I am sorry! Its been so long since Ive written... Since Ive been i Sweden i have written so many word in my head that never made it out into the world. To be honest... I have been so busy RIDING MY BIKE to do anything else. So heres a summary of my trip so far
I landed in Sweden on the 19th of June and spent my first night in the beautiful city of Uppsala. There are bikes everywhere / every house, shop, apartment block has bike stands (full of bikes) outside of them and there are bike lanes everywhere. My sort of country...
I Start riding the next day which was an interesting combination with the jet lag. The Swedish countryside is amazingly pretty / think wildflowers, little gingerbread houses, cute horses, lakes, old churches, Hansel and Gretel forests. And me. Lost actually. At least for the first 6 hours anyway.
My plan in Sweden has been to follow two of the national cycle routes through the county. First the Sverigeleden from Uppsala through central Sweden, and then the Cykelsparet up the East coast and though to Finland. The signs are at every intersection you come to and the routes have been easy to follow (once I found the first one). They dont always go the fastest way, but tend to avoid the main roads and sometimes are on gravel roads and in some pretty remote areas.
So I have been following these routes for the past two weeks to the city of Umea on the east coast and have done 1282km. Three things I have felt so far >
1. Cared for
Daylight is a constant companion here. Due to the latitude, it never really gets dark. If you were here in Winter, however, it is dark that will accompany you everywhere. The ancient rite of Midsommer which is celebrated on the solstice is a time for new and old celebrations in the countryside in Sweden when everyone is enjoying the light and the life. i rode into a pretty town called Stora Skedvi on midsummer’s eve and stopped to ask three women / Tuija, Ingrid and Birgitta directions for a campground. they just happened to be SUPER LOVELY and Birgitta invited me to spend midsummer with them and stay with their family at her farm. Awesome. So, a quick change on the side of the road, incredible concert in an ancient church, a street parade, the raising of the may pole (which I joined in), dancing around said pole (yep, that too). Then a quick ride sans panniers to the home of Birgitta and Lasse. Birgitta prepared an amazing traditional feast which we had in the yard and Tuija taught us some special little drinking songs... After a lovely breakfast (can still taste the fresh berry jam on the homemade bread), the whole family waved me off on my little bike, with a full belly and a happy heart. Bless you all.
I have mostly been taking advantage of the super sensible rule in Sweden that you can pretty much camp anywhere as long as you dont disturb anyone. I have camped in hay paddocks over looking lakes, in the forest, at a water skiing club, and other camp/worthy places. And even proper campgrounds sometimes. After a long day riding in a fairly remote area I rode into a little village called Nianfors. I found a tiny park on a beautiful lake with a picnic table and a jetty. I went and checked with the nearest house to see if it was OK to stay there. Lucky for me this was home of the SUPER LOVELY Brigitte who says yes you can stay, and this is where you get water, and theres where you can find the key for the town hall so you can use the bathroom. Sweeeeet. and the next day, brings we down and coffee and later I visit for another coffee, a fresh pastry and a wonderful little chat about Snow Scooters, Uranium (NeJ till Uran i Nianfors!), Cats, cement art and life in a tiny village overlooking a lovely lake. What a lady!
2. Wanting to throw my bike in the nearest lake
here comes the rant.
WHY AM I DOING THIS? THIS IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS IDEA! CAN I REALLY RIDE FOR 100KM AND ONLY SEE THREE HOUSES, TEN MILLION PINE TREES AND TWO CARS ? (I ACTUALLY SAID THAT ONE ALOUD) HOW COME I CANT FEEL MY LEFT HAND ANYMORE? CANT I JUST GO TO PARIS AND JUST HANG OUT? NOW I KNOW WHY EVERYONE THINKS IM CRAZY, ITS CAUSE I AM! THERE IS NO WAY IM GETTING BACK ON THAT BLOODY BIKE. DOES EVERY HOUSE IN SWEDEN HAVE TO BE RED? IS THAT HORSE LAUGHING AT ME? MAYBE I COULD JUST LEAVE IT UNLOCKED SOMEWHERE BUSY AND SEEDY LOOKING ....
I havent cried yet. close.
3. HAPPY
There have also been significant moments of happiness and contentment and satisfaction. Peddling along serenely beautiful lakes, lying down in a field of wildflowers watching the sky (actually I think i was passed out.. but anyway), Meeting great people. The incredibly old things including churches, cities, rune stones and burial mounds from when the ice caps were peeling back from this part of the world 10000 years ago. The fact that it gets easier and I get stronger each day. Oh, and the bread. There is nothing like Swedish bread. Seriously.
Using my own limbs to achieve something and knowing that people are supporting something that is important to me ~ the future of the Tassie Devil.
So... I guess ill just keep riding
Kat x
(sorry, no photos yet, but I will get there!(
I landed in Sweden on the 19th of June and spent my first night in the beautiful city of Uppsala. There are bikes everywhere / every house, shop, apartment block has bike stands (full of bikes) outside of them and there are bike lanes everywhere. My sort of country...
