June 23rd
Back in the day, Midsummer was celebrated from the 24th to the 25th of June. Back then, this midsummer festival could last up to four days. Whether the change to the current model was orchestrated by employers’ groups from Eteläranta 10 or by health care substance abuse experts, I couldn’t say. I can imagine both would have been quite positively encouraging towards the process! Now, however, Midsummer is nearly over. The celebration has ended – but the heatwave continues!
Our Midsummer Eve culminated in an early bedtime in the back garden of a pub. The morning of Midsummer Day, unlike before, was quicker than usual. The day was mostly spent busily working on the boat. We can truly say we spent a very different Midsummer, and this is one we will definitely remember.
This Midsummer Sunday included a refreshing morning shower, a breakfast dominated by bread and yogurt, and a trip to the North Sea coast of Germany. We checked the maps and decided to go to the beach. It was a good decision. The views there were quite impressive, albeit shaped by human hands. So-called old Europe is entirely one big open-air museum, with even its farthest corners increasingly influenced by human activity. Hopefully, the restoration decisions will hold, and the remaining pockets of original nature will be preserved for future generations to admire.
After our beach outing, we stopped by the nearby small town of Greetsiel with the intention of having coffee and something savory to eat. A charming café complex built in an old windmill beckoned us, and after finding a parking spot, we settled in to order some snacks. There was nothing savory on the menu, so we opted for something sweet – with whipped cream! And boy, did we get sweetness – and whipped cream. We won’t be craving that for a while! It was the kind of snack a cardiologist would definitely recommend! Eva left part of her chocolate cake unfinished, and I tackled the two-person portion of whipped cream since Eva isn’t fond of it. And they weren’t small portions. I might need to double my cholesterol medication for a while…!
As we set off again, we realized the drive to Travemünde harbor was a little over three hours. For Tellu, it takes about four hours! We have plenty of time to reach the harbor vicinity by tomorrow evening. Eva set our destination to a campsite with sanitary facilities in the navigator. It was just over a 15-minute drive away, so we had plenty of time to reach it before the evening quiets down. There are quite a few vacationing citizens here, lounging in the afternoon sun in fairly tight quarters. In Finland, there would be a lot more space and better swimming spots. Maybe we should start marketing it?
Eva prepared us a meal with the chili con carne we brought from Jette’s place, served with potatoes. We had a pleasant video call with Nossim in Tanzania, and soon Eva had a choir Zoom session. Technology is amazing and enables so much.
Tomorrow, we might avoid the main roads and take a leisurely drive towards Travemünde. We’ll write again from there. Bye for now!