I can't wait to get on the road. There is a severe weather warning (strong winds and thunderstorms) and I have a sore throat. I'm not sure if it's a cold or jet-lag (I arrived from Australia yesterday). The thought of delaying 1 day crosses my mind but I decide to risk it.
I'm cycling 70kms from Copenhagen down the East coast of Denmark. The forecast is for a 30km headwind to pick up mid-morning and thunderstorms from lunchtime. So I get up at 5 to try avoid the worst of it. I'm a bit slow to get out of the hotel (being my first pack (and also leave 1 sock behind)). The first 2 hours are easy riding out of Copenhagen and it feels great.
The wind picks up about 9 exactly as forecast and in places is intense. I'm glad to have smaller panniers (I think back to a day last trip when strong wind forced me to have a rest day because it could push me to the middle of the road). In some places it is actually easier to cycle up a hill where it is protected from wind - most peculiarly I'm dropping down a gear when I get to the top of a hill!
I feel a bit groggy at times but not sick - I think it was jet lag. By the last 10kms my legs are feeling it.
I get through the day without mechanical or navigational incident and arrive at lunch time. The rain starts within 2 seconds (that's not an exaggeration) of reaching my hotel.
In all, day 1 went very well!
