I was going to go out for a walk on the esplanade this morning as breakfast wasn’t until 8, but the owner was outside watering his garden so talked to him instead and watched the wildlife in the park across the road. There was a solitary squirrel and 10 magpies, which he said he’d never counted so many at one time. The tide was once again out and lots of mud flats showing, it’s just about high tide now at 7 pm. He said that it’s the second longest low tide in the world.

From there I drove about 25 minutes to Apex Park in Highbridge, where the first event was. Met some old friends and lots of new people too. The area was lovely with a lake in the middle, with a great walk around it. There was also a wildflower meadow which was blooming well. Lots of ducks and herring gulls of various ages so lots of different plumage on show.

I got a lift up the road to the next event, at a pub, lol. Had lunch and sat and chatted. Then I walked back to my car at Apex Park. The GPS said 17 minutes walking, but it took me nearer 75 as I detoured a little bit here and there. Also lots of people and their dogs to talk to. lol

Waited 20 minutes back in the car park so I didn’t have to pay for that bit of an hour and now back in my room. Thinking about going downstairs for dinner.

 One magpie Breakfast view Apex Park

Something disturbed the chickens early this morning, they were all cackling and making a fuss, and then instantly they were quiet. It was amazing, how instant it was, not even a little squawk could be heard.

I packed up my case, and left lots behind that I really wasn’t going to need for the next 4 days.

Helped Cathy doctor a poor little chicken, one of her favourites, with nasty scale mites on her legs, and then loaded up the car and headed for Somerset.

Had a few slow sessions on the motorways but basically it was quite good. I did stop at lunchtime at the Membury Services. My stars what a busy place and quite a range of shops and even a hotel, but definitely priced for travellers!!

The GPS said 3 hours 44 minutes and taking off the time for lunch I did it in just over 4 hours.

Have parked in a public carpark as the street parking is all taken up. I didn’t have any change, so tried the pay by phone option. Followed the instructions, didn’t work, tried the phone number and had a message saying due to inclement weather they were closed, lol (The weather here is lovely). Then found one of the parking inspectors and she suggested I tried the App, so I downloaded that and finally managed to get that working, so paid for parking until 7.09 as it was either 4 hours or 24 hours! Checked into the hotel. I have a great room overlooking the pier and beach.

Went for a little walk, then back to the room, then I got a message from Theo and so walked around to where he and Doris were for a chat. I think I must have met up with Theo in 4 different countries now.

Had to pay for another 3 hours of parking as it’s free from 10 pm to 8 am. as breakfast is at 8 I’ll have to buy another hour, lol. Just as well I did tonight’s, I was 6 minutes late, and the inspector was checking my licence plate against his list just as I paid it!! Back at the hotel I had some dinner and am now sitting here, typing, looking out of the window and watching the wood pigeons finding their roosts in the big conifer out front.

Whilst I was walking along the esplanade I got a message from Ann. She used to hold online egg decorating lessons which Zack would participate in. She is going to meet me here on Monday, which will be lovely, finally meeting her after all these years, she and Zack used to have some great conversations after the lessons.

 Room with a view Same view, low tide

Slept better but did have a laugh at the sole rooster crowing at 3.15, he did go back to sleep lol. After breakfast I located Jeremy & Cheryl’s on my GPS and headed to Great Leighs. Actually managed to find our old house as all the roads are different. Had a quick drink with J & C and then Jeremy and I headed for Southend-on-Sea. Did a little munzeeing on the way, nice to have a driver again. Once we found a parking spot we headed for the pier, which is the longest in the world at 1.3 miles. We caught the train almost to the end and walked the rest of the way to the old bell right at the end.

Then the train back and a stop in Westcliff-on-Sea for fish and chips, very nice. Drove home and popped into Jess & Keith’s for a chat. Cathy is now home, she felt air-sick the whole 13 hours, poor girl, and still not sure how she’s feeling.

Off to Somerset tomorrow, I’ve been told that the 3+ hours the GPS states it will take is very inaccurate, LOL.

P.S. to last night. Had a lovely dinner with Jess & Keith, lots to talk about. Got back here sometime after 8 and bed!

Had a fairly restless night, and woke early, then all the roosters started crowing which was great. I did try to count them. Had breakfast and bundled up some washing to take over to Jess and spent the rest of the day with her and Keith. It was a lovely day indeed.

Actually hung the washing on a clothesline with real pegs, lol, not something I’ve done in a long time.

