On the road to Valhalla.

Odense to Kerteminde via Fyns Hoven – 46 miles.

Odense was a pleasant city. I probably didn’t see it on the best of days because it was raining on and off all day. I get a feeling of Denmark being a well ordered society. People seem to conform and I don’t see much evidence of poverty.

I can’t comment much on the nightlife of Odense as I was in my room before 9pm.

This morning I partook of the hotel breakfast. There is always a good selection of foods at the buffet in Denmark and Germany.

Despite pressure from my brother, David, I am not visiting the town of Middlefart. It is on the very west side of Fyn island. I was concerned that I might follow through into Jutland!

No, I have travelled north east instead. I wanted to visit the Viking ship burial museum at Ladby. I got caught in a heavy shower about 10 minutes out but apart from that I stayed dry.

This is the actual excavated ship under its earth mound. The way they have lit it makes it look a bit strange.

It is the only Viking ship burial site discovered in Scandinavia. For some strange reason the local King was buried in the ship with 14 of his dead horses.

This ship has been recreated using traditional techniques.

It doesn’t look very big or particularly fierce. Apparently there are 32 rowing positions. I can’t imagine Kirk Douglas and Tony Curtis running along the oars!

The indoor exhibition was all in English so that helped my understanding. I know that Odin’s wife was called Frigg and our Fridays are named after her….and….when the Vikings died they went to Valhalla. I will have to look it up on Google Maps. I’m sure I can get there on this trip.

My accommodation is another hostel in Kerteminde. I went straight there to drop off my bags as I was too early for checking in. The town and harbour look good and the weather was drying up too.

The town is split across two sides of a bridge that spans the Kerteminde Fjord.

I had the afternoon at my disposal so I rode north up to Fyns Hoved. Fyn is the island and Hoved is the Head. There were a few small villages on the way. It was very scenic and a great ride.

Halfway up I stumbled across this Craft and Harvest Festival. This was an occasion where I would have needed Krone currency to buy from a stall. I didn’t want to buy anything but one lady on a fruit stall gave me a free fig, grown in her garden. It was scrumptious.
I watched a bird of prey hunting over a long grass field. It was bigger than a kestrel and not a buzzard or Kite. My best guess is a brown Goshawk.
The clouds can quickly look menacing. It was very windy.
This was at Fyns Hoven from the highest point I could find.

Back to Kerteminde hostel to settle in. I had a little bit of personal administration to do.

Then, back into the town to forage for food. I had a pizza from one of the supermarket. Warmed up on the spot and I could eat it in the cafe rather than getting blown to Valhalla outside.

It was a lovely sunny evening. Very quiet, especially on a Saturday evening.

I am sure that the holiday season in Denmark has finished. The harbour was packed with smaller leisure craft. The town looks quite affluent.

I have an action packed day planned for tomorrow. I will be a ‘Will O’the Wisp’.

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