My Cycling for Libraries -puzzle, part 8

Wednesday, June 1st
Woke up at 6.25. A World Record of sleeping for me on this trip. May be due of the dinner on the preceeding night. After shower I had to do a serious re-packing since it was the day of my resigning. After breakfast I guided everybody to clean their cottages and collected the keys as well. We packed the trailer, and it took less time than ever before (though some needed something from their bags that already were in the bottom...), I got some valuable help from Sebastian, who actually mentioned that he had done aircraft packing for a occupation in the past.
In our crew briefing I tried to tell everything that I imagined that could help the others on the following days. I had already started feeling sad to quit everything, but now it became more concrete.
The cyclists left and Urpo, Antti and I helped the tent crew in packing the tent for their next pit. Some empty cans and bottles were recycled and fresh food was purchased from the grocery store. We said goodbye to our friendly, warm-hearted host of the camping site and put the van engine running (now it was Pasi's turn to sit behind the wheel, cause he was the one who was to do the driving for now on) and headed to the ferry harbour in Gedser. (On route we were wondering where Urpo and Antti disappeared with their van. Later Antti told me that Urpo was desperately seeking for a village to find a grocery store. The reason was -of course- ice cream)
Some kind of malfunction of document files had occurred in the ferry office, and the number of 80 international librarians on their bikes was some kind of surprise among the staff. But after all everything was clear. While waiting to qet in the ferry I said goodbye to everyone (it was easy cause you were standing in a military-lookalike-queue by your bikes and nobody was wandering around...). Tears were close.
At the ferry we enjoyed a nourishing sausage and mashed potato lunch. Tuomas also made a little interview about me and my thoughts for the Day 5 film. Ella and Mace adjusted the final finesses for the presentation in Rostock.

Ella and Mace at the office.
The crossing of two hours went rapidly for me, cause I spent most of the time weeping, partly because of joy.

Ali "look, no chains" and I.
When the ferry arrived to Rostock harbour there was an exciting act to happen. Everyone rang their cycle bells when the bow port of the ferry opened. The welcoming committee and other half of the film crew was waiting, filming and waving at the dock. The view was spectacular! All motor vehicles had to wait that the parade of proud library folks had left the ferry. I hopped in Urpo's van and I listened the last farewells for me from the walkie-talkie. A glimpse of the last yellow vests catched my sight outside the harbor area.
Urpo and I navigated to Rostock railway station. I kept telling how wonderful the trip had been and how lucky I was to be able to work with such marvellous persons. We found the station easily. Shaked hands and hugged. Then Urpo was away.
I sat on a bench on the platform and tried to think for the past week, but a humming echo and flickering pictures mixed in my head. Of course an exhaustion also began to demand its tax. On the train to Hamburg I started to rearrange the memories and wrote memories to my notebook.

Hamburg Hauptbahnhof - main railway station- was like I remembered it from my interrail-trip. Crowded, noisy, and like at age of 19 I was busy to catch the connecting train.

At the airport I didn't have the time to eat, so I was eagerly waiting for dinner at the Hamburg-Riga flight. In vain, they didn't serve it on a short flight like that. I bought a sandwich. I also began to be really tired but couldn't get any sleep during transport. The connection at Riga airport to Helsinki was swift, I simply walked from one plane to another and it departured immediately. Again, no food on the plane but it wasn't so important anymore, my head hit the window repatedly cause I tended to fall asleep again and again.
I'm always for, when it comes to workers rights, but this time the Italian strike of luggage personnel at Helsinki Airport caused that I only see the rear lights of my bus to Turku. So I tried to take a nap at the airport lounge. Finally, at 3.50 am I climbed in the bus and after two and half hour ride I was back in my hometown. A short trip with taxi and at 6 am, at home. My cyc4lib was some less than 300 kms and only 25 by bike, but it was a whole trip for me.
I knew already in January that I wouldn't be able to make the whole trip, because of personal reasons. Of course I was sorry not to go all the way to Berlin. But I didn't stop being with the caravan, I kept following the blogposts, links, Kirjastokaistas excellent films, Facebook updates etc. I really admire all of you. It was an honour to work and travel with you.
We did something that never was done before in library world.