One of the many lessons I should have learnt is that, if the food looks dodgy it probably is. I think the vague looking sandwich I had on the ferry to Sweden had been made by someone long retired from the catering business. Luckily I have three pair of cycling shorts and stayed in a somewhat grand hotel that night in Varberg. Somewhat recovered, I set off for Gothenburg some 90 k away, passing thru some rather picturesque areas.

and small ports and numerous bath houses.

In Gothenburg I stayed with the Ellegårds who live atop one of the highest mountains in the city meaning a hockey stick climb higher than just about all of Denmark and certainly higher than any on my journey so far.

It turns out that I arrived on the eve of Sweden’s National Holiday. So next day Lotta, Lars and went for a 10k coastal row around some islands – but only after Lars had raised the club colors and Swedish Flag

oh, plus a 10k ride to get there another back up the “hill”.

Another lesson I have learnt is – don’t assume you can take your bike on the trains – even if the Raileurope.com site says you can. Sweden does not allow bikes on trains. So… Another change of plans and instead of heading to Oslo then taking the train to Stockholm,

I always intend to start nice and early but rarely seem to – despite the fact it’s fully daylight by 3:30m and the sun rises at 4:15am. So I left the campground at 9:15 and not at 8.

The scenery has changed considerably and is mostly forests that have been punctured with hundreds of lakes, and even here, they all seemed to have a house on them. However, like Denmark, there are many empty or abandoned houses throughout. But the more people move to the cities, the more they want a summer house.

So far, I seen hares, rabbits, one dear, no elk and some cranes

Finally after 103 k and one ferry crossing, I reached my camp for the night and a gourmet meal of 2 things I think were ravioli and a pasta-ish sauce mixed with Tesco’s instant mushroom soup plus a cup of tea.

Southern Sweden does not appear to do Sundays. In Ljungby it took a while to find a cafe open for coffee.

this being one of the main streets, so back into the countryside where things were more interesting.

This Rune stone (circa 1000 AD) raised by a son to his father. Around the area were many graves and others Rune stones going back to 600AD.

So much for history, lunch time and the impact of no razor since NZ.

It’s been a long ride since Varberg but I’ve reached the Baltic and clicked over on a 1,000 kms since the start. The days have started blurring together. And for the most part it seems I was in forests or woods alongside lakes. Every so often something catches ones eye like this cross high up on the side of a barn.

The ride north from Kalmar to Oskarshamn has to be one of the most wonderful bike rides, assuming the weather co-operates. It is relatively flat, has little or no traffic for most of it and goes thru quiet forests.

Oskarshamn has the quiet feel of a place that is slowly fading. Quite a few stores are empty. Passenger trains no longer run here and the station is a place reminisce about years long gone.

There are no prizes for guessing where I am now…..

As the the morning rain came early and left before breakfast, I decided to cycle to Stockholm rather than take the train. I had read that the bike route was a up and down and all around route ( roughly 90 ks verses the signposted 56 k by car) and that turned out to be true even though I never got about 90 metres above sealevel. 

Having overcome the shock of the hustle and bustle a big city after being in quiet country places, I have come to the conclusion that Stockholm would have to be one of my favorite cities, above Paris even! Besides, it has the ABBA Museum! A place in indulge in reminiscing of the satins and pop of the 70s.

Pirates of the Caribbean eat your hearts out -this is the real thing 

 

 

And on to where the sun doesn’t sleep