I read on the internet that during the off-peak season,
cyclists are allowed to ride on the bridge to Öland. But how to get onto it? I headed off along Hwy137 to Öland, saw
signs saying no bikes so I asked an old geezer struggling
on a trike and he just said, with a nose drip and a frown – cyclist
forbjudt!! Which means No… hmmm…
so I turned around and met a couple walking along and they confirmed
that I need to go back into town (10km) and catch the ferry…. But…
the guy must have seen my look and said, well, the bridge is very close,
its just down there and to the left and thru the car park…. IF you were to ride on the bridge…. Oh! I
might just have a look… so off I go… it
looked a bit daunting, but I don’t think it is as high as the Gateway and I
have been over that (on the cycle path of course) but no cycle path here – just 2 lanes of
traffic in each direction – and not much traffic… do I go?
Dang it – I’m off! Yes, it was a
grind going up but I managed to maintain about 15kph and not totally in granny
gear…. And then at the top – hmmm…..
there does seem to be a lot of water still to cross – so swoop down and
keep pedalling. It was about 7km all up
and I got beeped at by 4 motorists – otherwise no worries… but I did see where the ferries leave the
island, so shall go back the proper way!
So Öland! It has a
World Heritage listing to preserve its long standing agriculture history… fields are still configured in much the same
way as way-back… of course canola is a
new crop and their tractors are pretty damn flash… but I think it’s to recognise the continuation
of farming on the landscape… or
something…. I stopped off at the Karlevi
Rune stone – tis surrounded by canola at the moment and the rune engravings
have been topped up with paint as is the way here – apparently it was erected
there in about 1000AD… so it’s been
around for awhile…
Then onto the Wetlands for a spot of birdwatching – and I
was amused by the Tofsvipa (or Lapwing in English) swooping anything that came
close to its 2 little chicks that were pecking around. But nothing really unusual there, so back on
my bike and heading south.
I did see a Black Woodpecker tho – it swooped out of the
tree on one side of the road and flew off chattering away. And I stopped to listen to a nightingale and
I even saw it hiding in the twigs!!! Am
hoping the gopro recorded the sound, but haven’t listened yet…
How can the weather be soooo different from one day to the
next. Today it was cloudy to start off
but they were gently blown away leaving a nice blue sky again. There were some clouds around and they were
building up in the evening, so I wonder what tomorrow will bring! Tail wind and blue skies please J
So another wonderful pedalling day – and I am spending the
night in such the cutest little cabin down by the coast. Yes!!
It is cold here now – but the wind has dropped and there is a heater
here in the cabin if it gets too bad….
But I do like these little cabins – they are such doll houses…
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Looking back to the Bridge - didn't dare stop along the way! |
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Karlevi Stone |
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weird boll on a forest tree |
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cute fungi |
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flowers for Erica |
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Highland cow, down on the lowlands |
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wetlands for birdwatchers |
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there Is a nightingale in there!! |
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there's always someone who does it a bit different!! |
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little boat harbour |
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ex-grind stone |
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heaps of dry stone walls - these flat stones very popular |
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a windmill!! one of many I found out! |
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giving Maggie a rest |
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old stone tough - or is it a stone coffin?? |
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a leafy avenue thru a small town... |
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old and new |
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the further south the more often this "Nullabor" landscape appears - something
to do with the limestone |
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another windmill - don't think these are in use any more... |
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my cabin - Bofinken |
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the view from my window - maybe in the summer it could
be filled with tents and caravans! |
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Inside Bofinken :) |
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looking back to Sweden mainland |
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wildflowers down at the beach |
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stoney beach with the aroma of rotting seaweed - ahh smells like Pt Mac!! |
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no sunset colours due to large band of thick clouds on the horizon
what will the weather be like tomorrow?? |
I absolutely LOVE that last photo.
ReplyDeleteThat cottage is gorgeous!! Xoxox
ReplyDelete