Feb. 27, 2024, 5:57 p.m. - We have met team 23 on the bus and are now on the ferry to Denmark. This is probably going to be the last check in before we reach the Hostel. Never been so ready for bed and a shower in our lives.
Feb. 27, 2024, 3:17 p.m. - Boarding bus to Copenhagen!
Feb. 27, 2024, 9:06 a.m. - and we're back off again. Heading through Hamburg to a service station on the 7. We have been slightly stung by the rest of germanys reaction to hitchhikers but Frank has restored our faith that we will get a ride eventually. UPDATE 14:03 - this morning we attempted to get started on the 7 motorway to Denmark out of Stelligen, but after many hours of trying with absolutely no luck (literally not a single person headed north, and trust us, we asked everyone, even a group of German police officers) but feeling dead tired (running on literally zero sleep), mildly sick (Jamie), and in the face of the continued difficulties we have faced trying to hitchhike in Germany, we have decided that after hitchhiking over 1000 miles we can live with catching a bus on the last leg at 30% off thanks to all of the very generous donations we have received along our journey! Spirits are mild but being kept afloat by the prospect of real beds and hot showers
Feb. 27, 2024, 8:42 a.m. - We are making progress. Frank has dropped us off at a train station and we are working out our next steps. Goal- Copenhagen today
Feb. 27, 2024, 7:39 a.m. - in an act of pure god/miracles we are headed to Hamburg.
Feb. 27, 2024, 7:16 a.m. - Moral has reached a new low. After 2 hours the best we have received is a "no" with a smile. We decided to go back to McDonald's and have regrouped and decided to try and blag another train
Feb. 27, 2024, 5:45 a.m. - we are positioned at a service station and feeling hopeful (and very tired)
Feb. 27, 2024, 4:38 a.m. - off the train. Now time to find a service station
Feb. 27, 2024, 3:22 a.m. - JOY UNMATCHED. We've successfully blagged our way onto a train to BREMEN!!!! The prospect of getting a single hour of sleep (for the first time tonight outside of Sarah's short lived nap at McDonald's where she was awoken by the manager with the unfortunate fact that sleeping is strictly not chill in the 24/7 maccies, even making use of Germanys soon to be new laws was perfectly fine for other patrons) is the best thing in the whole world!!
Also had a lovely time throughout the early hours with Denmarks The Spot and are extremely hopeful to be sleeping in a REAL BED tonight!!
Additionally 0/10 stars for the pay to use toilet in McDonalds. Extremely unpleasant surprise. Did not enjoy my .50euro trip :(
Feb. 27, 2024, 2:34 a.m. - We got kicked out of McDonald's but have found Denmarks the spot. Currently waiting it out in the train station until the first train
Feb. 26, 2024, 11:05 p.m. - We have unsuccessfully blagged a train (the conductor was on a MISSION to make sure everyone paid full [sad]) but we are feeling extremely excited about having found an oasis in a rather unlucky area of Germany for hitchhikers at this hour : A 24/7 MCDONALDS.
The gods have answered our prayers, currently planning to sleep / hitchhike out of here and then maybe? blag a train to Hamburg in the morning?? Plans are unclear but we have fries and did in fact make it to Germany today so #missionaccomplished
Feb. 26, 2024, 10:01 p.m. - On train and eastern bound. All nighter oncoming
Feb. 26, 2024, 9:32 p.m. - After a bit of an ordeal (a story we will tell another time) we managed to make it to a train station. At least we are in Germany. Sarah wants a drink, Jamie wants to get in a lorry (?????) and Charlotte wants a will to live
Feb. 26, 2024, 9:17 p.m. - After a rather unfortunate choice in place to stop a lovely couple had taken immense pity on us and are dropping us at a German train station... hoping to blag our asses off and keep moving!!
