A crazy ending - Snowstorm, Drama and Reunion

Tirsdag d. 27. februar 2018 - Torsdag d. 01. marts 2018                     (Update 22. juni 2018)

Flensborg - Kolding 76 km
Kolding - Vejle 31 km
Vejle - Billund Airport 31 km

Vi gjorde klar til afgang fra Flensbed hostel på cykeldag 312. Vi havde en lang etape foran os, da vi havde en aftale med Marianne´s fætter og kone i Kolding. De var klar til at tage imod os med varm kaffe og dejlig aftensmad, når vi nåede så langt. Inden da skulle vi ud på, hvad der blev den vildeste etape på hele turen, ihvertfald vejr mæssigt.
Vi havde fulgt vejrudsigten nøje de sidste dage og havde set at vejr guderne havde lovet snestorm. Vi håbede på at det ikke var sandt.
Inden vi cyklede afsted, fik vi en snak med ejeren af overnatningsstedet. Han ville høre lidt om vores tur og gerne tage nogle billeder af os. Vi havde 8 kilometer til grænsen og vi skulle have det til at passe med at ankomme dertil klokken 10:00. Vi havde aftalt med vores forældre, at de ville stå ved grænsen og tage imod os når vi rullede ind på dansk jord.
Stille og roligt cyklede vi ned over Flensborg havn og op mod Kupfermühle. Vi stoppede et par gange for at forevige turen på video og tage et par billeder.
Vi snakkede om alle de ting vi havde været igennem og kunne ikke fatte at det var den danske grænse som lå få kilometer fremme og 1 år og 4 måneder var ved at gå op i en højre enhed. Vores kroppe boblede af glæde og spændthed, jo tættere vi kom på grænsen.
En kilometer før vi nåede grænsen, kunne vi se Dannebrog og alle følelser bølgede igennem kroppen. Benene føltes som gummi, vi grinnede samtidig med at et par tåre løb ned af kinderne og så med et kunne vi se vores forældre. Lige der stod de og viftede med flag og råbte velkommen hjem.
Alt var lige meget i det øjeblik, lige der´ hvor vi kunne give vores forældre en stort kram efter så lang tid, var det somom tiden stod stille. Jeg husker at jeg sagde: det kram har vi ventet på i meget lang tid.
Hvor var det dejligt at se dem igen og de lignede sig selv. Vi snakkede, grinnede og tog billeder. Grænse politiet kom også hen for at snakke med os. De lavede sjov med os og sagde at de gerne ville se vores pas, nu vi havde været ude af landet i så lang tid.
Vejret var dejligt med solskin og omkring frysepunktet, men vores forældre kunne meddele at når vi kom længere nordpå, kunne vi ikke undgå sne. De havde kørt til grænsen i store snebyger. 
Efter 30 minutter tog vi afsked med vores forældre, vi måtte se at komme afsted inden vi blev for kolde og så vi kunne nå til Kolding inden alt for sent.
Vores forældre kørte et smut over grænsen, nu hvor de var i nærheden, så kunne de ligeså godt handle billigt ind i Tyskland.
Vi skulle mødes næste dag i Vejle, her havde vi booket hotel til os og vores forældre, så vi havde tid til at snakke og blive opdateret på alle ting der var sket i tiden vi havde været væk.
Vi var meget ernergiske da vi cyklede afsted fra grænsen. Vi holdt skarpt øje med vores speedometer, da vi var et par kilometer fra t have nået 20.000 kilometer cyklet ialt.
Vi havde håbet at det skete lige som vi kryssede grænsen, men vi skulle lige cykle 4 kilometer ind i Danmark inden at 20.000 kilometer jubilæet var en realitet.
Det blev et kort jubilæum, hvor vi hurtigt tog et par biilleder og lykønskede hinanden inden vi stigtede mod Åbenrå. vi havde en kraftig sidevind, men indtil videre ingen sne.
Lige inden vi nåede Åbenrå, fik vi hilst på Marianne´s forældre igen, de var på vej hjem og ville lige give os lidt støtte undervejs. 
Så langt så godt. Frokost blev på tankstationen på havnen i Åbenrå. Nu blæste det vildt og det begyndte at sne.
Temperaturen var et godt stykke under frysepunktet. Vi cyklede videre fra Åbenrå og det var somom da vi kom på den andenside af byen at sneen holdt.
