Backpacking through Europe in 1994

Day 49 • October 25, 1994
Rødekro, Denmark, Day 5

This was another quiet, restorative day in Rødekro. I was still feeling the weight of the difficult phone call with my dad from the day before, so the slower pace felt welcome. I rode my bike into town, visited the dairy where Anker worked, went swimming with Dorte and Anker, and spent a relaxed evening writing and watching American TV. None of it was dramatic, but it was grounding.

NATO AWACS

I stepped outside when I heard a plane flying overhead and looked up to see this NATO AWACS (airborne warning and control system) aircraft. I had never seen one in person before. The big radar dome on top made it instantly recognizable. It was a surprising sight over such a quiet, rural area.

My Photographs from today in Rødekro

The NATO AWACS plane flew over the quiet Danish countryside. I stood there watching it for a while — it was impressive to see such a sophisticated military aircraft flying over such a peaceful, rural area.

DAY 49 / 10-25-94
Rødekro, Denmark, Day 5

Today I woke up at 10:30, and after showering & stuff I took a bike ride into town. I mailed my letter to Kyle & went to the train station to check on times back to Copenhagen. I came back, did the dishes and watched the Today show.

At 2:30 Anker took me to the dairy where he works, where they make the “World’s Best” blue cheese. We got to wear these cool white suits & shoes & hats.

After that we went and had coffee with Dorte’s parents, then came home. I did some writing and after dinner the three of us went to a swimming pool – indoor of course. It was great – I hadn’t been swimming since the day of [Kyle and Jen’s] wedding [the weekend before I left on this trip].

After swimming we came home and ate pudding and I’ve been writing. After a little more American TV I’ll go to sleep. It really is so nice to see and hear a familiar face – even (I hate to say it) Beavis & Butthead. (Although I’m really looking forward to ESPN TV with Chris Berman & Jim Rome).

Looking Back

I was still carrying some heaviness from the difficult phone call with my dad the day before, so the slower pace felt necessary. Riding my bike into town, visiting the dairy where Anker worked, swimming with Dorte and Anker, and spending a relaxed evening writing and watching American TV — none of it was particularly exciting, but it was grounding. It reminded me that life could still feel normal, even when my own future felt uncertain.

The NATO AWACS plane flying overhead was a striking contrast — this powerful military aircraft gliding over such a peaceful, rural landscape. It felt surreal in the moment, like a reminder that the world was much bigger and more complicated than the small, safe bubble I was in with Dorte and Anker.

Looking back now, I can see how important these ordinary days were. I didn’t do anything remarkable. I didn’t make any big decisions. But I rested. I stayed in one place. I let myself be taken care of a little. And slowly, the sharp edges of the previous day’s emotions began to soften.

Sometimes the best thing you can do is simply keep moving gently through the day until the weight feels a little lighter.