(Also so pleased my limited Russian has come in handy even though they were going to Belgium)
Feb. 26, 2024, 8:13 p.m. - After a brief stint in Germany and a quick realisation that the service station was not what we thought, we're back across the border in the Netherlands. Hopes are not high and we may easily be here for the night
Feb. 26, 2024, 6:50 p.m. - lift secured to the penultimate country. Onwards we go. And to think the guy on the ferry said we would never make it to Germany tonight
Feb. 26, 2024, 6:37 p.m. - Nina has dropped us off the other side of Ustrict. We have high hopes for Germany tonight
Feb. 26, 2024, 6:07 p.m. - the Netherlands has provided!!! We've left Bob and Jackie (the absolute legends that we met on the ferry -- they've been married for over 50 years and Bob used to race motorbikes so the stories were VERY entertaining) Anyways, not even 10 minutes after being at the service station they dropped us at we met Nina!! Now travelling up a bit to a more convenient service station and very excited for the rest of the night!!
Feb. 26, 2024, 4:52 p.m. - And just like that we're out of Rotterdam. Let's hope this good luck continues
Feb. 26, 2024, 4:03 p.m. - Struck gold when 5 minutes into the ferry we were offered a lift to Utercht. We gladly accepted and thought we would have a nice 8 hour break on the boat. We thought wrong. Sarah spent the journey contemplating buying a €17 veggie burger (thanks bananas for giving her the idea) and Charlotte spent a most of the time violently vomiting in the toilets. Jamie was just bored. An absolute angel bought us a toblerone which made our day. Also humble brag. Not only did we did get into the truckers lounge but we were invited in EU SIGN ON
Feb. 26, 2024, 12:10 p.m. - On the ferry and Holland bound. We have gained a sleeping bag liner, another foam finger (courtesy of The Fringe 2014) and 4 hours sleep. We are feeling strong!!! UK SIGNOFF
Feb. 26, 2024, 7:27 a.m. - whoopsie with what three words we're not in Oregon lol
Feb. 26, 2024, 6:59 a.m. - Awake and raring to go. Armed with a mug of tea and a ride to Harwich. Netherlands we are so close
Feb. 25, 2024, 11:44 p.m. - arrived at SARAHS HOME!!! #sleepinginbedsnotunderpicnictables. Energy levels = low but happiness levels = high (SLEEP!!!) looking forward to an early start tomorrow morning and rewriting all of our signs in German (hint hint wink wink to our overarching Monday goals)
Feb. 25, 2024, 10:39 p.m. - onward to Ipswich!! After the lovely Manny picked us up outside of the Woolley edge service station (shoutout to the two guys who told me that hitchhiking at service stations is illegal [its not]) we drove down outside of London and got dropped off at a new service station where Sarah's dad promptly pick us up (#nepobabies)
Feb. 25, 2024, 7:19 p.m. - Luck is in the air, we have got a ride down south! Not 100% sure on the destination but we're heading in the right direction. Spirits are very high.
Feb. 25, 2024, 6:47 p.m. - just got dropped off at the Woolley edge service station, crossing our fingers to get a ride and not be sleeping under a picnic table tonight
Feb. 25, 2024, 5:23 p.m. - still off to Sheffield!! Quick pit stop at Newcastle, so sorry to Yes Chef who have now watched two teams pass them
Feb. 25, 2024, 3:15 p.m. - Managed to grab a lift in Carlisle, heading to Newcastle and then hopefully on to Sheffield! We met some great people and got 3 free coffees, £2 and a lot of good lucks.
Feb. 25, 2024, 2:18 p.m. - In Carlisle and getting some well-deserved food before we try and get to cover
Feb. 25, 2024, 1:54 p.m. - England we made it!!! Good progress is being made and we are we are elated (or at least Sarah is happy to be in her home country)
Feb. 25, 2024, 12:43 p.m. - Not a very exciting update but we are still en route to Carlisle. Jamie and Charlotte are napping and Sarah is feeling very hungry.
Feb. 25, 2024, 10:36 a.m. - We made it to Charlottes favourite place. Edinburgh. With a swift turn around we are on a bus to Carlisle. From there the hitchhiking begins
Feb. 25, 2024, 8:58 a.m. - We've on a bus to Edinburgh. Spirits are still high but fingers are feeling very cold. Starting to think we should've worn a few more layers
Feb. 25, 2024, 8:05 a.m. - just got off the bus!!
Feb. 25, 2024, 7:02 a.m. - ready and waiting!!! So excited and mildly contemplating life choices
