My Wife Gives Me Two Weeks Off For Good Behavior Every Year

Sunday, August 21, 2011-Trip Notes Why don't they they let you get wifi for free like in the states? I've been to very few places who'll allow a fee connection. I guess I'll wIt until I hit the info center. I set my alarm for 5:00 AM, but rolled over and got up at about 5:20 AM. I needed a shower, so I spent a little extra time on that. I packed up, got out, and was off by 6:30 AM. Fumbled around trying to find Route 140, Old Helsinki Road. Found it, stopped for breakfast, and was on my way. Pretty good. I usually get very lost finding my way out of a city. Route 140 was just too easy. All of the traffic was on highway. Add to that the fact that it was ... read more

Friday, August 19, 2011 Well, here I am after a 90 mi ride, safely ensconced in my tent! Not bad for 10 eu. I was a little depressed after leaving Stockholm. Forsaa wasn't awful, but not exactly a tourist site. The complimentary breakfast was terrible. I was served yesterday's lousy ham and cheese sandwich and a cup of coffee. I was worried that Lahti would be more of the same. It wasn't. I rode through mostly flay, but occasional hilly terrain. Leaving at 6:30, I arrived at about 4. The complimentary breakfast was terrible. Many the roads had very good bike paths for about 10 km outside of each town. I took hwy 54 pretty much the entire way. The day began very foggy & cold. I wore a long sleeve turtleneck, a vest, and flashers. ... read more

Friday, august 12, 2011 I rode from Filipstad to Orebro. Only 100 km. My legs are sore. I guess the lack of sleep, mountains, & equipment are catching up w/me. The drunken fisherman, Tomas, was up bright & early annoying me & everyone else. He was a horrible time-suck. I began the day by taking the advice of one of the campground guys & went to Cafe Luis. Re lately cheap, but not good. Big portions, & a small roll to go. That with tunfish as they say here & I not only had a mid morning snack, but a video of life on the road eating lunch. I took the main roads which at first weren't so bad. After Nora-tourist trap w/ junk shops- it really picked up! I finally took one of those unmarked ... read more

Thursday, August 11, 2011 Rode from Grasmark to Filipstad. I found where all of the mountains have been hiding! There were too many to count. I did very well. I left this morning at 9:40ish, and pedaled to Munkfors I stopped to use the computer at the tourist info shop. With a different keyboard it was very difficult. I tried to download my pics on Facebook, but I couldn't get it to work. I ended up emailing the pics to a few people. Later I rode through to Sunnemo on 241' then onto Filipstad. The mnts here are long, gradual, & never ending. I took them in stride. At the end I shot out from Munkfors to Filipstad. The final 9 km on 63 took it all out of me! I don't listen to my own ... read more

Wednesday, August 10, 2011 Well, I left Jessheim (pronounced yes-hime) this AM @ 5:30. It rained incessantly the entire day. I found a great tourist info bureau literally right on the border at morokoulian. A line went through the middle of the room denoting Norway & Sweden. I took pics standing & pointing. I finally p/u postcards but didn't get any Norwegian cards. I asked why there weren't any cards showing rain. The hostess recommended that I go to sonne tonight about 75 Km from that point. I tried but after getting a blow out after @ 10 km into the final leg, i was slowed down severely. At that point my derailer began to act up, the blowout slowed me down as well as the mountains. I guess there are mountains everywhere. When I asked ... read more