Wismar to Puttgarden 25th July

Up at 5.30, breakfast at 6.00, on the road just after 7.00. The weather forecast was pretty dire (winds & rain)and we had a train to catch 70 km down an unknown road.
It rained from the start, but fine drizzle for the most part- but importantly no wind.
Again the scenery was green green, with occasional ocean vistas among the rolling farmlands.
We were thoroughly soaked by the time we stopped for coffee at the 35km mark at a charming framhouse (hofladen).
Another 30km through small villages & farmland brought us to Priwall, where we caught the ferry to Travemunde. I purchased my ticket at the machine, looked around to see Pat ready at his bike & proceeded onto our largest ferry yet. I turned to remark on the amazing harbour scene and Pat was nowhere to be seen. He had dilly-dallied and missed the ferry. Luckily they run about every 5 minutes - the volume of traffic in this part of Germany is big.
We had not researched the trip from when we left the Elbe & Travemunde was just a small faint name on the map. But it is an amazing place. The harbour is many km long - I'd say at least 10. It is packed with every kind of shipping from weekend trailer-sailers to cruise ships, big ferries, olde worlde 4 masters and cargo vessels. We ahd booked a night on a ferry back from Sweden & enquired where the carrier was - "5km further down the foreshore". Travemende is also a major holiday destination' with every kind of amusement (bouncing machines, beach games, merry-go-rounds) and food stand (great big tubs od various sweets & big bowls of fruit puch in all different flavours). The beaches have 1000's of these 2-seater stripy cane seats, which apparently you can rent for the season. And needless to say there were 1000's of people to match this setting.
We pushed on to Timmendorfer Strand & caught the train to Puttgarden - at the very top of Germany on the island of Fehmarn. We decided to find accommodation in Germany (it almost feels like home now). But as with the rest of Nthn Germany, they had a wine festival on so not a bed was to be found. After practically crossing the island, we headed for the ever-faithful campground and a had a meal in their restaurant.

25 July Hamburg to Sonderborg (Denmark)
Rod's solo tour
Jumped on a train this morning at Hamburg's Hauptbarnhoff (a large and busy rail hub) to Padbourg on the border of Germany and Denmark. Arrived early afternoon, raining and with no local currency I made a beeline for a bank to get cashed up. With the admin. complete I grabbed a quick lunch and headed for Sonderborg.
The weather improved immediately as I pushed through rolling green hills beside a fjord with a perfect tail wind and a sky that was picturebook blue with big white puffy clouds.
On the way was Dansk Slande IV the site of a Danish fort destroyed in 1864 in a war with their neighbours (Germany). This conflict seems to have been a major turning point for Denmark in the way it viewed the world.
All the Danes so far have spoke perfect English which made it easy to find a camping spot in Sonderborg, which turned out to be very quiet with good amenities. A pleasant after pasta walk took me along the waterfront and finished a nice days touring.