Further rain through the night faded away at dawn, leaving us to make a slow start by the waters edge. Just up above the cannons we were camped next to was the coast, which provided a nice place to wake up while we ate our breakfast.

We had the whole day until our flight left Denmark, so there was no rush to pack up. We left it until nearly midday before striking camp and packing our panniers, so that the tent was almost completely dry.

Leaving camp, we rode just over 200m to the cafe on the far side of the moat before stopping for coffee and a pastry. Probably our shortest ever ride before halting for a well earned ‘break’! Ha ha! Well, like I said, we were not in a rush!

A couple of kilometers further, in Charlottlelund Castle grounds, we paused again, this time for a sandwich. Not only did we have time on our side, but we were also extremely tired!

Having had a coffee break and an early lunch within the first 2km of the days ride, we finally got going in earnest, heading northward towards the station at Klampenborg.

Our luck was really in when we reached the harbour, as we came across a huge (empty) bar. There was plenty of relaxed seating and an open fire (well, a big screen playing a video of one). There was a huge range of tempting beers on offer, but we still had a little way to ride, so we ordered something non-alcoholic and settled into a sofa as the rain began to fall again! Great timing….

Eventually, with another wave of hunger creeping in, we left the cosy sofa and pedalled a kilometer or so further north to reach Klampenborg.

As it turned out, the station cafe had won multiple awards for its delicious burgers – the best in Denmark, apparently. We ordered one each and a plate of fries, and hoovered the lot up in a frighteningly short space of time. Feeling sated, we returned to the sea side (just accross the road) and had a final celebratory dip in the (literally) Baltic Sea.

The perfect way to freshen up for the next section of travel. Back at the station, we rode along the platform to the bike hire shop.

Feeling like we fancied one last turn of the peddles together, we rode past it and into the royal park where we’d seen the reindeer on the first day. A short way into the park, the skies suddenly became very dark, so we turned and raced back to the shop, arriving as the first drops landed of what became an incredible and torrential downpour! We got inside just as the clouds unleashed a deluge! It was a close one!

We got ushered into the cafe section of the bike shop to shelter while the rain passed. Clare showed the bike mechanic her makeshift pasta packet mud-guard, and he was so apologetic that he bought her a coffee to say sorry he’d missed it on his checks and not replaced it properly before we’d arrived. We drank it in the dry, while others less fortunate arrived, soaked to the skin!

It was a great feeling to be back where we’d started, with us and the bike in one piece and also to still be dry and warm! (and the free coffee was good too!).

All that remained was to unpack our panniers….

And fit all our worldly possessions into our little bags to check in at the airport (no easy task!).

It all fitted in, but the bags were literally bursting at the seams! Hopefully they’d hold out a little longer?…

A smooth and efficient train ride got us (via one change) straight into the airport terminal at Copenhagen. We soon found a trolley for the bags, changed clothes, and ‘freshened up’ in the duty-free perfume testing area after a free sample of an expensive whisky along the way to stay perked up!

As we walked across the tarmac to the plane, we found oursleves in a dry gap between dark, rain-laden clouds. To one side of the plane, a huge rainbow shone overhead to see us off.

While to the other, the sun was setting in a spectacular fashion. It was a beautiful but concerning walk as the slow moving queue made it look like we might be in for a soaking before we got on board. Happily, we made it to our seats before the next shower passed overhead.

We were back in Manchester by 21:30, the Cottage by 23:30 and bed by midnight. A long, but seamless journey day and a wonderful finish to a fantastic summer of travels. Lucky us…