We left Gitte's cosy flat with a packed lunch she had made us and directions to the bike shop (to get Sylv's tyre sorted out once and for all) and to visit the troll (who carried a bag of sand accross Denmark but didn't realise there was a small whole in the bottom of it, the sand that fell out along the way created the undulating landscape).
With a brand new Danish tyre on Sylv's bike we set off to visit the sclerosis centre in Haslev. The receptionist welcomed us but said, oh you have come on the worst day possible, we have 42 new clints arriving today. Still 10 minutes later after a glass of juice we were being introduced to a nurse called Anders (who Sylvie was rather taken with......) who offered to show us around.
What an incredible place, meeting Gitte the previous day and then seeing this wonderful centre in action gave me some real strength after the last annoying days. The centre was beautiful, set in lovely grounds with nice spaces to be in. Anders explained that people with MS come from all over Denmark and usually stay between 14 days and a month although they are free to go when they want. They can come as many times as they want and there are different treatments available, they can see a specialist doctor, sit and talk with new friends or do activities like horse riding or swimming. There is a place called the castle where people who have been recently diagnosed (usually young people) can go for a week in a small group and just hang out together and share their experiences so far and ask questions if they have any.
It really was terrific and incredible to see such a place, another bonus was that the staff got to ride around the centre on scooters, excellent. We had our picture taken for their newsletter and bidding them all a fond farewell set off to Viby just south of Roskilde to spend the night with Maggie, a friend of Aunty Marion's.
There is someone waving at us Sylvie shouted to me through the wind, I could see her too, a small figure with a Danish flag was standing in the road waving frantically. We rode down to her and Maggie gave us a big hug each and took us inside. Maggie lives in a small commune with Eva, Flemming, Kirsten and Sophie and her dog Frida. They had a beautiful house and garden and all made us feel so welcome. We were pretty physically exhausted from the wind so decided straight away to stay 2 nights. We had forgotten to let Maggie know we are vegetarians so she had cooked us a meaty lasagne, but there were enough people around to eat and enjoy it and Sylv and I made some pasta and we all sat down together to eat with a glass of wine.
Everyone was so lovely and it was a great atmosphere to be in. We finished off the night with Maggie asking us to pick an Angel card..........mine was one to do with new and renewed energy, hurrah and Sylvie chose a card Maggie had never seen before about wisdom and listening to your dreams.
We settled happily into our bed ready for a whole day off. What a super day.
Miles 35.
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