30/5/19 Oskarshamn to Kalmar

87.5km.  Total 285.1km

Today was a tough day in the saddle!  Strong headwinds gusting to 30kph - 5.5hrs riding time.
Beautiful quiet roads again - lots of bike paths that seem like they're in the middle of nowhere.  But I'm guessing this part of Sweden gets fairly packed in July and August.

The day started out in glorious sunshine - was even thinking that I mightn't need my arm warmers, but by the end of our ride it was only 10deg plus a significant wind chill.

No huts available at the campground so we're in the tent again.  8.30pm in bed as the only warm place to be and the light sound of occasional rain drops.  We'll see what tomorrow brings.....

29/5/19 Vimmerby to Oskarshamn

72.3km  Total 197.7km

Another pleasant day of cycling through the Swedish countryside today.  A bit warmer, less rolling hills and a wonderful tail wind.  Finished in glorious sunshine on the Baltic coast.

28/5/19 Rimforsa to Vimmerby

64.6km  Total distance 125.4km

More scenic riding today.  A bit warmer - got to about 14deg compared with yesterday where it never got above 10.  And no rain today.

Found the only place open in Horn to get a coffee - at a lovely campground.  The owner had been to Australia to visit her son who was studying architecture at Deakin Uni, so she was very chatty.

Vimmerby is the birthplace of a famous Swedish author - Astrid Lindgren.  I might have to read the kids book 'Pippi Longstocking'.

In the centre of Vimmerby, there's a book exchange - excellent idea for Bright.  Check out the length of my shadow!

27/5/19 We're on the road - Borensberg to Rimforsa

Borensberg to Rimforsa.  60.8km

After 2 weeks in Stockholm being looked after by our wonderful Swedish family, we're finally on our bikes and heading south.  Tommy, Lin and the kids took us hiking in the Swedish countryside, mountain biking, boating on the Swedish archipelego, fed us on cinnamon buns and generally treated us so well.

Today, Tommy dropped us about 200km south of Stockholm beside the Göta Canal.

 Hadn't decided which way we should be going!

The riding was delightful - cold and a bit damp but lush green countryside, lots of lakes and rolling hills.  We made a slight mistake with navigation and ended up on this rediculously busy rode with wire barricade down the middle for a couple of km.  We wanted to live, so the only option was walk our bikes on the outside barrier.

In Linköpping, we rode past an Ikea and couldn't resist Swedish meatballs for lunch!

We stayed at a Folkhögskolla in Rimforsa for the night.  A good start to the trip.