Wednesday, June 12, 2019

Helsingborg - Cycling Begins

South to Landskrona - North to the Skaret Peninnsula

After a short ferry ride to from Heslingor Denmark to Helsingborg Sweden on a really quiet and clean (electric power) commuter ferry, we were ready to get on our bicycles.

Like Cøpenhagen, Helsingborg respects bicycles. City streets are designed to separate drive lanes for bikes from cars and both away from the walk lanes for pedestrians. Woe be to a pedestrian that walks into the cycle lane without looking. The last thing they hear will be the ding ding's of a hundred bike bells.

We began with a warm-up ride to familiarize ourselves with our new bikes. Then ot was off for a  little teaser ride. The 12 miles ride offered wonderful views along Helsingborg's waterfront and up into surrounding hills. 

A Car Show at Sofiero Palace

Passing the summer palace built by Crown Prince Oscar for his wife Sophie we saw a vintage car show in progress. Later, when Oscar become king, Sophiero palace was renovated and upgraded.

Our day ended with a welcome drink and extensive smorgasbord dinner.

 Welcome Reception

 
Our Smorgasbod

First Cycle Day - Helsingborg to Landskrona
The first full day of cycling was almost completely along water. We ventured south making a first stop at the Raa Fishing Museum for a introduction toe the past fishing industry. From there we pedaled on to the Cittadellet stronghold where a lovely picnic lunch awaited us. After 31 miles we were back at the hotel.

Raa Fishing Museum

Cittadella

In the evening we gathered again for a visit to a artisan Swedish licorice factory. The rage in Sweden is (very) heavily salted designer licorice. I bought some passionfruit dusted chocolate covered licorice. 

Licorice Factory

An Evening Walking Back tot the Hotels After Dinner

From there we went for a lovely dinner in a relocated farmhouse. After a walk home, Roadboy was ready to crash into bed.

Second Cycle Day - Helsingborg to Skaret and on to Angelholm)
The second full day of riding is the epic ride of the trip. today we pdealed north to the Skaret Peninnsula. This ride took us from waters edge up into rich rolling fields of wheat, barley and (thanks to climate change) Sweden's newly emerging vineyards.

It Was This Big!

A Thatched Roof Farmhouse

Uphill, against the wind cycling, was rewarded with lunch at the Flickorna Lundgren hillside garden cafe. The cafe featured giant egg soufle's topped with thick sliced bacon. The souffle was washed down with homemade rhubarb, orange or strawberry lemonade.

Lunch at Flickorna Lundgren

After lunch we faced even more wind on a ride to wrap up in Angelholm. One rider characterized the windy ride as "like doing 5,000 squats and then getting hit by a truck". Everyone made the full ride though and we climbed on to a train for a return to our hotel in Angelholm.

Arriving at Mid-Point Lunch Stop

Lunch Stop

After a long ride and a huge lunch, everyone was still pretty full. So later in the evening many of us ventured off to find a light dinner in Helsingborg. 

After dinner I went to peruse a local grocery store (I really love perusing European grocery stores) and then walked around the city before crashing into bed.

Sunset Over Helsingborg

Tomorrow we are off for a 4-hour motorcoach ride to Stockholm (possibly with a short ride along the way along the Gota Canal).


Roadboy's Travels © 2019

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