Degerfors, Sweden

Day Thirteen 131 miles 5128ft

Of all the days this week, today was the one I was most concerned about, as on top of a big mileage, the weather forecast had always been poor. 

The day dawned with a milky gray sky and although the sun did try to come out for a minute, it stayed gray  all day,  much like the sky in the TV series Wallander, which would always put you off visiting Sweden rather than see the super views we have had so far. 

As well as gray, today was easily the coldest day of the tour with the temperature ranging from only 11- 15C. We have to remember that we are now only about level with John O’Groats. This was thanks to the North wind which for much of the day pushed me along nicely. 

The day started by running alongside ski resorts on one side, on what amounted to hills only as big as the North Downs, and dairy farms on the other. A strange mix. 

  
As usual the road then climbed, but I had a very good run to coffee, which was not taken until 40 miles, as we managed to go round opposite sides of the same very long lake!

Next up came another 15 mile stretch of gravel road which as usual went up before going back down

  
This was the long and winding road today and there was one truck I saw coming the other way.  I guess that I have now ridden the best part of 100 miles on these tracks on a road bike and whilst no expert they remind me of my rally days. Making sure that you look as far ahead as possible, scanning for potholes, changes in surface colour or texture and ready to make very early, gentle changes of direction as rapid changes cause rapid falls particularly on descending. 

It was during the descent that I noticed such a change in colour and I managed to slow down enough before hitting a very soft patch of gravel and although getting a big wobble on, kept upright for the full 100 yards. It was only when I got to the camper that Nigel said he saw it being laid only 20 minutes before I got there!

  Today a luxury steakwich lunch was taken at 2pm after 70 miles at the top of another big climb. 
One of the highlights of the day was then a 500 ft drop over 3 miles and overtaking the camper as we came into the town at the bottom, as Nigel slowed to obey the speed limit. 

We are still in Hillbilly country as this old jalopy shows

  As it was to be a long day, a third stop for tea and biscuits was decided upon and although it remained cold the weather continued to hold off, apart from the odd spot or two of rain, unpleasantly though everything was greasily  damp with the moisture in the air. Overall as the day panned out, I think I was very lucky as this fantastic wedge shaped mountain of cloud shows.   

Saw some more nice flowers today but with very slow internet will put them up in my next Natures Corner slot. 

  
I do not listen to music whilst I ride and am often asked – well once actually, what do you think about alone on your bike all the time? It really depends on how easy the road is to ride. Dirt roads and city streets leave no time for wild thoughts, but pounding along a good straight road with nothing much to see will obviously make you think of family and work and what to write in today’s blog and being in Sweden  for so long made me think I would really like a Volvo with three large Hella rally spot lights on the front just like they do here, what do you think Line?

Having held off all day, the rain started about 6 miles from camp. What made it worse was that with 6 miles to go I saw the camper only 500 yards away, but on the other side of the river with the nearest bridge 3 miles upstream!

After such a long day, my longest cycle ever, and the second most climbing of the tour so far, and at the fastest average, I feel better than yesterday. Even Strava sent me a congrats on the day, saying I was 11 out of over 17,000 people in the world today   Such acclaim. 

After the exercise,  a proper Swedish meal of meatballs and Kopperbergs cider. 

A shorter day tomorrow,  but rain looking more likely again – we will see, only three days left in Sweden.