Distance covered 104 MILES!!!! or 168km
in 7hr 48min
average speed 21.5kmph
max speed 60.4kmph
odometer reads 1884km
Up with the larks we felt just as knackered as usual, depiste our rest day and super early night. After a breakfast of bircher muesli (how continental!) we were quick sharp out the door and in the saddles by 7am!
Very impressive for us leisurely diners. Legs felt very tired and progress was initially very slow across the High Coast hills. Heading west we gradually moved away from 'the coast' towards more beautiful lakes and rivers. Pine tree followed pine tree and before we knew it it was coffee time, in the small ski town of Hassela, 50km down and only 10.30am! Of course we put ourselves a little behind schedule by making coffee break last over an hour, outside a bus station cafe, what with the fresh Danish pastries (sorry Swedish pastries), double coffee, triple toilet breaks and hysterical laughing fits. Much to our fellow German diners bemusement.
We pressed on, and after some confusion over which way to head on the road 305 we decided south was probably the best option, seeing as we were headed for Italy. We by now, have left dear friend Cykelsparet and his buddy the e4 behind, and are following rival bike path 'Sverigeleden', roughly translating as *sweden road*. Meaning, it attempts to not only take the most scenic (hilly and winding) route possible but also attempts to travel down as many different 'Sweden road' as possible, when one would suffice. We ignored many deviations and ploughed on in a roughly straight line. Gradually the High Coast disappeared and we began to spin along nicely over the rolling landscapes, as ever lake on one side, forest on the other.
We pushed on hard, despite Hazel's complaints of stomach ache after supplementing her Danish pastry with a jam cracker with peanuts on top. Before we knew it we were in Delsbol, our intended lunch destination, 100km by 1.30pm! Outside the supermarket we spotted some familiar bikes and faces, the 'DIY cycle tourists'. Two young Swedes on single speed granny bikes, whom we initially passed on the way into Sundsvall in the pouring rain. Spotting their bikes, and basket luggage strapped on, carrier bags hanging off every part of the bike, I dubbed them the DIY cycle tourists, despite Hazel and Phil insisting they were daytrippers! Sure enough, true to my prediction, they turned up at the hostel in Sundsvall, not long after us!
They set off for Hassela yesterday, during our rest day, so once again we were level pegging! Not that it is a race you understand.
We had a picnic by a railway museum and after an hour we were back on the road, rolling along nicely. After 10km we spotted DIY's again, taking a dip in the lake. We will probably bump into them again no doubt, the hare and the tortoise and all that. On and on we went, determined to achieve our first 100 mile day. An awesome downhill section is caught on video, as we overtake each other at 37 miles per hour! makes all the uphills worthwhile. After initial plans to wilderness camp, with another big day on the cards tomorrow we decide to find cheap accommodation in Bollnas, and get a good nights sleep. As we pick up the pace the last ten miles or so fly past in perfect peloton formation, at around 20mph we cruise down to Bollnas. Celebrating our 100 miles with a nice Greek meal (where confusingly I ate the national dish of Turkey) we retired to bed by 9.30 and slept soundly. A good day behind us, and hopefully another ahead tomorrow.
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