Circumnavigating The Baltic

Below an account of my recent trip riding around the Baltic Sea and the Bothnian Gulf.

 

Day 1

Left early and pointed Tiger towards Germany. Save some heavy traffic around Hamburg all was plain sailing to Puttgarden, Germany from where I booked my ferry to Rødby.




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A 45 minute crossing, and I found myself in Denmark. I booked a place to stay about 60 miles from the ferry. Once off the motorway the countryside is really pretty here.




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Digs for tonight:




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Then of course a flag added to the collection…




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And now:




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day 2

Left early, and made for “the bridge”. No pictures as you can’t stop on it, but impressive!
Into Sweden on some nice roads.




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A nice castle, too:




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Very pretty countryside.




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Then to stay with friends.
Good day.




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Day 3




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Started the day with some coffee, and got on the road. No motorways, just N roads, which are good - great surfaces, and very little traffic. The area I’m in currently is not that good for views though, as most roads cut through the dense forests. Every so often you catch a glimpse of a nice lake.




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A lock in a small town…




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Another glimpse…




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Now in a “Stuga” in the small town of Norberg. Further North tomorrow!




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Day 4

Hit the road after my morning coffee, and was pleasantly surprised the scenery started to open up. Not so much dense forest anymore, but more arable land interspersed with woods and lakes.




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Around midday, having previously been surprised my satnav sent me on a 10 mile stretch of gravel roads (thanks Tiger for giving me confidence) I stopped for an al fresco lunch.




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Then on I went, more lakes and forests (predominantly Spruce, Pine and Birch)




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Just before I got to the Höga Kustenbron (bron means bridge to you and me) my satnav decided to play silly buggers, so it took me a while to actually get to it - but when I did:




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Just gorgeous.

Only 30 miles to go, so I enjoyed some more lovely roads.




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Now in digs, enjoying a beer.




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Day 5

I woke up to an overcast, angry sky and rain. Fortunately after breakfast the rain had stopped, so I set off on wet roads. Those dried off a couple of hours in, so all was good again…




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Until I hit this - a 12 mile stretch of fresly laid, deep, not compacted gravel… Not my idea of fun, but hey-ho, just get on with it…




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After that it was easy going again, just enjoying the scenery. Bike is now filthy though…




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Home for tonight, cheers!




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Day 6

I left my lodgings pointing North again, and the first two hours were very pleasant, although at 13C significantly colder.




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It then started to drizzle, but still not too bad.




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The drizzle soon matured into heavy rain though, which was not so nice, as I still had 3 hours riding ahead of me.




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My boots (1,5 years old, goretex lining) are completely sodden, and my rain gear (jacket, trousers, new and first time to use them) leaked everywhere. Bit of a nuisance.

Anyway, I oughtn’t complain, as this is the first rain I’ve had on the bike this year…

I’ve now entered Finland, but sadly too wet to stick a new flag on the topbox…




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Day 7

Today I reached the northernmost point of my journey, the Arctic Circle. I crossed it in "Santa Claus Village… "




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My route from there would take me East, then South. Fortunately the weather was not as wet as yesterday - just a tad damp and dreich, with the occasional shower.




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I also encountered some locals:




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And more pretty scenery.




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Some nice roads today, all very enjoyable. Home for tonight:




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Day 8

Woke up to a beautiful morning, so sat out with a coffee.




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Packed up my stuff and got on the road, heading South.




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I was basically following the “Via Karelia”, very pretty.




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When I got to digs it was unfortunately too late to go up Ukko-Koli - that’ll be for some other time…




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Had a great (and dry!) day though!

 

Day 9

Further South today. The day started off somewhat grey…




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Things gradually improved though, and having seen a few earlier this trip, I now got an opportunity to capture these Eurasian Cranes on “celluloid”.




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Continued on the road… more nice views…




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And then stopped at the castle @Arctic_fox recommended - well worth the time!
And, @Oldskool , no ugly bikes in the way this time…




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I took the liberty of removing the bridge, so as to show what it would have been like - the castle was deemed (and was for a long spell) impenetrable, and this shows why…




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Then more nice roads and views…




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And finally on to my hotel.




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Day10

Last kilometres in Finland today. A short 185 kilometres to Helsinki, and on the ferry to Tallinn, Estonia. A 2 hour and 15 minutes voyage.




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View of the old town from the sea.




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A 15 minute ride to my hotel, where the bike is safe behind a locked gate. Then off to the old centre, looking for some grub.




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Grub was found - lovely blood sausages with potatoes and white cabbage (a bit sauerkraut-y) I could have opted for bear, but thought that was too pricey…




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A good day yet again!




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Day 11

I left Tallinn, heading towards Riga. The scenery was not particularly inspiring at first.




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After I crossed the border into Latvia it got a bit better.




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I reached Riga, checked into my hotel (bike parked behind a barrier in an enclosed parking) and went for a wander about the old town.




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After that I had a lovely ribeye accompanied by a yummy local beer…




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Not a bad days riding!


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Day 12

I lef Riga under an overcast sky - the weather today was a mixed bag in fact, grey, sunny and one 15 minute shower.
An hour and a half in I reached the Lithuanian border.




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Next destination was the hill of crosses A place I’d read about an was curious to see.




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Then on to Klaipeda, where I was to board the ferry to Travemünde, Germany later.
But first I got on a little ferry to take me to the Curonian Spit




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Once there I climbed over the dunes to some fantastic views:




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From there I rode the entire “Spit” to where one’s not allowed to go any further.

Beyond the signs lurks the Russian Bear… No kidding - that’s actually Russia behind me there…




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In the process of getting there I hit some sort of a mile(kilometre)stone for this journey:




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Then back to Klaipeda, found the ferry terminal, checked in and bike lashed secure.




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Long ferry ride - I’ll disembark in Travemünde tomorrow afternoon at 18.00. So one night in Germany and home from there.

(I forgot to take a photo of my tripmeter today - today’s distance was about 395 kilometres… )

 

Day 13

Was mostly spent on the ferry.

The white cliffs of Møn, Denmark.




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Got off the ferry at 18.00, then a short ride to my digs for tonight.




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Day 14

Rode away just before 08.00, bike pointed home. An uneventful slightly boring motorway journey.
Got some petrol just before crossing into The Netherlands.




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Home at 13.00 on the dot, and was greeted by mrs. and dog.




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The entire trip:




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All thoroughly enjoyable, thanks for watching!

 

Thanks buddy, I'm glad you enjoyed it!

 

Thanks @Markus - not as elaborate as @Sandi T , but I've done my best....