Godt tænkte vi, så er vi måske heldige. Vores næste mål var Haderslev, som vi nåede i god stil. Her blev det til en varme og tisse pause på en tankstation.
Damen der passede tanken, ville også have orlov, da hun hørte om vores tur. Så da chefen kom ind i butikken, jokede hun med ham og sagde at hun altså ikke kom næste dag.
Fra Haderslev sigtede vi mod Christiansfeld. Sneen tog til og føg ind over vejen. Heldigvis havde vi cykelstien vi kunne cykle på, men jo længere vi kom frem jo mere sne begyndte der at ligge og flere gange måtte vi stoppe for at trække cyklerne igennem snedriver.
Vi havde været i kontakt med Sonja undervejs, som er Marianne´s fætters kone. Hun havde skrevet til os at hvis det blev fuldstændingt umuligt, kunne Erik komme at hente os. Så vi skulle bare ringe.
Vi ville aller helst cykle hele vejen, men kunne godt se da vi nåede til Christiansfeld, at det kom til at blive en hård kamp.
Fra Christiansfeld var der 18 kilometer til Kolding. På en god dag ville det tage en time, men igennem snedriver og storm skulle vi regne med mindst 2 timer. Vi ville se om vi kunne cykle hele vejen. Men efter at vi havde skubbet igennem et par snedriver og Marianne præsterede at vælte i en plus at vi skulle cykle på vejen istedetfor cyklesti og vinden pressede os ud på vejen. Ja, så blev det nok. Vi ringede til Erik og holdt ind til siden, da vi kun havde 8 kilometer tilbage. Øv tænkte vi. Men det var bedre med sikkerhed frem for dumhed.
Inden længe kom Erik og vi fik pakket alt grej ind i bilen. Nu tog det kun 15 minutter og så var vi i Kolding.
Sonja, havde pyntet deres indkørsel med flag og kom ud og tog imod os med et kæmpe kram.
Hvor var det dejligt at komme ind i varmen og fætter Erik, havde endda bagt hindbærsnitter og Sonja havde lavet dejlig varm kaffe til os.
Nu sænkede roen sig over os og vi nød at sidde og snakke. Der var så mange ting at fortælle og hvor skulle vi begynde. Vi havde haft god kontakt under hele rejsen via Facebook med Sonja, så der var mange ting der skulle følges op på.
Efter en dag med så mange forskellige følelser i spil, kunne vi godt mærke os selv og det blev ikke sent inden vi gik i seng. Sonja og Erik havde et hyggeligt gæsteværesle, hvor vi faldt i søvn meget glade og udmattet.
Vi vågnede til duften af friskbrygget kaffe og tænk sig: rundstykker med dansk smør og ost. Mere dansk kunne det ikke blive. Vi tog os god tid og sad og hyggede over morgenmaden. Både Eirk og Sonja skulle arbejde hjemmefra, så de havde ikke travlt.
Erik havde været så sød ved vores cykler. Da vi ankom igår var cyklerne helt isset til, så han havde sat en varmeblæser til at blæse på cyklerne så, de var tøet op. Vi sagde farvel og tak til Sonja og Eirk.
Etapen vi skulle cykle fra Kolding til Vejle var en tur vi havde cyklet mange gange før, så ruten var velkendt. Det sneede ikke mere, men der var faldet meget sne. Nu var vi spændte på hvor meget der lå på vejene.
Igennem Kolding, var ikke noget problem. De fleste steder var vejen OK. Men der var steder med store åbne stykker og her føg sneen ind over vejen og lå i store sne driver. Det var næsten store kunstværker af sne, som lå i høje driver og glimtede i solens skær. Vi klarede turen fint med et pitstop i Højen, hvor vi stod i åbning til lokal brugsen, for at få varmen.
Fra Højen havde vi 7 kilometer inden vi nåede Vejle. Heidi blev flyvende og var den første der nåede byskiltet. Det forevigede vi med et par billeder inden vi cyklede direkte hen til vores stam cafe´- Kaffe Baren.
Vi skulle først mødes med vores forældre klokken 14 på Vejle Center Hotel. Så vi havde tid til en god kop kaffe og en af kaffe barens hjemmebagte boller med ost.
Der var et par kunder på Kaffe Baren da vi kom derind. Dem faldt vi i snak med og de syntes det var fuldstændigt tosset at vi lige i dette øjeblik var ankommet fra vores store rejse og så bare cyklede direkte hen på Kaffe Baren, som noget af det første.
