27/08/2012 - Oslo to Israel - Prime example to why I tour on a bicycle. Day 3

Distance cycled: 114km from N58 49.160 E011 15.718 to N 58 24.209 E011 29.414
Average speed:19.6km/h
Moving time: 5h50m
Total distance: 307km
Money spent: 16SEK on some cream cheese about $2.50

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https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5QjT0obb9fnSEJNc3RHTHcxeVk/edit

What a day! The weather was perfect, the wind blowing on my back, met some great people, got some fantastic photos and saw some mind-blowing things - all this without any exaggeration whatsoever and with very little money spent.
I started the day early because the sun hit my tent and I just knew it was going to be a good day for biking, so I managed to sort out my belongings and set off just after nine.
Last night I was looking for a way to upload maps of Europe onto my GPS but this was a lost cause because I hadn't ever downloaded the map data this meaning I was somewhat lost and had to use my navigational skills to get me closer to Gothenburg; this or just ask people for directions.
Cycling past a small Port town called Grebbestad where I stopped to take a few pictures I went to fill up on water at a kitchen countertop manufacturer office where they offered me coffee, snus (Swedish tobacco in a tea bag that you leave in your mouth under your upper gum) and printed off a map on the route that I needed to take heading south. The three people working there were kind and friendly and we shared some laughs.
I soaked up the sun and the beautiful coastal views as I headed further south and as I was enjoying the views I didnt want to take the old highway inland so asking again for directions I was given a very good map that showed everything I needed to enjoy this part of the Sweden.
Getting close to lunch I stopped for food and a short Internet session so I could call mum and dad to let them know I was still alive, also to sort out my blog and email some old friends I will be seeing in the coming weeks.
The cream cheese I bought for lunch served me well, it's so simple and makes everything taste so damn delicious eg. Bread, cream cheese with broccoli and ketchup; and for dessert, Bread, cream cheese with raisins and jam; and for a snack, bread, cream cheese jam and peanut butter. As you can see I don't have so much variety in my food bag.
Many people I met today recommended that I make my way to a small island town named Smögen that was a little bit out of the way but because I was enjoying this coastal route so much I thought 'hey, why not'. This and the small coastal towns I went through to get there did not disappoint; I tried my best to take pictures to do what I saw justice and I think I did a fair job.
When taking pics around Smögen I asked a German couple to take a pic of me where we got chatting for a while and later got an invite to join them for food down by the shore inside their 27 yo VW van. Stephanie and Kai were fun company and the pasta dish was good too. At this point it was getting late and cold and I needed to push on, with a full stomach and lots of energy I kept up the pace until it gradually got too dark to cycle.
On my way towards a town to fill up on water for the evening I met some people on the street who I asked for water and they gave me directions to a site just around the corner to some stone carvings that are apparently the oldest in Sweden dating back to the Bronze age where I also camped for the evening. Isnt that cool!? I'll take pictures of it tomorrow morning when there is more light.

Horrible stuff

Stephanie and Kai

Smögen Pano

26/09/2012 - Oslo to Israel. Entering Sweden. Day 2

Distance cycled: 102km from N 59 21.310 E010 50.565 to N58 49.160 E011 15.718
Average speed:18.5km/h
Moving time: 5h32m
Total distance: 193km
Money spent: 106SEK On groceries and a pack of cigarettes. About $15

 

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https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B5QjT0obb9fna3gxbVN3Wm9INjA/edit

 

 

One thing I enjoy while on these bike trips are the amazing sleeps I get when camping often having no idea where I am and last night was no exception, waking up after sleeping for 12 hours with only one interruption because of a downpour of rain.  I got onto the road at 11ish after packing up my things but what I was saying about not having any issues with my bike was short lived. 25km into the day I got my first flat, my rear tire is rather worn so it was expected at some point for this to happen. It started as a slow leak and I kept going till I found a decent place to repair it. I pulled over at an Indian owned restaurant with some benches out front. It took about half an hour to fix the issue where I lined the tire with duct tape to add extra protection. Meanwhile I had the woman inside charge some of my electrical's and soon after I apparently outstayed my welcome and was told to leave. When crossing the bridge into Sweden the cycle path stopped and I was left asking for directions but where I was asking nobody knew the area, eventually I made my way out and onto the old highway that ran alongside the new.  In Canada and the US I always found other cyclists to give a happy wave to me as we passed but here (meaning Norway and Sweden) people seldomally do, I tried yesterday and today with little success. Shame really, i like it when people smile.  I found myself out of energy for most parts of the day but give this some time and my body will get use to it much like treeplanting.  I stopped for a little while in a fishing town called Strömstad where I met a girl who just got back from Australia spending 2 years there, unfortunately her accent was way too ogga (thick australian accent) but I only asked for directions and was on my way.  I tried pushing myself to do more than 100km but I was tired and cycled my bike into the woods where I found a secluded flat place to camp, making dinner and caught up on some blog work.  I need to find another bottle of water as what I have is not adequate for camping even for just one night, i have about 3 mouthfuls left but hopefully I'll find a place early tomorrow to fill up. 

