Day 323 7th June
49miles (Norrkoping to Nykoping) Average speed 11.8 mph Top speed 26 mph
I was woken at 6 to the sound of rain on my tent. I got up at 8 to make tea under a tree in the rain. Brekkie was bread and pate in the the awning of the tent and then I hid from the torrential rain for the next 4 hours. More tea under a tree and I packed up in the rain. By the time I was ready to leave at 1pm it had eased enough to get into town, but then it started getting heavier again and my chain became jammed against the screw of my pannier rack and I had to glide downhill as far as I could before walking to a supermarket to take cover in the trolley bay and fix it. I went inside to dry out and charge my phone with two coffees and cakes, which were a bargain at 10 krone each. I finally left there at 3 after waiting for the rain to stop. I went past all the possible places I could have camped last night before heading east alongside the coastline. The sun came out and it was a good ride even with wet feet and 5 miles of resurfacing.
Those clouds don’t bode well for a dry ride
I stopped for a rest before turning inland at Krokek I had lunch at Sajbo services by a lake. Then near Kila I reached another milestone, 9000 miles was celebrated in a bed shop car park with a free coffee from the nice lady in reception.
9000 miles and a cup of free coffee
I then met the German Fabian and his girlfriend on the road and we rode together chatting for a while. As I was running low on gas I treated myself to a max steak and bacon burger meal and as it was getting late went in search of a camping spot. Once again I took too long, but this time it cost me a dry night, as by the time I was ready to set up the sun had gone and I had to rely on the wind to dry out my tent which of course stopped blowing as soon as I needed it!! So as I stood in the woods just off the road drinking beer and praying for wind I realised how strange my life had become, spending all day and now night wishing for the wind to help me.
Wild camp
Wild camp near Arno very wet tent and no wind to dry it after wind all day.