Hele turen fik et godt perspektiv, nu hvor vi sad og drak vores kaffe og kunne kigge op på vægge i cafeén, her hænger der et stort verdenskort. Nu kunne vi se hvor langt det var vi havde cyklet og udpege hele ruten for dem der sad i cafeén. Jeg tror, lige der, på det tidspunkt, gik det op for os: 20.000 kilometer er godt nok mange kilometer at havde cyklet!!!
Efter en lille times tid cyklede vi videre til Vejle Center Hotel. Nu skulle vi bare hygge, snakke og slappe af sammen med vores forældre.
De første vi så da vi kom derhen var Heidi´s forældre. Atter stor gensynsglæde, men hvor var Marianne´s forældre ??? De var ikke kommet endnu og det var der en forklaring på. Marianne´s mor var blevet syg og måtte melde afbud. Det var så ærgeligt. Efter et telefon opkald til Marianne´s far blev aftalen, at han kom og drak kaffe sammen med os og han ville ligeledes blive og spise aftensmad. Så håbede vi på at mor var frisk til næste dag, hvor vi hun så kunne være med til overdragelsen af nøglen til vores hus og selve afslutningen i lufthavnen. Hvor var det ærgeligt at min mor ikke kunne være med. Nu hvor vi havde planlagt det hele og det ikke lykkedes, men sygdom kan vi ikke gøre noget ved.
Da vi havde tjekket ind og fået klædt om, passede det med at min far kom og vi kunne sætte os og drikke kaffe.
Så dejligt bare at sidde og snakke. Være i samme rum med dem man holder af og vide vi havde god tid til at fortælle og blive op til dato. Der var så mange ting der var sket imens vi havde været undervejs.
Om aftenen spiste vi dejlig mad i hotellets restaurant, hvor snakken gik videre. Det blev ikke så sent inden vi gik til ro. Vi var alle spændte på næste dag, hvor vi for første gang skulle se huset vi havde købt 4 måneder tideligere, hvor vi havde sovet i et intermistisk telt på en kirsebær mark i Uzbekistan. Vi var helt sikkert meget spændte!!! Men tror min far var nok lige så spændt. Det var ham og en bygge sagkynding der havde set på huset for os og sagt god for at det var vores smag og det var 100 % iorden. Vi havde kun set billederne i salgs annoncen og tilstandsraporten.
Hvad nu hvis vi ikke kunne lide huset, beliggenheden eller noget andet var ikke som vi havde regnet med??
Der var jo ingen fortrydelsesret. 
Altsammen ville vi få svar på næste dag klokken 11:00, hvor vi skulle have nøglerne og se huset for aller første gang.
Så var den her, den sidste dag af vores store eventyr. Jeg tror vi var lidt i en drømmeverden og forstod ikke helt, at om kort tid skulle vi se det hus vi skulle bo i de næste mange år.
Men det var ikke en drøm, vi skulle cykle fra hotellet senest klokken 10:00, for at cykle de 12 kilometer som der er til Bredsten.
Det var super let, for lige udenfor hotellet starter cykelstien som førte os til Skibet og sidenhen op af Kærbølling bakken og inden længe kunne vi se Bredsten byskiltet. Her standsede vi en kort stund. Dette øjeblik ville vi gerne have både på billede og på video, så det tog vi os tid til. 
Der var 1 kilometer fra byskiltet til vejen hvor huset lå. Hvor var det mærkeligt!!! En ubeskrivelig følelse, at være cyklet hjem fra New Zealand og så oven i købet direkte til et hus vi var ejere af og skulle se det for første gang. Lige der lige nu!!!
Marianne´s far og mor var de første til at tage imod os og Marianne´s far sagde vi skulle gå ind med det samme, da den forhenværende ejer stod klar indenfor.
Først hilste vi på manden og så blev vi vist rundt. Alt virkede så uvirkeligt. Tænk sig vi havde sovet i vores lille telt i så lang tid og når vi lagde os til at sove om aftenen, ville det være i et 125 m2 stort hus med masse af plads og flere værelser og vores eget bad og toilet. Overvældende og uforståeligt.
Alt i alt var vi tilfredse med huset eller skal vi sige Marianne var tilfreds. Heidi havde måske kigget for meget på billederne af huset på turen mod Danmark, så hendes forventninger var sat alt for højt, så hun blev skuffet i første omgang. Men nu i skrivende stund, skal det siges at vi er så glade for huset og har allerede sat vores eget præg på det, så det er blevet et rigtigt cykelmyg hus.
