Have you ever had one of those days when you planned to do something, set out to do it, only to find that the plan changes? You have - Yep, me too! In fact, today was one of those days. I set out at around 8.30am intending to travel to Odense, the birth place of Hans Christian Anderson. Odense is about 1 1/4 Hrs away by train. So, how come I didn't make it? Well, I just couldn't bring myself to pay the nearly $200 for a train ticket for a 1 1/4 hour trip!! I mean, only the week before last I paid just over half that for a flight to Switzerland! But, that's a topic for another day.
To my right at the Copenhagen train station ticket office, was a sign indicating that a train was leaving for Roskilde in 10 minutes. At some stage I wanted to visit Roskilde Viking museum with its Viking ship exhibition, and so, that was settled. Having bought my ticket (140 DKR + 26 DKR for GT 3!) I rushed down to platform 7. Phew - Just in time! It was pretty much standing room only in the bike coach of the train, with prams and bikes crammed in together as Copenhageners ventured out to enjoy the second day of sun in over a week.
After a feed at Cafe Vivaldi and a visit to the tourist information centre, I headed for Roskilde Domkirke (Cathedral), a UNESCO World Heritage protected building with a history dating back over 1000 years.
Originally this Cathedral started out life as a wooden Church built by the Viking King of Denmark and Norway, Harald "Bluetooth" Gormsson (Haraldr blátǫnn Gormsson) in the 10th Century. With the discovery of brick pressing, a technique learnt in France, it not long after (around mid 1100 AD) became the first Gothic church to be built using brick in Scandinavia.
Roskilde Domkirke is also renowned as the burial site of many Danish Monarchy over the last 600 years with new Chapels being added to to the structure to accommodate an increasing number.
Inside everything looks quite modern and definitely well-cared for. In fact, even while I was there the floors were being polished in the main Knave area.
OK, so before I digress to footy (not that I know much about it), from the Cathedral I made my way down to Roskilde Harbour to visit the Viking maritime museum, the site of the restoration of five Viking ships that during their lifetime were used in a nearby Fjord Channel as a blockade to protect Roskilde, the then capital of Denmark in the early 12th Century, from any marauding army.
Having fallen asleep during one of the film shows inside the museum, it was time to head out of Roskilde along the coastline. With glorious skies, about 6km West of Roskilde I stumbled upon a 12km mountain bike trail (totally unexpectedly - honest) at Boserup Skov.
Of course, like Hareskov, it was likewise very boggy after the recent rains and so the ride was very reminiscent of yesterdays, that is, muddy muddy muddy. Have I mentioned that it was muddy? That said, it was nonetheless a very enjoyable ride comprising of mostly twisting and turning single track, a couple of up and downhill sections, and as expected, lots of roots.
I completed the trail at a small cafe at Roskilde Friskole i Boserup where I gorged on not one, but two pieces of pie washed down with a luke-warm coffee :-)
Having filled my water bottle, I then continued on a loop ride south-west of the Fjord through some quite attractive countryside to the historic villages of Kattinge, Herslev and alongside Bognaes Fjord (my name for it). The ride around this area reminded me of a ride I once enjoyed in France many years ago through sunflower fields.
Probably one of the most attractive vistas was this one (left) looking out over the south side of Bognaes Fjord, before making my way back to Roskilde to catch the train to Copenhagen and the final 4km ride from the Station to Norrebro. All up, I probably did somewhere in the region of 50km today. A shame I forget my Garmin GPS to trace the Boserup Skov trail ride. As I said, it was totally unexpected. Now I know, never leave home without your Garmin!!
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