As I was in a hotel and the hotel didn't serve breakfast until the ungodly hour of 0700 today was "doomed" to be a late start. It wasn't made any better when I discovered that my bike was locked up until the reception staff turned up at 0800.
On the road by 0805 and soon left the urban metropolis of Kungsbacka behind. The bike route soon picked up the Gingsteleden which proved to be an excellent route avoiding all the main roads. The countryside changed away from primarily agriculture and became more touristy as the route followed an old railway that at one point seems to have connected a lot of the smaller coastal communities.
It being a Sunday meant I met a lot of lycra cladd weekend warriors on their carbon fiber road bikes coming the other way and one such encounter ended in grief, though happily for once not for me. Came to a bend in the route obscured by a bush so kept to the right. As I cam around the corner though I met a gaggle of Sunday cyclists coming the other way. The guys all panicked a little and moved to their right which was ok for the ones at the front. Sadly though the guy at the back ran out of space and couldn't react in time so ended up tumbling to the tarmac. Ouch!
Also met a lot of other touring cyclists coming the other way. Some stopped to chat (a couple from Germany and a guy from Norway) but others just waved and cycled on. I realize that there is a lot to be gained by stopping and swapping tips on what lies ahead, what to see and what to avoid. The best encounter was with a fellow Brit (hi Martin) who was quite a character. Seems he works for 6 months then goes off cycling so he was on his way slowly North. Was able to tell him all about what to expect down to Helsinki :) A lot of trees for sure and crappy gravel roads.Cool thing about him is that he carries nothing electrical, doesn't even know what time of day it is let what day it might be :)
Arrived in Halmstad only to find that they are hosting the womens european football championships so finding a hotel was going to be an issue. After 141KM though I wasn't in the mood to to try that hard I have to admit.
Took a stroll around town but not much to see. A lot of SVT trucks around and the torget was full of tents.
A great days cycling though
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