I Start riding the next day which was an interesting combination with the jet lag. The Swedish countryside is amazingly pretty / think wildflowers, little gingerbread houses, cute horses, lakes, old churches, Hansel and Gretel forests. And me. Lost actually. At least for the first 6 hours anyway.
My plan in Sweden has been to follow two of the national cycle routes through the county. First the Sverigeleden from Uppsala through central Sweden, and then the Cykelsparet up the East coast and though to Finland. The signs are at every intersection you come to and the routes have been easy to follow (once I found the first one). They dont always go the fastest way, but tend to avoid the main roads and sometimes are on gravel roads and in some pretty remote areas.
So I have been following these routes for the past two weeks to the city of Umea on the east coast and have done 1282km. Three things I have felt so far >
1. Cared for
Daylight is a constant companion here. Due to the latitude, it never really gets dark. If you were here in Winter, however, it is dark that will accompany you everywhere. The ancient rite of Midsommer which is celebrated on the solstice is a time for new and old celebrations in the countryside in Sweden when everyone is enjoying the light and the life. i rode into a pretty town called Stora Skedvi on midsummer’s eve and stopped to ask three women / Tuija, Ingrid and Birgitta directions for a campground. they just happened to be SUPER LOVELY and Birgitta invited me to spend midsummer with them and stay with their family at her farm. Awesome. So, a quick change on the side of the road, incredible concert in an ancient church, a street parade, the raising of the may pole (which I joined in), dancing around said pole (yep, that too). Then a quick ride sans panniers to the home of Birgitta and Lasse. Birgitta prepared an amazing traditional feast which we had in the yard and Tuija taught us some special little drinking songs... After a lovely breakfast (can still taste the fresh berry jam on the homemade bread), the whole family waved me off on my little bike, with a full belly and a happy heart. Bless you all.
I have mostly been taking advantage of the super sensible rule in Sweden that you can pretty much camp anywhere as long as you dont disturb anyone. I have camped in hay paddocks over looking lakes, in the forest, at a water skiing club, and other camp/worthy places. And even proper campgrounds sometimes. After a long day riding in a fairly remote area I rode into a little village called Nianfors. I found a tiny park on a beautiful lake with a picnic table and a jetty. I went and checked with the nearest house to see if it was OK to stay there. Lucky for me this was home of the SUPER LOVELY Brigitte who says yes you can stay, and this is where you get water, and theres where you can find the key for the town hall so you can use the bathroom. Sweeeeet. and the next day, brings we down and coffee and later I visit for another coffee, a fresh pastry and a wonderful little chat about Snow Scooters, Uranium (NeJ till Uran i Nianfors!), Cats, cement art and life in a tiny village overlooking a lovely lake. What a lady!
2. Wanting to throw my bike in the nearest lake
here comes the rant.
WHY AM I DOING THIS? THIS IS THE MOST RIDICULOUS IDEA! CAN I REALLY RIDE FOR 100KM AND ONLY SEE THREE HOUSES, TEN MILLION PINE TREES AND TWO CARS ? (I ACTUALLY SAID THAT ONE ALOUD) HOW COME I CANT FEEL MY LEFT HAND ANYMORE? CANT I JUST GO TO PARIS AND JUST HANG OUT? NOW I KNOW WHY EVERYONE THINKS IM CRAZY, ITS CAUSE I AM! THERE IS NO WAY IM GETTING BACK ON THAT BLOODY BIKE. DOES EVERY HOUSE IN SWEDEN HAVE TO BE RED? IS THAT HORSE LAUGHING AT ME? MAYBE I COULD JUST LEAVE IT UNLOCKED SOMEWHERE BUSY AND SEEDY LOOKING ....
I havent cried yet. close.
3. HAPPY
There have also been significant moments of happiness and contentment and satisfaction. Peddling along serenely beautiful lakes, lying down in a field of wildflowers watching the sky (actually I think i was passed out.. but anyway), Meeting great people. The incredibly old things including churches, cities, rune stones and burial mounds from when the ice caps were peeling back from this part of the world 10000 years ago. The fact that it gets easier and I get stronger each day. Oh, and the bread. There is nothing like Swedish bread. Seriously.
Using my own limbs to achieve something and knowing that people are supporting something that is important to me ~ the future of the Tassie Devil.
So... I guess ill just keep riding
Kat x
(sorry, no photos yet, but I will get there!(
2 comments:
You go girl :) Sounds bloody marvellous - especially the bread, sunshine and people. U r going to be so bloody fit physically & mentally - that marathon will be a breeze. All good and wintery over here in Albury. Big hugs from us all Nicky, Tim, Josie & Diggity
Aw hay Albury people! I often think about u when I'm riding. Sometimes I imagine I am Nicky sailing up and over those alps following Le Tour. I can still hear her saying "yep, I had FORM". Hope I get some form in time for the Norwegian fjords and cirques. Ill go eat some bread for you. Kxx
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