Day 9 - Sweden looking up (and down...)

Leaving Lulea for Pitea and avoiding another day on the miserable E4 meant drastically detouring and forming our longest route yet (estimated at 86km).

On the plus side, the weather was beautiful and we were going to pass a nature reserve, so it was more of a 'touring' day than most.

Sweden looks a lot more attractive when you get off their motorways. We were quickly surrounded by lakes, forests and men with unnecessarily large moustaches tending their (well spaced) gardens. Lunch was in the nature reserve, which we had to ourselves, on a field under the sun.

It was hard going though, with constant hill climbs and equally steep descents. Also at one point, we hit unsealed, gravel track that proved pretty incompatible with our bikes.

Eventually we made it to Pitea, having done over 90km because of detours around the E4, and arrived at our campsite...wedged between two industrial factories. Who says camping can't be glamorous?Read more