Ride 10-13/16 Cycling from Växjö across Sweden via Lake Vätter and Gothenburg to Oslo in Norway (S2:E5)

Meanwhile I arrived in Norway. I have my third and last rest day in Oslo where I write my story about stages 10,11,12 and 13. I have already covered 2209,1 km since my departure in Buggenhout. Three more rides to go before I reach Bergen in Norway.

At 6 am the alarm went off and I got ready for ride 15 through the Swedish interior to Gränna located on the popular Vättern lake where every year 10 cyclists participate in the race of 23 kilometers around the lake. After the delicious breakfast prepared by top host Thomas, I started my bike.

Cycling Adventure 15 (CA15) is my path of personal growth with which I want to inspire people to develop their own path of personal growth in this rapidly changing world.

It also took a while before I found the town hall to deliver the letter from the mayor of Lebbeke to the mayor of Gothenburg

I noticed from my bike that I have already covered some kilometers. Every now and then I heard a beeping or crackling and therefore the moment to get the torx key set. I also have a full bag of spare parts with me. I cannot solve only major breakdowns, such as a spoke fracture.

My route app Komoot already guided my bike several times along a gravel path and indicated that it was a normal road. There is a possibility that this is also the case on my ride to Bergen in Norway, which increases the chance of a flat tire.

Just before arriving in Gränna I received another gift, a climb with an 18 percent gradient. Obviously it is not to climb at such a percentage with about 16 kilograms of luggage. If it doesn't work, you have to go all the way back down and find another route because it is impossible to continue on foot with the bike by hand with so much weight. Fortunately it went well.

Cycling north along the west coast from Gothenburg is wonderful. So far this is the most beautiful part I've seen in Sweden.

The next day at 5 am I was on my bike towards Gothenburg for stage 45 of 11 km. It was a very difficult ride as I cycled the entire ride from start to finish in changeable weather in a hilly area with a strong headwind. At one point, Komoot guided me onto a large two-lane track that I didn't feel safe on. I tried to get off and choose a different route but that led me into small field lanes which is also not expedient. Fortunately, after a few kilometers I cycled back on a less busy road.

In Gothenburg there was a lot of work going on which does not benefit the beauty of the city. It also took a while before I found the town hall to deliver the letter from the mayor of Lebbeke to the mayor of Gothenburg with 'a question' on the letter in the context of the dance group Incar Dansspektakel. I have delivered the same letter to the mayors in Copenhagen and Oslo and will do so at my final destination in Bergen, Norway.

During stage 12 from Gothenburg to the small village of Gerlesborg I cycled in glorious weather. At the start I felt some fatigue in the legs from the past few days but as I continued cycling it got better.

Cycling north along the west coast from Gothenburg is wonderful. So far this is the most beautiful part I have seen in Sweden. During that ride I took the ferry three times, which goes very smoothly, especially if you are by bike, because then you pass all the waiting motorists.

Along my route I met a pleasant German couple on bicycles. We started talking and I explained what CA15 stands for. The man spontaneously started talking about how beautiful it is in eastern China. I should go cycling there in the future, he advised me. The man worked there for a year and met pleasant people. One condition, he says, is that I learn some Chinese beforehand. Will I ever get that done?

Ride 13 took me to Oslo for the third and final rest day. The closer you cycle to Norway, the more hilly it gets. Apparently this has nothing to do with the mountainous region that I cross during the last three tough rides towards my final destination in Bergen.

On my way to Oslo I met a French young man who cycled with a cart at the back of his bicycle from France to Norway and back for a total of 4000 kilometers. And further along my ride the Norwegian Per came cycling next to me and accompanied me for a while. Per is the same age as me and has two grown children. He cycles a lot in Norway and also participates in cycling races. This year he and his wife are driving to Belgium by car. It's always nice to have a chat. I had recorded a short video with Per but unfortunately it didn't work. Have a good journey Per !

After 210 km I cycled through a higher village into Oslo. You have a beautiful view of Oslo, a very clean and modern city. Worth a visit if you cross Norway.

Some figures from rides 10-13/16: