From Bonn to Göteborg
A sunny week on my way north
Although I know from the beginning that it is already too late in the year to
see the midnight sun, I start full of enthusiasm. In the morning I buy a new
rear wheel for the bike, then I check the preasure for the last time - and
leave Bonn at about 2 p.m.
This first afternoon I cycle to Wuppertal to meet my parents. The next morning I have to face steep hilly roads on my way to Münster. But I don't want to bore you by telling the way through Germany. I sleep in youth hostels in Diepholz, Bremervörde and visit a girl friend in Hamburg-Rissen, where I start the next morning for Kiel.
The first six days are done, 100 km a day average. A hook of my
Karimore pack is already broken, so I see for it to be replaced at a bike
shop. In the evening I get on board of the Viktoria of the Stena
Line. I don't sleep much this night as many other nights during this trip.
I don't even take breakfast on board to save some money. But I buy 400 g
pipe tobacco that will last to the middle of Finland. There is rain on the
air and dark clouds when entering Göteborg harbour.
The way towards Trollhättan is badly signposted, so I make some extra kilometers trying to get out of the city. I make about 130 km today and camp in the woods. There are too many loud german and british tourists on the official sites.
Nature is plentiful and rampant over here. If you had the time to collect
all the fruits you could probably live on that. However, I succeed in
collecting some definitely eatable mushrooms. So I have a kind of steak
of yellow boletus.
Though the swedish people are friendly if asked for help, they
are rather reserved - and so is the country. I feel the vasteness of the
country side and the emptiness of the big roads while cycling north
through hilly parts of endless woods. Unspectacular may be the correct
description as I have no foto to present. The speed limit of 50 miles an
hour is respected by nearly everyone. This makes cycling very agreeable
in the middle of Sweden. Some entertainement along the road: An ICA
landthandel, combined with a filling station. Coffee is sold by the
cup you get once while refilling is not cashed. I make use of that on rainy
days.