Vi fik nøglerne og så sprang champange proppen, nu skulle vi fejre det med et glas bobler. Champangen havde Heidi´s forældre haft med.
Der var ingen tid at spilde, så faktisk havde vi allerede inviteret vores nærmeste famile til house warmning om aftenen og for at gæsterne kunne sidde, havde min far tage nogle borde og stole med. Så inden vi skulle cykle til den store afslutning i Lufthavnen, skulle vi have dem ind i huset og rettet lidt an.
Men så skete der noget, som vente fuldstændigt op og ned på alt.
Min far og Heidi´s far kørte til købmanden for at købe lidt brød og pålæg, så vi kunne få lidt at spise. Imens sad vi, Heidi´s mor, min mor og mig og Heidi og snakkede. Min mor så noget træt ud, men virkede ellers frisk nok. 
Med et´ rejste hun sig op og pludselig virkede hun helt desorinteret. Jeg troede det var fordi hun ikke var klar over hvor toilettet var og så jeg ville vise hende på vej. Det næste der skete, vil jeg aldrig glemme. Hun vendte sig om og fandt tilbage til hendes stol og så var hun fuldstændig væk. Vi fattede alle at der var noget helt galt og jeg råbte: Mor Mor nej nej nej. Heidi var hurtig og fik ringet 112. Hvad var der galt??? Hun var helt livløs.
Hurtigt fik vi hende lagt ned på gulvet og efter hvad der føltes, som nogle meget lange minutter, kom hun til sig selv igen. Jeg kan ikke beskrive, hvor glad jeg var da hun åbnede øjenen og stille og roligt kom til sig selv.
Vi var bange for at det havde været en blodprop, men fik tjekket og der var ingen symtomer på det. Hun kunne svare på vores spørgsmål, men var selvfølgelig mærket af episoden.
Pyha en forskrækkelse og et kæmpe shock. Ikke mindst da min far og Heidi´s far kom tilbage og vi skulle forklare hvad der var sket. Så ubehageligt og tiden indtil ambulancen kom virkede som vildt lang tid.
Men hvor blev vi glade, da redningsfolkne kom. Det skulle vise sig, at en af dem var en forhenværede arbejdskolega som vi kendte godt. Det gav en endnu bedre trykhed.
Min mor blev tjekket og heldigvis fejlede hun ingenting. Hele anfaldet var pga. hun var blevet dehydret af sygdommen med dårlig mave og opkast dagen før. Hun havde ikke drukket nok og hun havde mandet sig op til at tage med til overdraglesen af huset. Alt det var blevet for meget.
Ambulance folkene ville gerne have at min mor blev kørt på skadestuen for at blive tjekket. Men forsikrede os at det var sikkert pga. dehydrering det hele var sket.
Jeg var helt rundt på gulvet efter forskrækkelsen og vidste ikke hvad vi skulle. På den ene side ville jeg med min mor på skade stuen og på den anden side var der en masse mennesker der ventede i lufthavnen på vores endelig afslutning af turen.
Jeg gik ud i ambulancen og snakkede med min mor. Hun insisterede på at vi skulle cykle til Lufthavnen og afslutte turen som planlangt. Hun havde det fint. Ambulancefolkene sagde hun var i gode hænder og min far ville køre med til skadestuen. Så udfra det besluttede jeg at vi skulle afslutte som først planlagt.
Da ambulancen var kørt, skulle vi sunde os ovenpå en slem forskrækkelse. Heidi spurgte om det var det vi skulle, altså cykle til lufthavnen??? Jeg følte efter en ekstra gang og sagde: Det er det vi gør!!
Nu var det endegyldigt, vi satte afsted på de sidste 21 kilometer mod Billund Lufthavn, for at afslutte turen.
Vi var startet vores tur derfra for 1 år 4 måneder og 10 dage siden og det var der vi ville afslutte ringen.
Det skal siges at flere gange undervejs til lufthavnen, stoppede vi for at checke telefonen. Men ingen beskeder og ingen opkald betød alt OK.
Da vi holdt i lys krydset ved Legoland, ringede telefonen. Uha havd var nu det????? Heldigvis var det en fotograf fra Jyske Vestkysten, der lige skulle høre hvornår vi nåede til lufthavnen. Pyha godt det kun var det.
