White Lightning

Many Danes don't have cars thus all the great bicycles and trains.
However Rasmus and Mette do have a car and they fondly refer to it as
"White Lightning" because of it's agressive looks and superb driving
characteristics. Not because it's a white Ford Escape esque station
wagon with 180k plus miles.

They offered me the chance to borrow WL and take her to Legoland. I
didn't want to impose but I said yes because Legoland would take two
days via bike and I only had half a day. After a quick test drive
around the block Rasmus handed me the reins and I was off with White
Lightning.

I love driving and I love biking but each has it's place and time.
White Lightning ran like a champ and without her Legoland would have
been impossible. Thanks Rasmus and Mette.

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:55.4497
Longitude:11.8906
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:05/02/2009 04:54:19 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=55.4497,11.8906&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:55.3319
Longitude:10.7614
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:05/02/2009 04:35:14 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=55.3319,10.7614&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:55.7367
Longitude:9.1296
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:05/01/2009 03:41:14 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=55.7367,9.1296&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Arhus - Our House

Last night I arrived in Arhus, home to Rasmus, Mette, Christian and
Han-Henrik who I met in Colorado Springs. They treated me to a great
picnic and have even given me a place to sleep.

I'm so jealous of all my Danish friends because all of them bike to
work in under 10 minutes.

I have picture on my camera-camera that I will post.

Now it's time to go visit the land of plastic blocks :-). Know what I
mean? Wish me lucky, I resting the bike today and driving Rasmus's car.

So lush

I could not have better weather, roads or scenery. Everywhere I go is
gorgeous with either lush fields or forests. It may rain here most of
the winter but it does a good job helping things grow and stay green.

6000km of pedaling

The first thing I saw when riding off the ferry in Grenna, DK was a
map of the North Sea Cycle Route. Some might call it a dream and
others might call it a nightmare but I think all would call it F...ING
LONG!!!

The North Sea route is 6000kms and follows the coasts of Scotland,
England, Netherland, Germany, Denmark, Sweden and Norway. Yesterday I
rode 60km in the afternoon so at that pace I would need 100 days to
complete the route. I better start saving my vacation and get some
well padded shorts.

Just incase you want to do any route planning here's the website.

http://www.northsea-cycle.com

Cruising the high seas

Was it a cruise ship or ferry?

The ferry from Varberg was many times larger then my last ferry from
Helsingor. On the ferry there were 2 levels for vehicles, a level
with sleeping cabins, a general level with shops, restaurants, casinos
then a top level with outside deck.

It was only 4 hours from Varberg, SE to Grenna, DK but in that time I
imagined what it might of been like for my Swedish grandfather. He
left home and the farm at 15 to become a sailor and then sailed for 12
years.

While we cruised the seas were calm but there was a steady brisk
wind. For most of our crossing you could not see any land. I can
only imagine how scary it might have been on a small wooden ship, in
rough seas and in the middle of a large unforgiving sea.

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.1407
Longitude:10.1808
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/30/2009 11:03:39 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.1407,10.1808&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.1972
Longitude:10.2511
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/30/2009 09:54:56 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.1972,10.2511&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.367
Longitude:10.5861
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/30/2009 08:11:28 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.367,10.5861&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.4083
Longitude:10.9252
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/30/2009 05:26:09 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.4083,10.9252&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.5462
Longitude:11.28
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/30/2009 04:11:21 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.5462,11.28&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.7633
Longitude:11.8486
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/30/2009 02:38:13 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.7633,11.8486&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Swedish Firewater

Not much to say besides sunsets are pretty.

Really? Nakenbad!!!

I have heard about and I even joked about it but I have yet to see
it. However I now have proof that it really does exist.

Varberg Fortress

For many years Denmark and Sweden fought over southern Sweden because
of it's valuable farmland. It was in those days that Varberg fortress
was built.

Fortunately the Swedes and Danes are no longer fighting so now you are
allowed to explore the fortress and even take pictures.

Varberg dinner goodies

Can you believe all that good food. I don't know why I think buffets
are an American thing but they aren't. Tonight we enjoyed our third
buffet and got to enjoy all sorts of things.

I have no idea what things are called but there was ham wrapped in
bacon, meatloaf with sweet pickled cabbage, fried breads with berries
and many other things.

There was also one very unique thing that was all sprouts. It
included wheat sprouts, barely sprouts, red bean sprouts and garbanzo
bean sprouts. It kind of tasted like dirt but I imagined how good it
was for me so I ate them up.

Modern windpower

And today the wind is good if you are trying to generate electricity.

Historic windpower

There's no denying it, the Swedish coast is windy. That's a good
thing if you are grinding grain.

Bike rack

It was a beautiful day with a slight breeze but I didn't ride my bike.

Instead I threw my bike on my parents rental car and hitched a ride to
Varberg, SE. I wanted to ride but it was 75 miles of rolling hills
and the allergies were kicking my butt.

Tomorrow I will catch the ferry to Grenna, DK.

