The BIG bike ride in Sweden
Wales/England/France/Germany/Czech/Germany/Denmark/Sweden/Norway/England
4th July. Day 106. I wasn't going to get any sleep. Decided creating a wind by cycling was the only way to go. So at midnight thirty started riding. Saw the moon set and the sun rise. This is the beutiful, misty Sweden I came to see. Had my first encounter with a real live Elk. Rode Risberg, Fiskarheder (where I stopped at 3am to get some water at a huge wood-processing factory - I was expecting to be able to drink straigt from lakes and rivers up here but the water has detergent foam...), Sälen (a dead winter sports place), Fulunas and to a Youth Hostel in the middle of nowhere 10Km from the Norwegan border.
3rd July. Day 105. Rode Mora, Oxberg and Evertsberg. Camping in a lichen filled forest, but the migies are awful...
2nd July. Day 104. Very beutiful ride: Rexbo, Romma and Lexsand where I got my first 'Sverigeleden' stamp. Picked up my way-marking again: Almo,Gesunda (up the side of lake Siljan) then Sollerön, Vinäs to Mora. Camping in a REAL campsite.
1st July. Day 103. Started out into a rainstorm, rode Avesta, Grytnas and Dicka to get back on my route. Then Garpenberg, Dala-Husby, Gustafs and Torsång. Lost my way-marking and went Ornås, Aspeboda, Smedsbo and then really got lost. Camping in an insect filled forest somewhere between Borlänge and Leksene.
30th June. Day 102. Rode Ribbingebäch, Sala and Broddbo. Left my cycle route and went along the main road to Avesta, a Youth Hostel and a place to do some bike maintenence.
29th June. Day 101. Rode Kmvsta, Uppsala amd Skogs-Tibble partly along some dirt roads. Don't let anyone tell you Sweden is ALL expensive, got a decent Pizza for SEK25 (One Pound = 15SEK). Found myself sleeping under the stars by a lake and meeting some of the locals.
28th June. Day 100! This is mad. One hundred days. I'll write something sensible when I get over the shock of realising this and the fact I have to be in Leicester in 19 days. Eventually got to the Vasa museum and left Stockholm. With the help of a friendly bike courier found the start of my route. Cycled Uppland Vasby, Marsta and Odensala. Rough camping in noisy wilderness near a big road (E4) two railway lines and Arlanda airport.
27th June. Day 99. I was going to hit the (bike) road to Oslo today after seeing my one last sight in the city, but what actually happened was a little different. Had an unexpected meeting with another solo traveller and spent most of the day strolling around and absorbing the atmos.
In the early eve, just as I was ACTUALLY about to leave the hostel I had my second unexpected meeting, this time of a less welcome kind. Seems I was in the wrong place at the wrong time (in fact updating this website at a government libary) when a crime took place. I was a suspect. How exciting... Anyways, the bloke was convinced I was nothing to do with it after meeting me in the flesh and hearing my version of events. Seems that pictures here and a comment here led him to believe I was some kind of travelling criminal. Fantastic.
26th June. Day 98. Not really doing much, making lots of purchases, well not lots, just spending quite a bit of cash. After so much deliberation bought myself a Leatherman tool. Back at the hostel talking to loads of interesting people.
25th June. Day 97. Having a really lucky day. Met some people that helped me find info about getting to Norway. Sweden may be expensive, but cycling maps seen to be the one exception to the rule. Hung out in the old city on Gamla Stan with my new found friends. Got caught in a tropical style storm and talked about travel, the universe and everything.
24th June. Day 96. 'Did' Moderna Museet which is on Skeppsholmen, the island the hostel is on. There was a great exhibition there called 'Path of Resistance' in conjunction with MoMA of NY. Been to modern art galleries before, but have never heard a stranger say "What the HECK is that?" out loud. Also saw the Architecture museum and learnt a bit about Swedish buildings. Amazing how it never gets dark here. I was too tired to notice this last night.
23rd June. Day 95. After the partying in Copenhagen finished went straight to the station, caught the train across the Øresund link to Malmö. From there travelled on an X2000 high speed train to Stockholm. Yesterday was midsummer and I didn't realise today was going to be such a big holiday meaning that the freight system to send my bike northwards wouldn't be in operation. Had to sweet-talk the guard into letting me take the steed onto the train. My bicycle spent 4.5 hours in first class luxury to Stockholm. Staying in the most beautiful Youth Hostel in the world, probably...
Wales/England/France/Germany/Czech/Germany/Denmark/Sweden/Norway/England