Day 116: Hello Ostsee

Day 116: Hello Ostsee

Berkendorfer Forst to Jellenbek

Distance: 40km

Continuous downpour followed the thunderstorm, which meant I had the shelter quickly to myself and I settled in for my second night in Germany.

Some noisy birds wake me up well before 5 o'clock. Since I planned on starting early anyway, I don't mind. By 5:30 I'm on my way to Eckernförde. Surprisingly, it's quite a bit of up and down across somewhat hilly terrain. Like during the previous days the scenery is a mix of forest and open fields. Around noon I arrive in Eckernförde. A busy seaside town. With a mostly overcast sky and temperatures around 15 degrees Celsius not too many people feel like hanging out on the beach though. 

From Eckernförde the trail follows the sea. More or less at least. Sometimes it goes inland for no obvious reason. Therefore, I sticked to the beach or close to it, rather than following the trail. It's soft sand, sometimes gravel. Not easy to walk on. Yet, I enjoy every step because tomorrow I will already leave the beach and won't step onto one again until I reach the bottom of Italy. 

And because of that I really want to jump into the water today. Despite the water temperature of 8 degrees, despite the rather cool weather. It takes me a while, nearly the whole of today's beach walk, until I find the motivation to jump into the water. And once again, it's only a quick dip. Yet, I actually feel quite happy I did it. 

Once completely  dressed and on the move again, it's only a couple of 100 meters to Jellenbek, where I'm trying out "1nitetent" (people open their lawn for campers) for my very first time. A bit like couchsurfing but for camping. Hedda, my host meets me at the beach. Together with her son, we walk to their lovely A-frame house. I pitch my tent in their garden, light a fire and enjoy a nice evening around the campfire together with my host.