Østerklit Shelter to Kajholm Shelter
Distance: 45km
I went to bed early last night so by 4:30 this morning I am already wide awake. Not a bad thing as I have a long day ahead of me. Packing goes much better than yesterday so by 05:00 I hit the beach. For the first time on a through hike, I hike along a beach during night time. It feels special, a bit eerie even at first with the dunes on my left, the sea on my right. I can't really make out neither of them in the dark. Two river crossings add a bit of spice. One seems to tricky to ford at night and I decide to head inland, where there luckily is a bridge not too far away.
Eventually, dawn arrives. Shortly after I pass through the depressingly looking town of Hirtshals - not without getting lost...
Then it's back to the beach. Rain starts, getting heavier towards noon. In combination with the constant wind a pain. My mood reaches today's low. Was it really a wise decision to continue E1 in November?
Anyway, let's not think too much about it. It only makes it worse. Eventually I have to leave the beach as the government is desperately trying to stop erosion and save houses by putting massive rocks on the beach. They look terrible but I hope it helps at least.
After passing Lonstrup, the dunes are getting higher - huge! They remind me of the Giant Sand Dunes in New Zealand. It's a beautiful walk. The rain stopped, leaving only the wind. Which nearly blows me away on the dunes. Doesn't matter, if I fall, I land softly. I thoroughly enjoy my time in the dunes. Definitely a mood booster!
From the dunes it's only a short walk to my overnight place - a shelter in a pine forest.
A long day - especially since it was mostly beach walking, which I find hard on my body. Time to relax and recover for tomorrow.
![Good morning, seal 👋](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/iae8ed7e6f4840fa5/version/1637253562/image.jpg)
![Bunker with Hirtshals Fyr in the background](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/i4db8662eca555bc5/version/1637253598/image.jpg)
![A look inside](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/i306a7e8f705071c6/version/1637253612/image.jpg)
![On the right track](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/i8e65e16a5ee86866/version/1637253636/image.jpg)
![Ice cream season is over](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/ia0d1f11df2f980b6/version/1637253655/image.jpg)
![Approaching the giant sand dunes](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/i2ef4771541eedfde/version/1637253688/image.jpg)
![Such a spectacular view](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/i916ec26c50558451/version/1637253722/image.jpg)
![Leaning into the wind](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/i4e87202579459572/version/1637253743/image.jpg)
![Finally made it](https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s54f301a039b463fe/image/ic556951343bea73d/version/1637253769/image.jpg)
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George Mills (Friday, 19 November 2021 00:15)
Sounds great. I said it would remind you of 90mile. Endless sand streams and sand dunes. We even have the WW11 bunkers on our coast. All good