Last day: Glückstadt-Hamburg

The morning started with rain again, so I didn’t hurry with my breakfast and checked out at ten from my B&B in Glückstadt. By the time I left, the sun was shining again and the streets were almost dry, but after ten minutes, I got into a heavy rain shower. Because I was told that there were some bridges ahead that only open once per hour, I continued anyway and got pretty wet. When I reached those bridges, I got the impression though that they are always open to cross except for once per hour when they open for boats.

What was more of a challenge than the rain and the bridges was the amount of sheep poop. My fluffy friends had been going on the toilet everywhere. As there was normally one road behind the dyke and one in front of the dyke, I often had to make a call when there were crossings, which side was less shitty. And sometimes, I had to turn around because I made the wrong call and ended up in places where the road was technically blocked by ankle-deep crap.

On the positive side, I head tailwind and made good progress. Around twelve, I reached the ship welcome point in Stade. There is a restaurant with a terrace there, and they announce every ship that arrives in Hamburg or leaves Hamburg and inform about the size, the nationality and so on. I sat inside, comfortably dry when another shower hit, and continued after one cappuccino.

Half an hour later, I reached the border of Hamburg. I continued down to the Elbe river again (had to take my skates off at one point because the road was too steep and wet) and proceeded towards the stairs’ quarter (Treppenviertel) in Blankenese. Here, I somehow missed my planned end spot, which I noticed two kilometres later. I then considered to continue towards the fish market, but got (a) stopped by a gravel path, and (b) hit by another rain shower. So instead I went back to Blankenese, took off my skates there, and enjoyed a beer.