Bicycle Touring - Sweden Countryside Dalsland

[Danny_SWE]

Two weeks ago I had a long weekend for myself and thought I should do some bicycle touring. Have long thought of going to Dalsland in Sweden. It is the western part not too far away from Norway, one hour drive from home to get to starting point. Then I took a 360 km route across the lovely countryside. Four days, three overnights in tent.

Brought food and everything so I didn't have to shop along the way. Weather was warm for the season and very great, I didn't even bring rain clothing, just standard autumn outfit. Days were short, I am used to have quite long days in the saddle so you get somewhere on a day but now I had to find camp a little earlier than usual and go up when it was still dark.

But it was fantastic! Last two nights was freezing cold, woke up and everything was frozen, and there was misty mornings that made it fantastic when the sun slowly came. Roads where 70% paved, rest was unpaved, even a short trail as shortcut. I followed mostly a public bicycle route and camped just somewhere nice.

It was first adventure with my new E-M5 Mk III and the 12-45/4 lens, used the Laowa 7.5/2 also. Had the 20/1.7 as low light lens but didn't use it. Three batteries, 1½ was used. Just hanged equipment on a bag on the handlebar. Great setup.

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Dalsland Touring 02 - Gammelbro by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 05 - Dalslands kanal by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 06 - Höstvägar by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 07 - Höstlandskap by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 08 - Höstfika by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 11 - Dimmig morgon by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 13 - Krispig morgonväg by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 14 - Höstmorgon by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 15 - Dalslands kanalfors by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 16 - Magisk morgonsjö by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 17 - Dimmig morgonsjö by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 18 - Vattenfall by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 20 - Båtar by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 21 - Kanalbruk by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 22 - Fikaplats by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 28 - Klippfika by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 29 - Banvall by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 33 - Höstkanal by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 34 - Fika vid vattnet by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

 

[Danny_SWE]

Some more pics here. Found great camping places mostly. The last was not so great though. Couldn't find a nice place so I just went in on a small road in the forrest and found a flat space to raise tent on. That would do I thought. But in the middle of the night there was some animals nearby the tent, I clapped the hands and they disappeared. Some deers. No worries!
But after a while came a bigger animal. It made some noise, from far distance, but then it came closer! Twigs broke and I could hear it approach. Made new sounds. It really sounded like a bigger animal and I was lying like a stick in the tent. Did barely breath then it sounded like it went away. But after half an hour or so it came back. Same procedure... it continued a few times! I was so close of just grabbing my stuff and bike away had never heard anything like that. Don't know what it was but it sounded kinda lika a big pig, so I thought it must have been a boar. Not too nice to meet them.
So that night was difficult to get any sleep. I went up a little earlier and took off without breakfast. Just wanted to leave the place. Took breakfast a few hours later when the sun came and a new nice day began.

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Dalsland Touring 04 - Första campen by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 12 - Andra campen by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 26 - Stjärnklar vildmarksmorgon by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr


It was far of the cities and clear skies, so it was very starry skies on the nights! Tried some astro but it was difficult in field. I even made this tripod, worked quite good.

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Dalsland Touring 25 - Vildmarksstativ by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 10 - Vintergatan sjö by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 03 - Vintergatan by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr


On one place I had to take the ferry over the lake. It was this call-ferry. You had to call for it to come. I had to wait half on hour, so good time for a rest.
Also found some nice trucks. There was much forrest industry there. One veteran truck also, very cool.

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Dalsland Touring 23 - Färja by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 09 - Stockplock by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 24 - Vikinglastbilar by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 19 - Kenworth Lastbil by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr


Some random pics. First ones are from a place on a hill where there was ancient leftings, this viking house which is a replica of the house that was here before. And this tower for defending the hill.