My tent and my home for the next 6 months

Flat tire no. 1

Enter Sweden

25/08/2012 - Oslo to Israel. Day 1

Distance cycled: 90.4km from Oslo to N 59 21.310 E010 50.565
Average speed:16.7km
Moving time: 5h25m
Total distance: 90.4km
Money spent: 80NOK on a burger, 110NOK on some groceries and 40NOK on some McDonalds. About $35 - well past my budget of $15 a day.
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https://docs.google.com/open?id=0B5QjT0obb9fnZjlwVjR1Y3pvWFE

Elsa, Hugh and I got back this morning at around 5am, I did want an early start as the weather was going to be sunny but obviously I needed sleep. After I managed to get all my shit together and load up my bike I finally was off cycling around 12. I wanted to get 100km in today and average this throughout the trip - this is what a french guy I met when cycling the west coast of the states told me to do and he should know because he had cycled over 40,000km around the world.
Trying to squeeze in some photos of the center of the city before I left oslo my sense of direction became a little off, ending up in completely the wrong area of the city.
My GPS has the map software for the America's but unfortunately not here, I will have to download the map pack to make my trip here over the next 6 months a little easier.
After a bit of struggle I made my way out of the city and onto a bicycle path that took me south towards Gothenburg, it ran alongside highway E18 and the E6 and even then it was a nicely paved bicycle path off the the road.
At one point 45km from Oslo I was starving and went to a gas station wanting to pick up something cheap - unfortunately this is Norway and nothing is cheap, so when asking the woman behind the counter she suggested to make me a burger, not only did she do this but also gave me some muffins for free.
Still, it was roughly $13 for a burger and drink.
Getting close to sunset, again I was getting hungry and was going to stop to camp and make food but there was an oh so tempting McDonald's just there and decided to go inside and get the cheapest thing on the menu, but as I keep saying about here 'not cheap at all'.
I camped in a small patch of forest across the road from McDonald's and found a great spot to set up camp on some comfy mossy ground surround by trees that I could suspend my tarp over everything. The forecast said it was going to rain this evening and good thing I did a good job of this because it certainly did bucket it down.
Day one of many, no hiccups with the mechanics of my bike and no physical injury - i'm sure this will change in due time. In regards to mental health, I’'m cycling 10,000km to Israel, that goes without saying.

24/08/2012 - Oslo day 2

Having a fantastic nights sleep Elsa, Hugh and myself faffed about their cabin till the early afternoon and set off on our bikes so that they could show me the town and so I could take some photos.
This meant stopping for a few drinks of both coffee and alcohol - a perfect combination especially with the sun out, just cruising around the town trying not to be hit by the traffic.
We found an Asian supermarket where I picked up some groceries to treat my temporary host family to a good meal before I set off cycling tomorrow. And I found something frat I have been looking for for ages and that is powered coconut milk - great for adding to noodle dishes and make-shift curries for this cycle trip.
Anyways after checking out town we went back to the cabin (not a short cycle) and I cooked up some Asian food for us all.
Later in the evening after several games of Shithead we decided against going out but after I made the suggestion to remove the derailer on someones abandoned broken bicycle on the mainland to repair Hugh's bicycle that broke earlier we hopped on a bus into town and had a few drinks with some of their friends.
It wasn't until close to 4am when we made it back meeting some annoying young kids chatting about politics on the bus that we couldn't wait to get away from. But before crashing out I mended Hugh's bike and replaced the derailer taking a good half hour - why not, repairing bicycles at 4:30am whilst a little pissed knowing that I have to cycle 100km the next day.
I have to say both Elsa and Hugh were fantastic hosts and looked after me, so thanks for the good times and I hope we can do it again someday soon.

 

 

23/08/2012- Oslo

Having woken up in the corner of the airport in the morning of the 23rd I had to make my way to the train station via the free bus service from the airport and make my way to a town with a bike shop close to the arriving station so that I could fix my bicycle. Thankfully I found one and the walk there was short. Unfortunately getting there wasn't cheap, not only did I have to buy a ticket to board the train but I also needed a ticket for my bicycle. Many friends have told me that Norway is ridiculously expensive and this my readers is so damn true.
I couldn't and still cant fathom The prices of everything but I suppose if you were to work it it would benefit a travellers lifestyle greatly.
Anyways I managed to repair my bicycle and sort out some minor issues with my bike and set off to Oslo 20km away.
It was somewhat difficult to find the cycle paths towards the city and I took many wrong turns but eventually made it for lunch where I was meeting Haakon and his friend who I met many years ago in asia, like he did in Asia for me he helped me out and paid for my lunch - all you can eat pizza. It wasn't nesessary as I have money but I really do need it to last for the next 9 months. Unfortunately our time to catch up was short as both Haakon and friend had to go back to work.
Stuffed on pizza and even taking some for the road I made my way to meet Elsa who I met a year and a half ago in central America who was letting me crash with her for the two nights I was in the city. She lived in a tiny cabin on a small island surrounded by sailboats and rich folk.
Her and her Aussie boyfriend Hugh lived here for free as it is owned by her granddad, not bad as Oslo is one of the most expensive places in the world.
After catching up over old times I had a much needed nap and was out for a good two hours only to wake up once not knowing where the hell I was looking dazed and confused.
I don't remember what I said exactly but when I was in this state of confusion I asked where I was and Hugh replyed "Norway" , my response to this was "No way" and immediately went back to sleep.
Later in the evening Elsa, Hugh and I cycled a bit around the city and drank some beers in a park where we joked about. Btw when we purchased the beer in the supermarket I honestly thought a 6 pack was around €3.50, as it turns out that was for ONE tallboy can! And that was for the cheapest beer on the shelf.