Denmark en.

A few reflections on Germany (Well the bit of the W coast that I saw).  The scenery is similar to W coast Holland, North of the dunes, and that would go with the first few km of Denmark as well.  Saw much more rape seed being grown as moved further North as well, though no idea what  the subsidy set up is!
Having come through Holland, Germany and now well into Denmark, a huge generalisation would be that many of the Germans I had brief dealings with were more dour, though there were others, like the farm hand who stopped to enquire if I needed any help fixing my puncture, the Bank Manager in Ditzum who locked my bike away and invited me to the cake shop opening, and Mica, Gerhard and Granddaughter Charlotte who  sorted out accommodation, internet access and all the little 'extras' bread, milk, eggs and jam!
In mentioning these people I can't forget Sophie and Joop who basically gave me a house to use, and then insisted that I eat with them!   A couple at a camp site, who's names I should have written down, offered to take me to a bike repair shop, and not forgetting the UK, Simon who provided coffee and then locked me up for the night!  All with the best intensions!!
Starting to get a bit carried away there!!  Back to business............

Let's start with a day off!!  Wednesday 15th May.  0730 overcast, showers forecast.

Marie & Nihan, Scientists!!

But a bright start to the day as two lovely young ladies joined me for breakfast!  (see pic).  Nihan (Right) is Turkish and is doing her Master's and I'm sure she said was on  an exchange for some months but due to go back to Turkey shortly.  Marie has done her masters and was covering the 'field work', assisted by Nihan, on the Predation of Lapwing in this part of Denmark.  The work involved driving off into the sticks on predetermined routes and stopping points, then 'nightlighting', using a powerful spotlight to shine out to the sides of the pickup to see what could be caught in the beam.  Work started around 2300 and finished around 0300 with part of the following day set aside to fill in the log sheets, so breakfast consisted of the day's caffeine fix, a choice of muesli, assorted yogurts, fruit.  A variety of bread rolls and sliced breads, butter, various cheeses, sliced meats and an assortment of jams, honey etc and more caffeine, along with tales of families of fox cubs playing by the road side, a few adult foxes spotted along with numerous sheep posing in the glare of the spotlight!
Marie, also an enthusiastic cyclist, had done a group tour in China and had stayed on alone to spend more time cycling around.

The rest of my day off:  Cycled into Hojer to the Dagli Brugsen!?!  Turns out its a store by the Mill where I was able to get a padded envelope to send home maps no longer required.  They also made a fine coffee (two free top up's!)  and a cake I had to try, potato and apple!  I guess it was potato flour in the mix, rather than a load of mash!  Anyway, which ever it was very nice.  The local ladies lace making group also meet there, and it's part of the mill museum.  Next on the list was to try The Famous Hojer Pulser!  Yep, another one ticked off.
Bike back to the B&B by the Hojer Kanal, eat, early bed!

Potato and apple cake with cream, much nicer than it sounds!
Plus coffee and two free top ups!

The Ladies of the Lace Making Guild

The Hojer Windmill

Thatched house in Hojer

Thursday 16th May.  Hojer - Ribe.  Bike loaded up pre breakfast and apart from last minute bits was ready for the road.  Well stoked up on breakfast goodies, carb loaded, it was another 'into the wind' day!  Said goodbye to the science team, It was only a few minutes after I'd set off that they drove past me waving through the pick up's back window as they headed back to Århus University. 
The route to Ribe was pretty straight forward, a mix of roadside cycle lanes, dedicated trails away from traffic and surfaced / gravel farm tracks.
The route for the most part followed the sea dyke, cutting past the Romø turn off, Brøns and turning off at Vester.
At Vester there were two options, Left, out to the coast, North for 6.5km, a right turn and 5km into Ribe  and to the right, follow a minor road for 8km through Sonder Farup and Oster Vedstead.  No contest as far as I was concerned. The outskirts of Ribe were fairly predictable, small industrial areas, some more modern apartments rapidly changing to much older properties towards the town centre.
Ribe is listed as the oldest Scandinavian town and is well worth a visit if you're ever near by.    

                                        

Church in Ballum on way to Ribe.

Assorted views of Ribe (Oldest town in Scandinavia)

The Cat's Head Door, Ribe Cathedral

The Cat's Head Door, Ribe Cathedral