Vi fik også hilst på en af vores kolegaer, der holdt i krydset. Nu var vi så tæt på vores mål. Det vi havde sat os for var ved at gå op i en højere enhed. Om kort tid var vi der hvor rejsen begyndte og vi var vildt spændte på hvor mange der var mødt op for at tage imod os.
Sidste kilometer op til terminalen, blev i stiv modvind. Vi skulle lige have det sidste dårlig vejr med på vejen. Vi råbet højt ja, vi gjorde det !!! Kroppen var fyldt af glæde, stolhed og ubeskrivelig følelser bølgede igennem hele kroppen.
Vi cyklede op langs med terminalen og så kunne vi se Heidi´s bror, Lars fra Check-in bladet og en journalist stå foran ankomsten. Vildt!!! De tog billeder og vi fik givet knus. Lars sagde: der står "lidt" menesker og venter på jer derinde.
Nu skubbede vi cyklerne igennem døren og fik den vildeste velkomst af famillie, venner, bekendte og kollegaer. Der var store banner og alle råbet i kor: Velkommen hjem!!!!
Uha nu kom følelserne helt uden på tøjet og tårene løb ned af vores kinder. 
At se alle disse mennesker efter så lang tid, var ubeskriveligt. Det var overvældende så mange der var kommet for at tage imod os. For at vise hvor taknemmelige vi var, gik vi hele vejen rundt og gav et kram til alle der var mødt op. Men det var ikke alt. Faktisk havde lufthavnen, lavet to store lagkager med et billede af os fra printet ovenpå. Der var skåle med slik og kaffe til alle. Så efter kramme turen var der tid til at snakke med alle. Så dejligt, men vi syntes bare ikke der var nok tid til at nå hele vejen rundt.
Det bedste af det hele var da telefonen ringede og det var min mor. Hun var på vej hjem fra skadestuen og ville lige sige at alt var OK. Vi var begge et stor smil og vildt glade for det opkald. Faktisk ville hun og far komme forbi huset for at hilse på dem der kom og derefter køre hjem.
Så efter en god time, pakkede vi sammen. Cyklerne fik vi opbevaret på lufthavnen. Nu var turen officielt færdig og der skulle gå en del tid inden vi skulle ud og cykle igen.
Vi skulle tilbage til huset i Bredsten. Her blev der hygget med den nærmeste familie over pizza og kolde øl.
Ligesom en housewarming skal være. 
Sikken en afslutning på turen. Det føltes somom vi havde været ombord på den vildeste rutchebane og nu var det tid til at stå af for at finde tilbage til den "normale" hverdag igen.
Kunne vi det eller ville vi blive rastløse.....ja det melder historien ikke noget om på nuværende tidspunkt, men hvem ved hvad fremtiden bringer.......THE END!!!!!

Tuesday, 27 February 2018 - Thursday, 01 March, 2018                      (Update 22. juni 2018)

Flensburg - Kolding 76 km
Kolding - Vejle 31 km
Vejle - Billund Airport 31 km

It was bikingday 312 as we got ready for departure from Flensbed hostel. We had a long stage ahead of us as we had a deal with Marianne's cousin and wife in Kolding. They were ready to welcome us with hot coffee and nice dinner when we reached their house. Before that, we had to figure out what became the wildest stage of the whole trip, at least weatherwise.
We had followed the weather forecast carefully the last days and had seen that the weather gods had promised snowstorms. We hoped that it was not true.
Before we rode off, we had a chat with the owner of the accommodation. He wanted to hear a little about our trip and would like to take some pictures of us. We had 8 kilometers to the border and we should fit i perfectly to arrive there at 10:00. We had agreed with our parents that they would stand at the border and receive us when we crossed the line and cycled onto Danish soil after a long time away.
Quietly we rode pass Flensburg harbor and towards Kupfermühle. We stopped a couple of times to capture some of our last feelings on video and take a couple of pictures.
We talked about all the things we had been through and could not understand that it was the Danish border that was a few kilometers ahead and 1 year and 4 months journey was about to end. Our bodies bubbled with joy and excitement, the closer we got to the border.
One kilometer before reaching the border, we could see the danish flag and all the feelings broke through the body. The legs felt like rubber, we laughed while a couple of tears ran down the cheeks and then at onece we could see our parents. Right there they stood and fled with flag and shouted: Welcome Home!!!
