Day 11: From Rendsburg to Breiholz

Date	12 Dec 2025 (Friday)
Today's Distance:	11 Mi / 17 km
Today's route
Total Jutlandica:	61 mi
Total Germany 2025	61 mi
Total Spain 2025	245 miles.
Total All Caminos:	2414 miles
Lodging:	€ 69 @ Bootsman
Total Lodging:	$ 629
Airplane(s):
Total Airplane(s) / Insurance:	$ 1020 / $ 132
Buses / Trains / Taxis & Rides:
Total Transportation:	$ 111
Food:	€ 19
Total Food:	$ 301

Weather was colder today than it has been so far. Temperature was more like 43° all day long, which is down about 7° f from what I had most of the week so far. 

The temperature on tomorrow's hike is going to be in the low 40s again, but on Sunday looks like it's going back to the high 40s or low 50s. 

As always, in Northern Germany at this time, the skies will remain mostly cloudy if not completely cloudy.

On the Road

Started with a slow, easy breakfast at the hotel in Rendsburg. 

Packed up and headed down to the Kiel canal and started walking. 

Starting the Kiel Canal in Rendsburg - looking backwards to Rendsburg.

And this is where I'm headed

It was pretty straightforward as the walkway along the canal is well maintained. 

Here I am on the second part of this Camino that turned out to not be a Camino. The hood is up because it was colder today.

Throughout the hike I had several big commercial ships come through the canal. 

It was exciting to watch these big ships hard at work delivering product throughout northern Europe.

For a while I had this passing fancy that I could get back to sea by being a crewman on a freighter. 

Lol, this was only half a ship. When they passed me. I could see that the whole back half was gone. I guess it's going for scrap.

Just dreaming of me being at sea again.

I think any ship is a beautiful ship.

By about 1:30, I had reached the end of the hike for my first day along the canal. The endpoint for today happened to be the ferry crossing, so there was a place to sit down and have something to eat for lunch. 

When I finished, I turned inland to get to my hotel. 

Had some confusion on check-in. Through booking.com, I accepted a room with a shared bathroom. But at check-in, the assistant told me that there was no water available in the room. I believe there was an error in translation.

I got switched to a room with a private bathroom with a free upgrade from my original request. 

Later I discovered the TV was not working, so I went outside to look for somebody to assist. 

I ran into the manager of the property. Through conversation with her, it turns out that the assistant should not have put me in the room she did, and I should have been where the shared bathrooms were. 

Now the confusion comes in on the term shared bathroom. To me, that means two adjacent rooms with a common bathroom. What it means at this property is an exterior bathroom.

Anyway, because of the malfunctioning TV, the manager offered to change me to an equivalent upgraded room. But  I had already unpacked everything, included my laundry. 

So she offered to give me the key to the room next door and if I wanted to watch television, I could just go over there for the TV.

Further the booking.com listing did not mention Wi-Fi. However, the manager gave me the information and I connected to the Wi-Fi in the reception area. 

When I got back to the room though the connection kept dropping. So I felt like I was without TV and without wi-fi. 

I did later go into the other room and begin watching TV. Not the best solution, but she did offer to allow me to change rooms, and I said no because I didn't want the bother.

So a little later I went to the restaurant part and ordered a coffee. 

While sitting in the dining room, the manager asked me if I wanted to eat dinner here. They have a buffet here for about $30. I explained that I eat small suppers. I didn't say it, but all-you-can-eat buffets are usually a waste of money for me. 

When I asked if a salad was possible, she offered me an option for a small plate at only 10 €. A reasonable compromise. Basically I only go to the buffet bar once.

Slowly but surely things are working out.

Later I made my way to the dining room for the buffet dinner. My German was halting but I was able to get a few points across about how I could have a limited selection. 

The young man behind the counter in particular was very helpful by using very simple German. Everybody smiled and was kind and sympathetic that I was a little in over my head. 

But at no point did I feel embarrassed. Instead, I felt that people were helping me figure out the expectations. 

Even the people at the table next to me when I sat down with my food wished me a good dinner, and when they left they all said goodbye. 

This has turned out to be a pleasant and enjoyable experience.

The Eider river runs alongside the canal

Meaningful Moment

Watching these big ships come by on the canal. 

Random Thought of the Day

Just a few more days on the trail before I return to the States. 

Adriana texted me today to see how I was doing.

Happy with how the German is going. It is survival skills, not conversation, but I'm happy with that. 

Booked my next two nights of lodging which gets me through the rest of the hike. 

Really glad I bought new gloves yesterday. I really needed them in today's cold. 

German practice

Dear walkers and cyclists!

The canal-side paths have been built exclusively for the operation and maintenance of the Kiel Canal.

You are welcome to use these paths. Service traffic (which can also be private cars) must be given priority.

WSA Nord-Ostsee-Kanal.

Do not start to stop and never stop starting

Waterways and Shipping Office

North-Baltic Sea Canal Permit No. NOK/111