Jess took Roxy for her walk up into the fields and I tagged along. It was lovely out, even though everyone is complaining it’s hot (it’s not really, lol) it was rather overcast, but occasional sun & blue patches. All want some rain as they haven’t had any for weeks. Philip has a conservation strip along that track and it is wonderful. Lots of wildflowers, butterflies and bees. Also a spider with a fantastic web whilst she sat in a little funnel waiting for the bugs.

After lunch we all went around to the side garden to watch the little birds. Jess scattered some food and we sat and waited. Apart from sparrows, there was a robin, who didn’t stay long and chaffinches. At the bird feeder a couple of different tits and a goldfinch as well, it was great.

In the afternoon Jess did the rounds of the chickens again, having done a morning one. Collected a few more eggs, scattered some food around. The colours and patterns of the bantams are delightful.

Then a yummy dinner and I headed back to the house so I could write this. Had a nice chat with Philip and petted the dogs Brandy, Tawny & Penny, though Fi is still dubious about me, lol.

Woke up at midnight and didn’t get back to sleep until 2, so was feeling rather sleepy when I awoke again at 4.45. Tried to go back to sleep, but unsuccessful, so headed down to breakfast at 7. Then back up to room to re-pack the suitcase and hand luggage.

The airport bus stop was apparently across the road from the train station, but the only one I could find was for Billund Airport, so went into the info counter in the station. The wait time would have been way to long, so figured if I waited outside I would see the bus eventually. To my surprise, I actually saw the bus stop as I was leaving the building, it was further down on the station side of the road, not opposite!!!

The bus soon turned up and it took 55 minutes to get to the airport as it’s a long way out of town. Apparently the planes wait for it if it’s delayed!

The RyanAir e-check-ins weren’t working, but when they finally came up they didn’t like me and I had to go to the counter anyway. Seems like I needed a special stamp on my boarding pass as I had an Australian passport.

The plane was on time and 75 minutes later landed at Stansted. My suitcase made it as well and then through all the usual airport stuff. Caught a bus to the Rental Car Village and sorted out the car. It’s a Volkswagen Golf, the indicator lever is on the wrong side, but it is nice to drive. I set Google maps to Cathy’s place and then took the wrong exit on the roundabout. Drove to the next roundabout and returned, once again took the wrong exit so another roundabout return until I finally got it right, lol. Found the farm and Jess feeding the chickens. Have settled in and am heading over to Jess’s for dinner.

My hotel in Aarhus

Well my last full day here and it was very wet with some lightning and thunder to top it all off, lol. Didn’t do much in the morning, but caught a bus down to the event site, just a little south of the town. Had a wander around and had a hot-dog for lunch. The event site was relocated to a fitness shelter further around the park, as it was the best place under cover. It was interesting actually, it had lots of exercise equipment for all types under the roof, but it was open on all sides and it a relatively small area. Munzee people appeared all in varying stages of dampness depending on whether they had timed a drizzle from the carpark or walked over in the downpour. Everyone has told me this is a typical Danish summer, but I don’t remember it raining when over here on summer holidays, but that was a while ago now, lol. I have also been told they had no rain for 3 months last summer which was hard, the price of fans skyrocketed as no one has a/c here and it was bad for the vegetation too.

Caught another bus back to the city and walked from the bus station. Once again popped into the 7-eleven and got an ecological salad this time, I think it means it’s organic and therefore good for you, lol.

There is an airport bus but it only runs 5 times tomorrow as there are only 5 flights, so will catch the one for the flight before mine and wait there.

PS to last night. It was just over an hour to Aarhus. Once I had checked in and dumped my case, I got directions from the lass at the desk and found a 7-eleven in the nearby train station for some dinner.

The hotel room is tiny, nowhere at all to put clothes and the bed makes funny clinking noises when turning over, lol. But I do have a window I can open, facing the main road!

Had breakfast at 7 and then went back to bed for a while as all these late nights are catching up with me! The event today was at noon, but there was a brunch beforehand at 10 if one wanted to go to it. So I put the name into the GPS and there were 2 with the same name, but as the web page had said café not restaurant I headed for that one which wasn’t far down the road. Found it eventually as it was 2 floors up in a shopping centre, only to find it was the wrong one, of course, lol. Decided then to catch a taxi and headed out to the spot where the event was being held.

