{"id":3143,"date":"2026-05-20T07:01:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-20T05:01:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/?p=3126"},"modified":"2026-05-20T07:11:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-20T05:11:28","slug":"haervejen-padborg-verdwalen-regen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/haervejen-padborg-verdwalen-regen\/","title":{"rendered":"Radar deception and a bag of chips out of frustration: My false start on the H\u00e6rvejen."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Another duo with Wheelie<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

After getting off the bus, I reassemble Wheelie. During a bus ride, the cart is easy to take along. In no time, you can take off the wheels and rods, leaving just the body, which is about the size of a large suitcase. As soon as I hang Wheelie back on my hips, that feeling returns: as a duo, we can take on anything.<\/p>\n\n

The dreadful weather in Flensburg<\/h4>\n\n

I haven’t taken more than thirty steps when it starts to rain. I expected that, but Buienradar forecasted it would be sunny around three. A good outlook. However, the rain is relentless. It pours at times, and the wind is chilly. Flensburg is a nice little town, but in this dreadful weather, it looks desolate. I take a detour through the historic harbor and walk along the long shopping street, with white buildings on both sides.<\/p>\n\n

Embracing a post in pouring rain<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

I’ve decided to walk from Flensburg to Padborg, the start of the H\u00e6rvejen at the Danish border. This way, I can see more of the city, and on paper, it’s only about eight kilometers. Only on paper, because I didn’t account for my knack for getting lost. In the pouring rain, I go completely off course twice. When I finally see a post with the sign ‘H\u00e6rvejen’, I spontaneously hug it as if it’s an old friend I haven’t seen in months. Fortunately, my route is back on the Komoot app. It’s nice that the voice whispers the way to me again, even though the route is well marked.<\/p>\n\n

Fatigue starts to play tricks on me, and to make matters worse, Buienradar doesn’t keep its promise: it keeps pouring. Cold and wet, I buy my dinner and breakfast in the supermarket. Out of frustration, I eat an entire bag of chips. Not my usual habit, but oh well.<\/p>\n\n

Seven minutes of dryness and a meeting with a German cyclist feeling nostalgic<\/h4>\n\n

The rain continues until late in the evening, but my campsite is a true reward for this rugged first day. I settle at the covered picnic table to cook, and when it is exactly seven minutes dry, I set up my tent. Success.<\/p>\n\n

Later, I am joined by German cyclist Nico, who has traveled around the world twice with his girlfriend. This is his first trip alone. And even if it’s just for a week, it takes some getting used to, and he constantly shares with her what I share with him.<\/p>\n\n

\"\"<\/figure><\/div>
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Another duo with Wheelie After getting off the bus, I reassemble Wheelie. During a bus ride, the cart is easy to take along. 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Discover the challenges with a hiking trailer, customs troubles, and first impressions of Serbia in this blog.","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ENG"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ENG","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/category\/blogs-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Sultans Trail Hungary - Serbia Border","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/WhatsApp-Image-2026-03-24-at-17.12.23.jpeg?fit=900%2C1200&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3084,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/haervejen-wandelen-start-nomadenleven%e2%81%a0\/","url_meta":{"origin":3143,"position":2},"title":"I am leaving: My new life begins on the H\u00e6rvejen","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"17 May 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"And then the day has come, May 15, I will depart. 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