This blog entry is the first contribution from the three bikes themselves...
134.32km in 6hr40min. Pouring rain.
Averaging 20.1km, sppedo malfunction again: max 145.7!
We spend the night huddled together for warmth as the rain beats down on us, rinsing the dry lube Alice applys insists on applying to our chains daily- when will she buy wet lube!
The girls are safely ensconced inside the hostel, although the peace of the night is disrupted by Hazel nightmare screams.
We're unlocked and packed up suprisingly early for them. 10metres down the road though we stop for them to unpack their waterproofs- they are slowly learning. Maybe one morning they'll manage to emerge suitable attired and avoid these tedious costume changes!
Cykelsparet leads us on to the e4 and with Hazel in the lead we spin along quickly, the girls are already discussing coffee but cafes in Sweden don't open until 10 so we press on, kilometer after kilometer.
The rain is bearing down incessantly, Alice and Hazel have fashions cut offs from their waterproof trousers- amazingly the customisation makes them look more ridculous- Alice's rude boy baggy below knees and Hazels over knee drenched wet tight thigh look.
We the bicycles all agree Phillipa is the most stylish. We are also looking quite tidy now the girls have bought us some flash Sweden stickers fo our frames- wish they had thought of this from the start!
Our most exciting road section today is over the High Coast suspension bridge, we have overheard Philippa informing the girls that it is the biggest bridge in Scandinavia and the ninth biggest suspension bridge in the world! It was very high up, sadly it was quite foggy so the girls didn't take any snaps.
Over the bridge and the girls are devastated that there is no town or service station fo coffee. We don't know why they keep rambling about service stations- in the past 1000miles where has there been one?! And yes we are all very proud when we roll over th 1000mile mark today- happily on our favourite e4 timely.
We hit the Swede's track excuse for a road. Oh how our poor spokes long for the tarmac carpet of the E4- if only he girls weren't as wary of the traffic! The wet sands/grit is exceptionally difficult to cycle through and we are as relived as the girls when we chance upon a cafe in the village hall of Ro. The girls have waffle and ice cream while we cool down.
We now go inland, and on the high coast that means up hills. The first one is so steep we worry should the girls stop peddalling we'd fall down off the road! They don't, and Hazel's bike is most relieved that her knee is better as she whirls the pedals and nips up the hill.
Up and up the hills go with only small down hills, quite exhausted the girls chance apon a little wooden house bus stop where lunch is consumed. The village is named Sand, and it is remarked- "What do you call a witch eating smorgasbord in the village of sand? A swedish sandwich"- much hilarity... The girls now spot from their window an old lady wearing a red cloak walking her poodle. This sends them into hysterics as they discuss wolves and woods.
We hit the road again finally the toils of uphills pay off and we are soaring downhill with Alice's bike zooming away. But suddenly the clouds fully break open and we are screaming down hill in a monsoon, limited visbility and stinging rain. The bottom finallly comes and we are now on the main road into Sundsvall. A rest stop in a bus stop on the E4 interception, we ogle the motorway (category 1 E4 section which we are not allowed on) while the girls eat jam and peanut sandwiches.
The rain is wet rather than vicious now and we set off into the endless suburbs of Sundsvall. It is boring and lasts over an hour as the girls follow a windy route in. But eventually the city and a room for us inside the hostel reception for the night. Happy and tired we are locked up and sleep while the girls find a turkish pizzeria. When in Sweden...
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