(June 2013) The sun was back the next morning and weather was prime for a wandering adventure, this time with legs instead of cars. We fortified ourselves on blueberry-surprise pancakes, packed hiking essentials and headed off down the road toward the nature paths through the fields.
One thing that was fairly common in these little villages was for people to have things for sale in boxes/on tables/chairs outside their homes. Mostly jams, but also books and odds and ends. It was done on the honor system with cans or jars to put your money in.
There was also a ridiculously adorable, home-grown café on our street in an old, thatched house surrounded by lupins. All the tables outside were full with content-looking persons, many of which were manly men in bright, spandex biker suits, which seemed strangely unfitting in the fairytale surroundings.
The next many hours were enjoyed wandering the field paths for kilometers and kilometers, generally aiming for a sea landing at some point. More golden canola/rapeseed, many cows -- some of which with glorious ginger locks --, young, green wheat fields being stroked by the wind, huge flocks of huge birds in a nearby bog that were close enough to hear with huge noise but behind enough trees to not be seen. Solitary songbirds whistling their own tales around each bend, too.
Our arrival at the sea was as fresh and refreshing and beautiful and peaceful as anticipated and then some. The three-mile-or-so path that led back to our village wound its way along the coast through a pristine nature preserve with many rules that seemed very well followed. Wind, water, quiet footsteps, white wings and little while sails on the horizon.
Once back on familiar sands, I thanked my feet with a wade in the water while they blistered grumpily up at me. I ignored their ruddy scowling and instead giggled at the silly rock hairstyles as they gently headbanged back and forth with each ripple and wave.
There was a photoshoot going on a few meters away, which perhaps shouldn't have been so unexpected in such a picturesque location. This would have been fun to watch had it not been for the Dudes in Black, who were having a ball drinking and heckling the model in a most uncomfortable way.
The adventure circle came to a close back at the apartment and was followed by not moving again until the next morning when we needed to move out. Once packed up and everything as tidy as could be, we deposited the keys back at the Blue and White Chateau and switched back into exploring mode, slowly making our way back to Hamburg. Slowly because we ended up spending several hours peeking/napping around a cute, one-street town on a little strip of land sticking out into the Schlei. It had a little beach, a little harbor, lots of little gardens, great doors (not necessarily little) and a little path leading around the perimeter. One bakery, several artist studios, one of this, one of that, and not much else. Just right.
The sky that day pulled out all the stops for the finale cloud show of our trip. Whisping, twirling, flooping, swooping -- one of everything and something for everyone. These clouds got steadily darker as we neared Hamburg and it started drizzling as we crossed the city line. That was alright, though, as my solar battery had already reached its maximum charge capacity and would keep me happy and fueled for many days to come. Two days later I put my adventure shoes back on and headed to Belgium, but that story is old news on this blog.
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