Nothing else mattered at that moment, where we could give our parents a big hug after so long, it was as time stood still. I remember saying: that hug has been waiting for a very long time.
It was so nice to see them again and they looked like themselves? We talked, laughed and took pictures. The border police also came to talk to us. They made fun with us and said they would like to see our passport, now that we had been out of the country for so long.
The weather was nice with sunshine and tempeture around freezing point, but our parents told us that when we got further north we could not avoid snow. They had driven to the border in big snow showers.
After 30 minutes, we set of again, we had to get going before we got too cold and so we could reach Kolding before it got to late.
Our parents drove across the border, now that they were nearby, they took advantage of cheap shopping in Germany. We knew that we would meet again next day, where we were going to stay one night in at hotel, just us and our parents. Time to catch up on lost time.
We were very ernergic when we rode off from the border. We kept a close eye on our speedometer, as we were a couple of kilometers from reaching 20,000 kilometers of cycling in all.
We had hoped that it happend just as we crossed the border, but we had to cycle 4 kilometers into Denmark before the 20,000 kilometer anniversary was a reality.
It became a short anniversary, where we quickly took a couple of photos and congratulated each other before we headed for Åbenrå. We had a powerful sidewind, but so far no snow.
Just before reaching Åbenrå, we greeted Marianne's parents again, they were on their way home and would just give us some support along the way.
So far so good. Lunch was at the gas station at the harbor in Åbenrå. Now it was windy and it started to snow.
The temperature was well below the freezing point. We rode further from Åbenrå and it was like when we got to the other side of the city that the snow stopped.
Well, we thought, maybe we're lucky. Our next goal was Haderslev, which we achieved in good style. Here we took a warm up and pee break at a gas station.
The lady who worked at the gas station would also like to have a leave when she heard about our trip. So when the manager came into the store, she joked with him and said that she would not come to work the next day.
From Haderslev we aimed towards Christiansfeld. The snow got worse again and crossed the road. Fortunately, we had the bike path we could ride on, but the farther we got, the more snow started to lie and several times we had to stop to pull the bikes through the snowdrift.
We had been in contact with Sonja along the way, who is Marianne's cousin´s wife. She had written to us that if it got completely impossible, Erik could pick us up. we just had to call.
We would prefer to cycle all the way, but could see when we reached Christiansfeld that it was going to be a tough fight.
From Christiansfeld there were 18 kilometers to Kolding. On a good day it would take an hour, but through snowdrift and storm we should count on at least 2 hours. We wanted to see if we could cycle all the way. But after we had pushed through a pair of snowdrifts, Marianne managed to topple in one aswell plus that we had no cyclepath anymore and had to ride on the highway instead of and the wind pushed us out on the road. Yes, now it was enough. We called Erik and pushed our bikes into the side. At this point we only had 8 kilometers left. But as always, we thought about security rather than stupidity.
Within a short while Erik came and we packed everything into the car. Now it only took 15 minutes and then we were in Kolding.
Sonja had embraced their driveway with a lot of danish flags and came out and greeted us with a huge hug. It was so nice to get inside in the cozy warm house and cousin Erik, had even baked raspberries cakes and Sonja had made nice hot coffee for us.
Now the calm fell over us and we enjoyed sitting and talking. There were so many things to tell and where should we start. We have had good contact via Facebook with Sonja, so there were many things to be followed up on.
After a day of so many different emotions in play, we could really feel ourselves and it did not get late before we went to bed. Sonja and Erik had a cozy guest room where we fell asleep very happy and exhausted.
We woke up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee and rolls with Danish butter and cheese. It could not get any more Danish. We sat for long and enjoyed the breakfast. Both Eirk and Sonja should work from home so they were not in a hurry.
Erik had been so sweet to our bikes. When we arrived yesterday the bikes had been all ice so he had put a heater to blow on the bikes so they had thawed up. We said goodbye and thanks to Sonja and Eirk.
The stage we were going to cycle from Kolding to Vejle was a trip we had cycled many times, so the route was well known. It did not snow anymore, but a lot of snow had fallen. Now we were excited about how much it was on the roads.
Throughout Kolding, there was no problem. Most places the way were OK. But there were places with large open pieces, and here the snow broke in across the road and lay in great snow piles. It was almost large art pieces of snow, which lay high on the side of the road and glimsed in the sunshine. The trip went well with a pit stop in Højen, where we stood in the opening for the local groceystore to get warmed up.
