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. 20250811_0644071920×1440 484 KB 20250811_1352051920×2560 587 KB 20250811_1421191920×2560 460 KB 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. 20250811_1630551920×2560 571 KB 20250811_1631051920×1440 393 KB Digs for tonight: 20250811_1656281920×1440 475 KB Then of course a flag added to the collection… 20250811_1708531920×1440 210 KB And now: 20250811_1701391920×2560 885 KB 20250811_1702281920×1440 229 KB
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. 20250812_1034471920×1440 401 KB A nice castle, too: 20250812_1126461920×2560 705 KB 20250812_1128141920×1440 303 KB Very pretty countryside. 20250812_1205341920×1440 323 KB Then to stay with friends. Good day. 20250812_113747 20250812_141930 20250812_142246 20250812_134509 20250812_195627
Day 3 IMG-20250813-WA00061600×1200 472 KB 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. 20250813_094502(1)1920×1440 439 KB A lock in a small town… 20250813_1409481920×1440 475 KB Another glimpse… 20250813_1655581920×1440 604 KB Now in a “Stuga” in the small town of Norberg. Further North tomorrow! 20250813_173617 20250813_174133 20250813_175051
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. 20250814_0932211920×1440 512 KB 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. 20250814_123234 20250814_122848 20250814_123303 Then on I went, more lakes and forests (predominantly Spruce, Pine and Birch) 20250814_1332201920×1440 750 KB 20250814_1335321920×2560 1.11 MB 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: 20250814_163907 20250814_164018 20250814_164040 Just gorgeous. Only 30 miles to go, so I enjoyed some more lovely roads. 20250814_1717231920×2560 931 KB Now in digs, enjoying a beer. 20250814_1743231920×1440 272 KB 20250814_1756231920×1440 384 KB
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… 20250815_122923 20250815_123045 20250815_133758(1) 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… 20250815_1251141920×1440 492 KB After that it was easy going again, just enjoying the scenery. Bike is now filthy though… 20250815_1338261920×2560 787 KB Home for tonight, cheers! 20250815_145829 20250815_151347 20250815_143635
Day 6 I left my lodgings pointing North again, and the first two hours were very pleasant, although at 13C significantly colder. 20250816_103258 20250816_103345 20250816_103317 It then started to drizzle, but still not too bad. 20250816_1244161920×1440 572 KB The drizzle soon matured into heavy rain though, which was not so nice, as I still had 3 hours riding ahead of me. 20250816_1434411920×1440 419 KB 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… 20250816_1647181920×1440 309 KB 20250816_1651201920×2560 154 KB
Day 7 Today I reached the northernmost point of my journey, the Arctic Circle. I crossed it in "Santa Claus Village… " 20250817_110738 20250817_110840 1755422850688 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. 20250817_1249421920×1440 515 KB 20250817_1251261920×1440 557 KB I also encountered some locals: 20250817_1226461920×1440 248 KB And more pretty scenery. 20250817_1447541920×1440 408 KB 20250817_1537171920×1440 541 KB Some nice roads today, all very enjoyable. Home for tonight: 20250817_161709 20250817_162331 20250817_164942 20250817_211217
Day 8 Woke up to a beautiful morning, so sat out with a coffee. 20250818_0804081920×1440 537 KB Packed up my stuff and got on the road, heading South. 20250818_101628 20250818_101610 20250818_101545 20250818_101138 I was basically following the “Via Karelia”, very pretty. 20250818_121556(1) 20250818_121834 20250818_144908 20250818_145448 When I got to digs it was unfortunately too late to go up Ukko-Koli - that’ll be for some other time… 20250818_155757 20250818_160639 20250818_162623 Had a great (and dry!) day though!
Day 9 Further South today. The day started off somewhat grey… 20250819_1004411920×1440 629 KB 20250819_1004541920×1440 647 KB Things gradually improved though, and having seen a few earlier this trip, I now got an opportunity to capture these Eurasian Cranes on “celluloid”. 20250819_1057251920×1440 323 KB 20250819_1057321920×1440 175 KB Continued on the road… more nice views… 20250819_1142351920×1440 416 KB And then stopped at the castle @Arctic_fox recommended - well worth the time! And, @Oldskool , no ugly bikes in the way this time… 20250819_114902 20250819_114825 20250819_115407 20250819_115456 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… 20250819_114825(1)1920×2560 379 KB Then more nice roads and views… 20250819_125644 20250819_125715 20250819_125807 20250819_150020 And finally on to my hotel. 20250819_160400 20250819_160416 20250819_163037
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. 20250820_125419 20250820_125802 20250820_145647 20250820_150212 View of the old town from the sea. 20250820_1708291920×1440 188 KB 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. 20250820_184213 20250820_184319 20250820_184630 20250820_184940 20250820_185404 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… 20250820_1914491920×1440 418 KB 20250820_1944421920×2560 361 KB A good day yet again! 20250820_1831471920×1440 185 KB
Day 11 I left Tallinn, heading towards Riga. The scenery was not particularly inspiring at first. 20250821_0947531920×2560 706 KB 20250821_1040211920×2560 712 KB After I crossed the border into Latvia it got a bit better. 20250821_125404 20250821_125633 20250821_133702 20250821_133723 20250821_133755 20250821_133826(1) 20250821_141415 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. 20250821_170158 20250821_170722 20250821_171509 20250821_171653 20250821_172334 20250821_172950 20250821_174127 20250821_174138 After that I had a lovely ribeye accompanied by a yummy local beer… 20250821_1934061920×1440 314 KB Not a bad days riding! 20250821_1541551920×1440 236 KB
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. 20250822_0915481920×1440 499 KB 20250822_0918481920×1440 191 KB Next destination was the hill of crosses A place I’d read about an was curious to see. 20250822_100331 20250822_100902 20250822_100842 20250822_100804 20250822_100601 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 20250822_1315161920×2560 492 KB Once there I climbed over the dunes to some fantastic views: 20250822_133233 20250822_133240 20250822_133320 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… 20250822_1437031920×1440 580 KB In the process of getting there I hit some sort of a mile(kilometre)stone for this journey: 20250822_1351121920×1440 232 KB Then back to Klaipeda, found the ferry terminal, checked in and bike lashed secure. 20250822_1642421920×1440 334 KB 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. 20250823_1203471920×1440 119 KB Got off the ferry at 18.00, then a short ride to my digs for tonight. 20250823_1929301920×1440 362 KB 20250823_1928391920×1440 267 KB
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. 20250824_1122181920×1440 484 KB Home at 13.00 on the dot, and was greeted by mrs. and dog. 20250824_125513 20250824_125506 20250824_125550 20250824_125717 The entire trip: image871×764 72.9 KB All thoroughly enjoyable, thanks for watching!
Absolutely bloody brilliant pictures. I've got to say that your Tiger in that colour is . This is one thing I love about this forum, and that's all the write ups that everyone is prepared to do, so we can all enjoy the trip. Love it.
