Day 5
Refreshed after a restful stay at the hostel at Hunneberg we set off following Lake Vänner on it’s south coast. A good decision as the northern side is all evergreens and much hillier.
This day took us to a wild camp on the beach of Svälnas nature reserve, an idyllic spot, but infested with mosquitoes!
The day was quite eventful with some head wind and group cycling speed records as well as about 4 punctures on Sascha’s bike and the beginning of a slowly worsening slow puncture on mine. We rode through some very flat open agricultural country to start off with and stopped at the best lunch stop ever , at a viewing point over an airfield . We were the lucky spectators to numerous Grippen landings and takeoffs, this being Elliot’s favorite plane, each appearance was greeted with mad dances and much joyous yelling. Unfortunately photography is forbidden in areas overlooking the airfield!
The camp spot was a little off piste but beautiful despite the irritating insects.
Managed to drum up a salmon stew on the beach in coconut milk. The water was frigid, went in for a quick freezing dip.
Day 6
Our destination, following numerous puncture repairs which determined the next day’s route, was through Lidköping to get some gravel resistant tyres for Sascha. Despite an early waking we were thwarted from an early start by more punctures, this time Tim’s bike. We headed into town, had a magnificent wrap lunch and replaced tyres at a Spaniard’s bike shop. He was friendly. Sascha tried to communicate in Spanish before realising that he was better off in Norwegian with the Spaniard. We got what we needed in the end!
The afternoon had us following the south coast of beautiful enormous Lake Vänner (with goûter and swim stops of course) through idyllic countryside and cycle pistes to another lakeside campsite, this time with full facilities.