From Højen we had 7 kilometers before reaching Vejle. Heidi became flying and was the first to reach the city sign. We set off with a couple of pictures before we cycled directly to our best cafe'- Kaffe baren
We first had to meet with our parents at 14:00 at Vejle Center Hotel. So we had time for a good cup of coffee and one of their homemade buns with cheese.
There were a few customers at the Coffee shop when we came in. We fell in conversation with them and they thought it was absolutely crazy that we had just arrived from our big trip just then and then cycling direct to the Coffee shop.
The whole trip got a good perspective, now that we were sitting and drinking our coffee and looking up on the walls of the cafe, here is a big world map. Now we could see how far we had cycled and designate the entire route for those in the cafe. I think that was when we thought: 20,000 kilometers are many kilometers of cycling!!!
After a little hour, we rode on to Vejle Center Hotel. Now we just had to have fun, talk and relax with our parents.
The first we saw when we got there were Heidi's parents. Again great joy, but where were Marianne's
parents?? They had not arrived yet and there was an explanation for that. Marianne's mother had become ill and was not able to come. It was so sad. After a phone call to Marianne's father, the agreement was that he came to drink coffee with us and he would also stay and have dinner. Then we hoped that her mother was well to the next day, where we would recieve the key to our house and then the big final at the airport. So sad it was that my mother could not be a part of this afternoon and evening. Now that we had planned it all and it did not succeed, but we could not do anything about it.
When we had checked in and got dressed, my father showed up and we could sit down and drink coffee.
So nice just to sit and talk. Be in the same room with those you love and know we had plenty of time to tell and get up to date, with so many things that had happened while we were on our way.
In the evening we ate delicious food in the hotel restaurant where the talk went on. It did not get late before we went to bed. We were all excited about the next day. For the first time we had to see the house we had bought 4 months earlier where we had slept in an intermittent tent on a cherry land in Uzbekistan. We were definitely very excited !!! But we think my dad was just as excited. It was him and a building constructor that had seen the house for us and said that it was our taste and it was 100% maintained and OK to buy. We had only seen the pictures in the sales report.
What if we did not like the house, location or something else was not what we had expected ??
There was no right of withdrawal.
All in all, we would receive an answer next day at 11:00, where we would get the keys and see the house for the first time.
Now this was the last day of our great adventure. I think we were a little in a dream world and did not quite understand that in a short wihle we should see the house we were going to live in for the next many years.
But it was not a dream we would cycle from the hotel at 10:00 am, to cycle the 12 kilometers to Bredsten.
It was super easy, because right outside the hotel the cycle path that led us to the village Skibet and then up the Kærbølling hill started and before long we could see Bredsten city sign. Here we stopped for a short while. This moment we would like to save forever both in picture and on video so we took time for that.
There was 1 kilometer from the city sign to the road where the house lay. This was so strange !!! An indescribable feeling to have cycled home from New Zealand and then directly to a house we were owners of and should see for the first time. Right there right now !!!
Marianne's father and mother were the first to meet us and Marianne's father said we should go in immediately as the former owner was ready inside.
At first we greeted the man and then we were shown around. Everything seemed so unreal. Imagine we had slept in our little tent for so long and now we should sleep in a 125 m2 house with lots of space and many rooms and our own bathroom and toilet. Overwhelming and incomprehensible.
All in all, we were pleased with the house or should we say Marianne was satisfied. Heidi might have looked too much at the pictures of the house on her way to Denmark, so her expectations were set too high, so she was disappointed in the beginning. But now at the time of writing, we have to say that we are so happy about the house and have already put our own touch on it, so it has become a real bicycle house.
We got the keys and then out came the champange,  now we should celebrate it with a glass of bubbles. The Champangne had Heidi's parents brought with them as a gift.
There was no time to waste, so in fact we had already invited our closest family to house warming in the evening and in order for the guests to sit, my father had taken some tables and chairs with him form home. Before we had to cycle to the big ending celebration at the airport, we had to take the chairs and tables inside the house and corrected a little.
But then something happened that turned everything upside down!!!.
My father and Heidi's father drove to the grocery store to buy some bread and other stuff to eat. Meanwhile we sat, Heidi's mother, my mother and me and heidi and talked. My mother looked tired, but seemed otherwise healthy.
