Early rise

The ferry from Trelleborg to Rostock departs at 8:30 AM and my tent is still 4 km from the harbor. The night before, I also receive an email from the ferry company: be present one hour in advance. So, an early wake-up call.

Sleepless night

I can’t seem to catch any sleep. Whether I’m getting older or this is normal, I always feel nervous when I have to travel. This time, I’m particularly worried about my alarm clock. I’ve lived without one for four months. Will it work? Will I wake up? Can I find the harbor with my sense of direction?

Help, how do I get to the ferry?

As a result, I hardly sleep and leave very early. I’m more than 1.5 hours early at the harbor. And that’s just as well. I see the ferry, but there’s no way to get there. High fences everywhere and as a pedestrian, you can’t enter through the vehicle entrance either. There’s no one around to ask.

Nearly missed the boat

Eventually, I see a shuttle bus on the other side of the fence. I wave and make contact with the driver. He shouts: ‘At the hotel!’ So, I walk all the way back. When I get there, nothing seems to be happening. Desperate, I walk into the harbor building. And sure enough, there are three other cyclists and pedestrians. The ticket counter will soon open for passport control and then the shuttle bus will take us to the boat. Thank goodness I arrived much too early. Otherwise, I would have missed the boat.

Fighting against sleep

The six-hour ferry ride is comfortable, but I’m fighting against sleep. In Rostock, the next challenge follows: finding the station where my FlixBus to Amsterdam departs. Walking from the harbor proves impossible. So, more hassle with tickets, a bus that doesn’t come, and eventually I also get off at the wrong stop. Because of that, I see little of Rostock.

Suffering in the night bus

The bus is full. Next to me sits a large man, making it hard for me to move. I barely manage to sleep. A few catnaps, nothing more. At half past seven in the morning, I finally arrive at my accommodation. Two nights of almost no sleep. And of course, sleeping there is also impossible. Next time, I’ll plan such a trip in multiple stages.

Fear of not waking up

Four months without an alarm clock and then ending with sleepless nights because I’m afraid my alarm won’t go off. Well. I’m back for a bit.