Allergies in bloom

Ever since landing in Denmark I have been fighting a runny nose. I
thought it was a cold from the airplane but now I think it's allergies
because I feel fine except for a runny nose which will not stop and
causes me to cough.

Paul's home

Before Paul left for America this is the farm he grew up on. Even
though it was many generations ago the farm is still in family.

Potatis (Potatos)

Glimminge, Sweden is where my Swedish grandfather came from and it is
where many of the relatives still live and farm. In his days they
farmed various grains like wheat and barely but these days it is all
potatos.

We had several good farm tours and learned a lot about the land and
farms. Many thanks to Erik, Bobil, Jan, MaiBritt, Thorsten and Frida.

Weak beer

I now know why my Swedish grandfather worked with a German brewer and
why the ferry from Denmark to Sweden was full of people with cases of
beer. Its because Swedish beer is weak.

In Sweden you can buy three types of beer. 1) Weak = 2.2%, 2) Strong
= 3.5% or 3) Export = 5.0%.

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:57.1087
Longitude:12.2436
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/29/2009 11:52:59 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=57.1087,12.2436&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Cousins cottage

One of the Swedish cousins and they are letting us there. It is very
pretty with potato fields on one side and the beach on another side.

We are so lucky. Thank you Erik and Bidal.

Travel - Lindstrom reunion

For as many wrong turns as I took, I arrived at the reunion just in
time to eat!!!

It was a great event with approximately 50 people. Great food,
stories and songs were shared by all.

Skanska Cykelsporet

The southern Swedish state of Skane is supposed to be one of the best
cycling regions in Sweden. Even though I have not ridden anywhere
else in Sweden I might have to agree.

As I rode from camp at Leberget to the reunion at Glimminvagen via
Angelholm I encountered a wide variety of riding and sights. Between
Leberget and Angleholm I rode paved but peaceful one lane roads from
farm town to farm town. Then between Angelholm and Glimmingevagen I
rode more one lane roads plus everything from dedicated bike paths, to
seaside dirt roads and wooded dirt trails.

The route I haphazardly rode was anything but straight or direct but
that was OK. I was riding my bike to enjoy the country side by
slowing things down. Getting from point A to point B in the most
direct way or shortest amount of time was not the point of bringing my
bike.

EccoNote voice recording.

Camp sounds

Lerberget camping

Helsingor, DK to Helsingberg, SE

My route was anything but straight but I did make it. More to be said
later.

Danish country roads

Time for some biking pics. Denmark and Sweden are both full of
countless bike trails and country roads.

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.3773
Longitude:12.7048
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/26/2009 10:12:27 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.3773,12.7048&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.4054
Longitude:12.7308
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/26/2009 05:09:56 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.4054,12.7308&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.3361
Longitude:12.7771
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/26/2009 04:02:39 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.3361,12.7771&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Chips for salt

Hangry in Sweden

Not familar with hangry? Well if you ever get angry when you get
hungry then you know hangry.

In a post about Copenhagen I mentioned how things are open late and
there are a ton of people out. Just so you don't get confused, that
is ONLY in Copenhagen and not the rest of Denmark or Sweden. As I
biked through the countryside yesterday and today from Copenhagen to
Leberget, SE to Glimminage, SE it was impossible for me to find
anything to eat but a gas station pastry and a ferry pre-packed
sandwich. So last night when I got to camp I ate my pre-packed
sandwich with a few m&m's and went to bed hangry.

Then this morning I woke up early and decided to start pedalling. I
left camp at 6:30 and was hopeful I might find a good breakfast
place. Well, those hopes were crushed as I biked from town to town
where everything was closed and no one was outside except for an
occasional farmer or jogger.

Eventually I found my way to Rabocka camping in Angleholm where I
learned restaurants don't open until 11am on Sundays. I don't know
how the Swedish do it but I like my breakfast before 10 at the VERY
latest.

Fortunately Rabocka had a camp store. The choices were sparse like
might be found in communist Cuba but at this point food was food. I
got chips for the salts I sweated out, 3 pastries because those were
the only ones left, a bottle of mineral water because that was my only
choice and a little thing chocolate drink.

Mark
B.














http://oklacolo.blogspot.com

Powered by Nutella

Yesterday in Copenhagen at the hostel I had my favorite Nutella for
breakfast. If your not a fan of the creamy chocolaty hazlenut spread
then that's OK because it means I will not have to share with you.

In addition to the Nutella I had several coffees, orange juices,
cheeses, meats and hot fresh breads for my jam and Nutella. That may
sound like a lot of food and it was but if I had known it would be my
last meal for 26 plus hours and 100 miles of biking I would have
forced down a couple more servings.

OK ESN:0-7341053

Bike touring Denmark and Sweden from 240409 thru 030509.
ESN:0-7341053
Latitude:56.2455
Longitude:12.8545
Nearest Location:not known
Distance:not known
Time:04/26/2009 00:43:54 (US/Mountain)
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=56.2455,12.8545&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1