Bike and train 2009: Sweden to Italy

Day 1: Ringebu to Askim Strand; biked Gøteborg to Askim Strand (11km)

27th April, 2009

I barely made it to the train. Thanks to Ewa and Per, I did. That is what one get for hitting the piss the day before in a big after-season party on a ski-resort.

After a few months planning, I am here, in Sweden, ready to begin my journey in Europe. I arrived in Gøteborg after a long train ride from Oslo. It was a little late in the afternoon, around 5pm. I had my things packed in four panniers, plus a sleeping bag, tent and a front handlebar pack. I caught a tram and headed to a bike shop. When I arrived, I walked in and asked to buy a bike. After maybe ten minutes, as my father nicked named it, "Trigger IV" was purchased.

I loaded my gear on in, and I headed south-west towards Askim Strand to find a camping place. I arrived outside reception hours, so I just snuck in and set up camp. That night, I had a bloody huge thunder storm. Luckily I was bit tired from a combination of my hang-over, the long trip from Ringebu to Oslo to Gøteborg and my little 15km bike journey to Askim. So, I slept like a log!

Day 2: Askim Strand to Solbacken Hostel, Kärravägen 77, 432 95 Varberg (approximately 65km)

28th April, 2009

This was a early start. 4am: woken by birds, so I packed and hit the road. The journey south was amazing. Little Islands dot the coastline in a combination of greens and blues. I stopped at Nordgård Bakeriet in a little place called Norra Lindås. Bread and sugar - just what I needed. TI was served by a girl that looked almost identical to my friend Mandy in Melbourne. he journey swang inland through Kungsbacka and back out to the coast where farms and gorgeous coastline was everywhere! I continued riding south through a little village called Åsa, Where I stopped in to use the internet for a bit. I continued south for a little bit more and decided to stop at a little backpackers called Solbacken, where I camped the night.

Day 3: Varberg to Halmstad (approximately 92km)

29th April, 2009

I was really glad stopping the night outside of Varberg. I had a chance to use the next morning to explore what a wonderful little town Varberg is! The old town centre was bustling with early morning market activity, the port was unloading early deliveries, people out running, the old fort with morning light on it and standing like a diamond on the ocean was the old bath-house.

I continued down the coast. 25 °C. Perfect weather. Getting a tan. The town of Falkenberg sits on a little river, that is dammed at points. The old centre, the flowers blooming and the blue skies were picturesque. The sun was so warm that I was forced to stop for a few ice-creams at Kro Cafè Strandkanten just near Haverdal on the coast to Halmstad. The is a huge amount of wind-powered generators along this strip. Oh, renewable energy, how I love you. I finally called it quits after cycling through Halmstad in a dodgy camping site (I snuck in) near a highway of some type.

Day 4: Halmstad to Helsingborg, via Båstad and Angelholm (approximately 93km)

30th April, 2009

Another warm day, reaching 27 °C. I have not had this warmth since I left Oz. No shirt and going strong. This part of the journey is probably the highlight of my entire journey. I is more about the combination of emotion and feeling, smells and warmth, visually perfect stimulus and total peace-of-mind. The journey went inland a bit, but then went back to the most wonderful part of Sweden to Båstad and over green hills, colourful meadows. The entire journey south went through so many farms. Because of that I was thinking quite often about my friends Jolene and Brad; and how I could retire on a farm...

After probably one of the best days on the tour, I spent the afternoon going through Ängelholm , stopping off at the little marina for lunch. Unfortunately, the day ended getting lost near the IKEA in Helsingborg. At this stage I was tired and burnt and just wanted to find a place to sleep. I guess that is why this evening and the next was a little disappointing. In retrospect, the historically significant war town of Helsingborg was nice, but I liked Halmstad more. So I spent most of the evening studying my German and Italian for my university studies. This is one reason for the journey south...

Summary after Sweden: one word... Sunburnt. In a few more words, the nature and journey surpassed any expectation I had, but built up new ones instead...

RIDDLE ME THIS: Why are the Information Centres in Sweden ALWAYS closed?!?!?