Day 25 Nora to Karlskoga...Hazel

Sunday the 15th of August
48.17km in 2hours 1min
Averaging 23.8kmph
Max 57kmph


I never feel that rested after a night's sleep in the tent. Colby claims she get's her best night's sleep in one. Dubious statement considering her eyes are as bleary as the rest these past two morning's.

So it's Sunday. It's a sunday lie in. Followed by porridge. Some deliberation on where and which route to take. We all decide that as it's Sunday we should behave in a manner that fits and not do very much.

We have breakfast- I insist this is eaten on the nice warm dry tarmac rather than the cold damp grass which I had to sleep on. It's all about the tarmac carpet this tour for me.

Tent's packed we decided not to take Sverigleden's off road trip down an abandoned railway line which presumably they envision cyclists rolling down at 3mph cooing at old sleepers and other such artefact. No it's a nice tarmaced cycle, pedaled as fast as our heavily loaded and Sunday bodies can manage.

I enjoy the road immensely, no gravel, not too much traffic, no pot holes and some nice hills to climb and bomb down.

So everyone get's a decent bit of exercise and we arrive at Karlskoga in time for lunch. Bread and squeesy cheese are produced. I suggest a chip butty for a change and nip off to get some fries. Double carb sarnie- can you beat that as a cycle tourist?

So hotel it is as the hostel has no computer and all of us are behind electronically. Keyboards are tapped and unfortunately it's rather a late night.

Dinner is a dilemma. Our emergency suppiles carefully stowed away since Norwayare starting to disintergrate. But with no kitchen the idea of finding a park to Camp Colby Citchen is mooted. Unfortunately our motorway side choice of hotel has no nearby parks and evening is ebbing away into the night. Phillipa suggests the park benches outside the hotel entrance which is met with a chorus of groans. Colby Camping Citchen therefore gets it's first indoor cook off in our hotel bedroon. Alice is safely downstairs tapping away, whilst I am the kitchen porter with strict instructions no to go within 1m of the stove.

Then sweet slumbers in the kitchen/dinning area.