The Long Way Home - Sweden

Day 16 – Gothenburg – Distance: 17.7 km

Spent most of today on the ferry from Norway to Sweden. As ever I was very early for check in and when I got on the ferry there was a complete lack of seating that weren’t in a smoky bar or restaurant.

We finally arrived in Gothenburg shortly after 6pm, so all the shops had just shut. As a consequence I ended up picking up a free map from a petrol station that clearly shows the location of every Statoil petrol station in Sweden but burger all else. My cash card has also stopped working and I am staying at the world’s most expensive campsite. I would’ve have complained but the receptionist is most charming.

Day 17 – Falkenburg – Distance: 136.5 km

Didn’t write much yesterday as I was in a mood (not like me). Much more chipper today, although I have no idea why as I spent the day wrestling a strong headwind, normally a recipe for terminal depression.

With my appalling map navigation was also an issue (when isn’t it?). Got lucky out of the campsite, although not with the receptionist sadly, and I soon picked up a good cycle path to Saro, one of the few towns actually marked on my map. Presumably there is a petrol station there.

It was immediately apparent that the stiff Southerly breeze was going to hinder my progress all day. With few twists and turns in the road and no hills whatsoever there was absolutely no escape. I had a definite feeling of having sat in a tepid hair dryer all day. It was a testimony to how flat it was that I covered 136 km. With a similar strength tailwind I estimated 200 km would’ve been possible.

As I approached Falkenburg I got caught in a heavy shower. I decided to give the very cosy looking youth hostel a go to make a change from camping and to reward myself for a tough day. However they were full so I payed 280KR (~£20) to stay at the caravan park next door. A bed in the dorm in the youth hostel would’ve been 170KR.

Day 18 – Angelholm – Distance: 119.6 km

Very stormy night but the tent held up ok. My initial, bleary eyed impression was that I would have a (very strong) tail wind today. Sadly I had been mistaken and although the wind had shifted a bit it was still predominantly in my face.

I worked hard all morning and covered 70 km by lunch which I contrived to eat at a petrol station by a very busy road despite spending most of the day passing through attractive seaside resorts. Bruddy map.

I didn’t really get going after a lunch, a common problem. I bonked horribly climbing a hill – yes a hill, 4 km of very steep hill – just outside Bastad. Bastard. Spent a while cramming chocolate into my face in a very hot bus shelter. It was so hot I nearly dozed off so I decided to cut the day short. A few easy miles lead me to Angelholm; a pleasant little town where I was able to check my email in the library. The campsite was even affordable. As a result, and due to panics about running out of cash with my dodgy cash card, I have too much Swedish Krona left and will get to Denmark tomorrow. The ground at the campsite is so hard that I snapped a tent peg.

Drying my washing in Angelholm, Sweden

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