Weather is rather cold today, but not raining.  Wandered around, finding munzees and chatting to others, had the goodbyes from the event hosts and then every dispersed off to munzee wherever they needed to. I went down and capped the amethyst garden and then figured it was time to head back to the hotel. 2 km later I found it, lol. Actually it was a nice walk through some older parts of the town but didn’t like the cobblestone footpaths much!

Popped into the 7-eleven again for some dinner and am planning on an early night!!!

P.S. to yesterday. Had a short nap and then took a taxi to the first event. Lots of people and lots and lots of munzees, fun was had by all. Theo and Doris (from Berlin) dropped me off at my hotel and even though still light it was 10.30, so a late night.

Didn’t sleep terribly well, the room was quite warm, but couldn’t leave the window ajar as too many mossies! Breakfast was at 6 and got there about quarter past, only 2 people in the restaurant, so a nice quiet brekky.

Then I headed outside into the rain!!!!!! So different to yesterday, but the same as the day before, rather wet. I’m so pleased I got that waterproof case for my phone. Had a walk around, then back to my room to finish packing and check-out. I left my luggage for them to look after and grabbed another taxi. When I showed the driver the address, he said “Are you sure you want to go there, it’s in the  middle of the forest.” I assured him I did and off we went, he did give a gasp of surprise at the number of cars and people he found at the drop-off point!

Didn’t do much there as it was quite wet still, so they packed up the site early. Anni gave me a lifet back ot the last event place, which accidentally luckily was right opposite my hotel. This area of Denmark is touted as the wild part of the country. The event was held at a nature school in one of these wild areas. It was so nice wandering around it before the hordes arrived, lol. Watched swallows, listened to skylarks and told the very agitated pied wagtails that their babies were safe under the roof. It was fascinating watching them forage and return with grubs, and then disappear under the roof where you could hear the babies being fed.

I walked around for the better part of 4 hours and then headed back to the buildings. The rain had finally decided to stop so there was a bit of sun now and again.

After more socialising and winning a personal munzee, I headed back to the hotel to write up my day and collect my suitcase. Theo and Doris are picking me up around 7.30 and we are all going back to Aarhus. They based themselves in an apartment there and will also be heading to England for the events in Somerset.

Bumblebee and thistle Dog roses The harbour Large snail
Baby swallow feeding tree

Nanna, Lasse and the boys looked after me wonderfully well, they are all lovely.

Today the weather was so much better, blue sky and sunshine with just a few clouds dotted around. Nanna had to go to work today, so Lasse was pleased to have a long weekend! We popped into Ebeltoft to have a look at the frigate Jylland, the world’s longest wooden ship. We climbed aboard for the talk on the cannons and the ship in general and then went out to the pier to listen to a live demonstration. It was only a minimal amount of gunpowder, but it was very loud, would have been deafening with all of the cannons going at full strength.

The ship was a royal frigate, but we did wonder how it fitted 400+ crew, all the necessary weaponry, the coal for the steam engine, all the supplies and the royals themselves.

It was a great ship to explore, cannons still in place, furniture for the royals, enormous anchor chains, lots of other ship accoutrements all on display and a lot of them touchable. A wander through the indoor museum of ship models and then fish and chips for lunch.

We then continued our sunny journey to Grenå and found my hotel, and said our goodbyes. I’m going to see if I can get a nap in before finding my way to the first munzee event as didn’t get much sleep last night and feeling a bit headachy.

Oops, sorry I’m late, been playing Tantrix with Nanna!

Had a lovely day today. Even though the weather is awful. Nanna, the boys and I headed out across the bridge to Fyn and Svendborg Harbour to catch the ferry to Ærø. 75 minutes later we met Inge and Bodil in their harbour. They and the boys went home whilst Nanna drove me around to look at the lovely old houses, all the hollyhocks, the beach and a viewpoint. The later view was rather obscured by rain in the distance, but still all those tones of greys and white make the seascape interesting.

We had a longish lunch in Inge’s conservatory, which would have great views, lol. More chatting and then back to the ferry. Once back in Svendborg we then headed to Rantausmindevej to see Hans Henning, Linda and Jamie. We had afternoon tea, the buns were lovely, and Rasmus enjoyed the chocolate cake! Hans Henning showed us his workrooms. Wow, tools of every size and form all neatly stacked and racked, and the shelves of containers in the other workroom were fantastic, so well organised!!

From there we headed home where Lasse had prepared dinner for us.

It was a lovely day, so good to see so many family, the weather didn’t matter at all.

Oh by the way, my suitcase has finally turned up, yippee, only 2 long days without it!!!!!