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Dalsland Touring 30 - Torn by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 31 - Torntrappa by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 32 - Ödeborgs fornsal by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 27 - Fyrtal i älgar by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 35 - Flyttfåglar by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 01 - Grässkugga by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 36 - Vägskugga by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

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Dalsland Touring 37 - Självporträtt by Daniel Cederberg, on Flickr

 

[retiredfromlife]

Nice series and great scenery

 

[Danny_SWE]

Thanks!

I forgot to link to the other thread where I posted some churches along the way:
https://www.mu-43.com/threads/show-churches.2380/post-1427351

 

[994]

Great set. Thanks for sharing and for the write-up

 

[gnarlydog australia]

The perfect way to travel in such a wonderful land. Bicycles allow to take it all in and enjoy the scenery at a slower pace, not having it zooming past.
Bless your lucky stars to live in a country where you can just camp anywhere, legally, without fear of having rednecks hassle or bother you.
And such a wonderful time of the year to be touring: the fall colors are just spectacular. Your photographs are truly inspirational.
Oh, I wish I could be back in Sweden...

 

[mcgillro]

Terrific series and commentary - really enjoyed - thank you.

 

[Bushboy]

Very cool. Liked it a lot.

 

[OllyB]

Fabulous set of photos and a great adventure!

 

[threeOh]

Fantastic. Both your trip and the photography. My late wife was a Swede. Your captures present it very well. Love it.

 

[Panolyman]

All that's been said above and more.
Although I'm not one for camping and like a bit more comfort on my cycle tours, I'm slightly jealous.....
but in reality all I can say is "respect!"
And what quality shots you got.
Thanks for posting Danny.

 

[Hendrik]

What a great adventure! Thanks for sharing.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

Nice trip report. I’m glad the weather worked out for you. What is the device above the mirror on the left side of your handlebars?

 

[Dinobe]

Fina bilder!
Lovely images, I'd love to do this myself one day...

 

[Danny_SWE]

Thanks all for the kinds words! Really appreciated! ?

What is the device above the mirror on the left side of your handlebars?

...well.... hrrmm... you see, that bike is usually an e-bike. But on summer time I rebuild it to touring bike. I swap front motor wheel and fork to something else, also changed chainring to a slightly smaller. Removes the battery on rear rack also. And then you have a touring bike! I have long tried various concepts of touring, a hybrid bike not really ment for it. And some other bikes. But then I thought: My e-trekking bike (home built), would actually be the perfect touring bike, with some small modifications. So two years ago when I suddenly got two whole weeks! I quickly just bought some stuff and went out cycling along all of sweden! Over 2000 km, and found that it worked well. Actually I did a better job with all photos that time, but not shot with m43 unfortunately, but with Olympus though! https://www.flickr.com/photos/dannesholk/sets/72157715387147306/

Well. After that I noticed it worked very well. Just that the fork was too short, so I bought new fork (and new electronics), this was the first real touring I've done with my "new" touring bicycle. It worked even better now! Here is photo of e-Trekker above and the Tourer below. It takes like one hour to rebuild it. I have just reverted to e-Trekker for the winter season.


The biggest problem I think with adventures like this. Is time. You have to find these days in the calendar where you can just spend the time how you want. You need one or two days for preparation. Then you need time for the actual trip of course. But then a few days when you get home also to settle down and take care of all equipment. Not too often you get the oportunity. But when it comes, just grab it!!

 

[Danny_SWE]

Fina bilder!

tack

I'd love to do this myself one day...

yes, just do it! Perfect way of experiencing your surroundings.

 

[coffeecat]

Thanks Danny - stunning pictures!

 

[Bob in Pittsburgh]

Beautiful pictures. Thanks for sharing, Danny. Glad the creature did not get you.

 

[grcolts]

Thanks for sharing! Nice pics....

 

[felipegeek]

@Danny_SWE Great photographs and explanations of was clearly an awesome adventure. Sounds wonderful, but I would likely end up freezing, injured, low on sleep and burn my food 3x over since my outdoor skills are sub-par at best, incompetent at worst.