Watery nightmare and running to the bathroom

Probably, there’s still a lot going on in my subconscious, because I dream that I’m sleeping in a business building belonging to my brother-in-law. What on earth am I doing among the boxes? It was a kind of dusty warehouse filled with lots of boxes and junk. Not something that fits him either. At some point, everything starts to overflow. I try to mop the floor, but more water just keeps coming. I want to raise the alarm, but I can’t remember how my phone works, and later I even lose it entirely while the water keeps rising. From all that water in my dream, I suddenly need to pee really badly. But the compost toilet is quite far away among the trees. Time to run!

On the right path

On my way again. I’m looking forward to it. I’ve encountered the same three ladies three times. One of them insists that I am no longer on the Hærvejen, because they are following the Kyst til Kyst route. I show her on my app that everything is correct, but she doesn’t believe it. According to her, it can’t be true.

Kierkegaard as walking inspiration

On the way, I get talking to Christian, who is curious about my solar panels. It’s one of those conversations where we click immediately. We talk about money, happiness, possessions, ‘alternative’ entrepreneurship, and the Danish writer Søren Kierkegaard and his famous saying (loosely translated) ‘Walking works.’

If you were to put it on a tile in Denmark today, you would write it in modern Danish like this: “Tab for alt ikke lysten til at gå…” (Especially don’t lose the desire to walk…) “Når man således bliver ved med at gå, så går det nok.” (If one continues to walk like this, it will be alright/come out fine.) Kierkegaard uses a nice Danish pun: at gå means literally to walk, but det går nok means “it will be okay” or “it will work out.” Walking works, literally and figuratively.

Alternative entrepreneurship, different path

Christian consciously does not call himself a businessman, even though he is involved in real estate and starts various projects. Money is never his goal; helping people is. He advises me to take a trip to the fjord of Vejle. That seems like an excellent plan to me. After all, I don’t have to follow the route religiously.

At that moment, the three ladies pass by again. One of them, now speaking in Danish to Christian, says that I am going the wrong way. I can’t help but laugh. What is she worried about? And now I’m really getting off the path. This is why I am traveling: to have encounters like this and to be able to change my plans. And indeed, Christian does not disappoint me; the first hours of this outing are already magnificent, with a beautiful path along a meandering stream and marshy areas on both sides. Take that, Mrs. ‘Know-It-All’!

Shelter troubles

On the map, I see a shelter spot where I want to spend the night, but once I arrive, it doesn’t feel right. It’s located right by a village, and there is trash everywhere, something I haven’t seen here before. I don’t want to be surprised by partygoers, so I decide to keep walking. An hour and a half later, just before dark, I arrive at a tent spot. Next to a railway line and a busy road, but clean, flat, and right by the water, with a view over the fjord of Vejle. Much better indeed.

Overnight: Munkebjerg – Ibæk Strand