeheartedly agree. We even crossed into Denmark for the pleasure (I have to say, being in a car is an odd feeling at first after going slow for a while).

We went for Kaffee und Kuchen to Nolde Stiftung Seebüll, a museum about the German artist Nolde (hadn’t heard of him I’m ashamed to say but some beautiful art with wonderful colours). Uncle Peter’s lovely wife Marita works there, a new modern building with a fabulous café and restaurant. Apfelstrudel and hot chocolate, happy tummy. I’m going to go back over the next couple of days to look at the art.

I also met the new addition to the family, Bo Peter (after my Uncle Peter who is thrilled – his first grandchild), only 12 days old and absolutely gorgeous.

Got to hang out with my lovely Aunt Regina and then, went to the most amazing meat place in a town called Leck for dinner. It’s called Calli. This is the website http://www.calli-schaschlik.de/ and if anyone is passing by it’s a MUST visit.

They rear their own animals, butcher them and then serve their delicious meat to hungry customers. Total control of the food chain and many many awards to show for it. Yum yum yum.

Leck is where the family settled after the war. My gran’s sisters (Gertrude and Edith) lived there. Gertude’s children grew up there and this is also where my Gran, mum and Uncles visited when they were young.

Excellent company and excellent food, going to bed very happy with last mini stage of my first stage tomorrow. Bring it on.