nbjtours

Day Seven 111 miles 3210 ft

I had to start today’s update with a photo I took last night at 10.30ish from the back of the camper

  
Leaving once again in a cool mist for    the first section, with arm warmers on, the best sites were early on, with the highlight being the world famous? Svartbyn tractor museum, which as you can see had tractors lined up, rusting away in the garden. There were probably twice as many on the other side too. 

  
The road here was ok but I then had a 15 mile section on the main E10 North – South road which although not that busy, had massive timber trucks passing every 3-4 minutes, which was most unpleasant, except for the lovely pine smell they left behind 

Turning off this road, which had followed the river, the road to Boden was a rolling affair between lakes, rivers and hilltops, as ever looking stunning in the sun. 

  
At the 30 mile coffee stop we decided to push onto Boden for the next rendezvous and grab lunch in civilisation – a full 36 mile section. 

Strangely,  we then came across a 4 km section of the otherwise fully tarmaced road, which was still dirt or should I say golf ball sized lumps of granite more suited to road foundation than top surface. Nigel had reccied the road and was waiting at the start of it to warn me. 

Having learnt my lesson from yesterday, but Refusing a lift, as to cycle on this would only lead to more punctures. I then swapped my cycle shoes for trainers,  so I could walk the rough bits, but get back on where the gravel was ok to ride on. 

Here there were more farms and pastureland and the landscape was softer. 

No reindeer today for the first time in over a week 

Boden as ever was a clean and tidy small town with not a stripey top in sight. 

  
Having a wander round we found a super pavement cafe and had lunch, which I followed up with some Apple Cake with an overgenerous helping of vanilla cream ( Nigel and Monica were good) as the waitress felt sorry for me. 

It is incredible to think that we are still as far North as Iceland and we sat outside in the shade as it was too hot in the sun. 

Whilst in the queue I got chatting to an old man (they nearly all speak English here) who said that a mad friend of his cycled from Nordkapp to Gibraltar on a unicycle to prove he was not crazy. And some think I  am nuts!!

Sign of the trip so far seen in Boden. Caption entires on a postcard please. 
 
With the weather still good and only 27 miles to go before the proposed campsite. Nigel and I agreed to take advantage of the camper and good weather and that as long as I was ok just before the campsite we would crack on another 15 miles and wild camp to reduce tomorrow’s 130 miler when rain is threatening in the evening. 

So I am writing this in the camper, parked up 100 yards off the road having eaten, showered and locked out the insects for the night, after cycling 111 miles today with a similar distance to a campsite tomorrow- fingers crossed it stays dry.