Day 11: From Finland to Sweden

Turku to Mariehamn with Viking Ferry.  Ride across Åland to Eckerö, catch ferry to Grisslehamm, then ride 20km to Fawlty Towers near Hallstavik

Our room - B&B Tuure, Turku

Turku from the Viking ferry

On the top deck, before the cold wind
got to us!

A lot of engines at the bottom of the funnel

Seaside villages

Summer Holidays!

So a big day!  We started early being carefully packed up the night before.  Breakfast at ½ past 7, then on the bikes down to the harbour to catch the ferry to Mariehamm,  Åland.  Åland ‘belongs’ to Finland, but is autonomous, having its own parliament and flag even.  But it feels much more Swedish, all the signs are in Swedish and it is a very tidy and well kept place.  But we had a ferry to catch on the other side of the island and weren’t sure of the road ahead, so we pushed off and headed west on Highway 1 (there were only 3 highways anyway!)

Thanks MS Amorella, Viking Line

Midsommar Pole still standing

The flowers & greenery have died, but the other decorations
are still there - this pole is typical of Åland

The country-side sounded much the same with tweeting birds and a breeze in the trees, but already the pines were outnumbering the birch trees.  There was a lot more farmland than I had thought, with very healthy crops of potatoes coming along nicely and signs saying “Nypotatis” very hard to ride past and ignore!  And Loppis signs everywhere!!

No time to stop for coffee here

Are we going the right way, Gary?

Three flags: Sweden Åland & Finland

Our ride to Sweden awaits

Haloumi with heaps of yummy vegies

Or chicken and vegies!

The ride was really nice though – a bit of traffic but the drivers are so considerate so no worries and bike paths a lot of the way.  We made really good time, 20kph average, even some not too serious hills included.  The ferry was smaller but still crowded with day shoppers – stocking up on their alcohol collection and Toblerone – and playing the pokies.  It is quite a different experience, travelling on these ferries as a lot of people travel to Åland to take advantage of the duty free shopping.    Anyway a comfortable 2 hours chugging across the Baltic sea to Sweden. 

We arrived at 7:30 Sweden time, having gained an hour in the crossing, so back onto our sturdy steeds and another dash of about 20km to get to Langer’s Hotel (alias Fawlty Towers).  The traffic from the ferry was a little tiresome in the beginning  – bus loads of happy shoppers going back to Uppsala, trucks and cars – but soon we had the road to ourselves and we were back into to forest lands with pretty rich looking farmlands – large establishments with huge barns and plenty of healthy crops of grain already with heads of grain ripening in the long hours of sunshine. 

I haven’t been whingeing about the weather because it’s been really good – quite warm in fact – and at last riding in shorts and short-sleeved shirts!!  We must be on a holiday!!

Langers Hotel, alias Fawlty Towers

The main dining room

A game of pool?  or rest by the fireplace maybe?

Good night!

Langer’s hotel was a mixture of Swedish / English old-fashioned but luxurious hotel.  It has a really good feel to it and I would highly recommend it to anyone in the general area – in fact go out of the way to stay there.  Apparently ‘Basil’ is a well-known DJ in Sweden and there is a feeling of ‘pop-star’ somehow within a traditional home….  Yeah I know!!  But it works!
And when we arrived the kitchen was still open – I think when Anna is there the kitchen is open!  Karina had chicken, but I asked for vegetarian and received a large plate of vegies, same as Karina but with slices of Haloumi cheese – hmmmmmmmmmm my favourite!!  So smiles all round!!

We didn’t have time for a game of pool in the drawing room near our room, or time to lounge in the comfy sofa in front of a fireplace (well, its summer and no fire) but this hotel screamed “comfort” every which way…  and our beds were calling us.

Sweet dreams

Two little teddies to
watch over us!

So now in Sweden – our Finnish adventure over and just memories now. 

 My computer stats:  58km – 2:54hr riding time – 20kph avg: max 41kph