Copenhagen, Denmark

Day Sixteen 92 miles 2608 ft

Leg Three Southern Sweden completed. Total mileage 1671
Thank you Sweden, Hello Denmark

Today dawned sunny, but certainly the coldest morning of the tour so far, trying to avoid Russians running round in boxer shorts and conscious that we had a ferry to catch an early 8 o’clock start was achieved.  

 As you can see the mist was still hovering over the lake as I rode past

The first segment today took me up into the wooded hills above Torup and although a little bumpy, were a great way to end almost two weeks in Sweden. 

The woods were interspersed with small dairy farms and reminded me much of the Massif Central region of France except the Lingonberries were still there as well as Bilberries. 

In the middle of nowhere I came across another Geman cyclo- tourist  his bike laden high with kit, going from Hamburg to Oslo. 

In addition there are always those lakes, this one in particular was mirror like in Quality  Finally,  coming off the hills, the terrain flattened out and was more like Picardie, with big open fields and short steep drops into river valleys. 

Cycling was super tough here as the wind, which once again was from the  South East, started to get up and the cycling was certainly not enjoyable, although we kept off the main routes and even had a few long distances on cycle paths. 

 
After lunch,  across more fields a 600 ft climb over this ridge, alongside the motorway loomed into sight from many miles away. In fact it looked worse than it was, just seeing the whole thing in one go is so off putting. 

A not great descent down the other side into the wind and then more flat riding brought me to the edge of Helsingborg and the ferry terminal. 

A short 20 minute crossing followed by a 20 mile ride along the coast into our campsite situated within the walls of a Victorian fort complex again into the wind. 

 
Coming the other way obviously on their way home from work on a Friday evening were many Danish MAMILS, going about 20 mph faster than I, as they were being pushed by the wind. 

It remained dry all day for the first time for a few days. 

So the main Scandanavian legs of the trip are now completed and over 1600 miles done with 2000 to go. Nigel, Monica and I can thoroughly recommend all these countries as clean, tidy and beautiful, so worth a visit as long as you do not mind the weather or midges and mossies. A camper van certainly being the best option. 

We still cannot understand the weather,  which was awesome up north and has got colder as we venture South- just not right  

I have two rest days now- the longest of the tour- to look round Copenhagen and being joined by my wife for the weekend. 

In addition, my brother Peter is flying out Sunday to join me for a couple of days as we will cross Denmark and go into Germany. 

Next proper blog I hope to post on Monday. Please keep donating 

Thank you.