At one point, she got up and suddenly she seemed completely desorbed. I thought it was because she was not aware of where the toilet was, so I would show her on her way. The next thing that happened, I will never forget. She turned around and found her way back to her chair and then she was completely gone. We all realized there was something wrong and I shouted: Mother Mom no no no. Heidi was quick and called 112. What was wrong ??? She was completely lifeless.
Soon we got her laid down on the floor and after what felt like some very long minutes she came to herself again. I can not describe how happy I was when she opened her eyes and quietly recovered herself.
We were afraid that it had been a blood clot, but checked and there were no symptoms. She could answer our questions but was obviously shocked by the episode.
What a scare and a huge shock. Not least when my father and Heidi's father came back and we had to explain what had happened. So uncomfortable and the time until the ambulance came felt like slowmotion.
When the rescuers came we got a pleasent surprise. It turned out that one of them was a former work colleague who we knew well. This gave us some confidence and we knew my mothe was in good hands.
My mother was checked and fortunately nothing was wrong. The whole episode was due to the fact that she had been dehydrated by the disease with a poor stomach and vomiting the day before. She had not drunk enough and she had pulled herself together to be part of the house warmning. Everything had become too much.
The Ambulance people would like my mother to be taken to the emergency room to be checked. But assured us that she was OK. All of what happend was probably due to dehydration.
I was completely confused after the schock and did not know what we were going to do. On one side, I wanted to go with my mother to the emergency and on the other hand there were a lot of people waiting at the airport for our final end of the trip.
I went to the ambulance and talked with my mother. She insisted that we should ride to the airport and finish the trip as planned. She was fine. The ambulance people said she was in good hands and my father would to go to the emergency room as well. So from that, I decided that we should finish as planned.
When the ambulance had left, we pulled ourselfs together. It had been a huge shock. Heidi asked if that was what we were going to, ride to the airport after all this??? I thourght one more time and said: We are doing it.
Now it was final, we set off for the last 21 kilometers towards Billund Airport, to finish the trip.
We had started our trip from there for 1 year 4 months and 10 days ago and that was where we should finish the circle.
It has to be said that several times on the way to the airport, we stopped to check the phone. But no messages and no calls meant everything OK.
When we stopped for red light just outside Legoland, the phone rang. Uhhhh What now ????? Fortunately, it was a photographer from Jyske Vestkysten, who just had to hear when we reached the airport. 
We were also greeted by one of our co-workers who also was in the junction. Now we were so close to our goal. What we had set for ourselves was going to came true right at this moment. In a short space of time we were there where the journey began and we were excited about how many people had come to meet and greet us.
The last kilometer up to the terminal was in a stiff headwind. We shouted loudly yes, we did it !!! The body was filled with joy, pride and indescribable feelings wavy throughout the body.
We cycled along the terminal and then we could see Heidi's brother, Lars from the Check-in magazine and a journalist in front of the arrival hall. WOW!!! They took pictures and we were given a hug. Lars said there are "some" people waiting for you inside.
Now we pushed the bikes through the door and got the wildest welcome by a large bunch of family, friends, acquaintances and coworkers. There was big banners with welcome home and everyone shouted loudly: Welcome Home !!!!
Wauvvvvvv....... now the feelings came out, everyting was so overwhelming and the tears ran down our cheeks.
Seeing all these people after such a long time was indescribable. It was overwhelming so many had come to meet us. To show how grateful we were, we went all the way around and gave a hug to all who was present. But that was not all. In fact, the airport had made two large cakes with a picture of us printed on top. There were bowls of sweets and coffee for everyone. Then after hugging all there was time to talk to everyone. So nice, but we just did not think there was enough time.
The best of all was when the phone rang and it was my mother. She was coming home from the emergency room and just wanted to say everything was OK. In fact, she and dad would come past the house to greet those who came and then drive home after. We were one big smile and very relifed.
Then after a good hour, we left the airport. We left the bikes at the airport. Now the trip was officially finished and we were not going to cycle anywhere for a long time.
We were going back to the house in Bredsten. Here we had the pleasure of having the closest family celebrating our home comming and housewarming over pizza and cold beer.
Just like a housewarming should be.
Such a end to the trip. It felt like we had been  on board a crazy rollercoaster and now it was time to get off to get back to the "normal" weekday life again.
Could we or would we be restless ..... that story does not matter at the moment, but who knows what the future might bring...........THE END!!!!