Day 14: ever onwards and upwards

Looking out the window this morning I was greeted with blue skies and the flags only slightly flapping...  truly!!  after a good brekky again, Maggie and me headed off out of town and into the forests of Kalmar county... I was on a minor highway 125 - not much traffic, but the forests were cleared back from the road.  a good road for driving I guess, but after awhile it gets a bit boring for a cyclist. the forests are starting to change to more pine tree, but there's still the odd maple, oak and sycamore tree, but lots more of the birch trees with the white trunks and black markings.  so I did a couple of deviations - had some snack breaks up into the forest until I eventually got to the small town of Rugstorp.  A zink to the left onto a narrow dirt road was much more interesting, especially as there were more timber trucks lumbering along the highway.

then another zink to the right and I think I was now riding along an old railway track - no ballast or iron tracks, just a straight flat track.  I saw a sign saying Gamla Jarnsvag - which I think translates into old railway - so I was happy.  A red deer dashed out in front of me and then back into the forest almost too quick to see.  then I saw a legless lizard - about 30cm long, trying to warm up on the track...  and just a little way on again, a dead snake, which had probably been trying to warm up also...

and then!!!!!!!! could they be lily of the valley leaves??  just a small patch!  on closer inspection, yes, there were some buds and one lot had started to open...  and then just a bit further on, another larger patch and this one had a lot more buds and flowers, so I did just pick one little stem of flowers.  the perfume is so really different....

so Tick!!  my list of things to see is getting smaller and smaller now...  have seen windmills aplenty, standing stones, castles, old buildings (just dashing past mostly!!)  pretty wildflowers and blossoming trees with lots of new spring leaves - and now lily of the valley.  Am pretty chuffed with this trip for sure.  Only one bitter cold wet day (there would have been 2 if I hadn't been smart and not caught the train!).  so tomorrow night I will living with the Goths!!  On Gotland of course.  Ferry doesn't arrive till 11pm, so will have to wait till the following day to start my exploration of that island!  have planned a week there, but might include a rest day in some nice spot or just catch an earlier ferry if there's no hassle with that....  stay tuned...  pics from today may get uploaded tomorrow on the ferry if there is wifi...