Cornwall to Sweden - day 16 - THE END

Copenhagen, Denmark to Krageholm, Sweden

So what started out as a mad idea a few months ago has turned into reality. I've managed to travel all the way to the south of Sweden powered by nothing but my own legs. It amazes me that this is actually possible but reality says differently! 

The final day started by exploring Copenhagen a little more, with a look around the Danish Design Museum then down to the southern part of the city where they've created a huge new area of flats, shops and offices on what was wasteland. It was pretty incredible, and quite futuristic in its layout and architecture. Almost like a sensible version of Vegas - the Danes seem to be a very forward thinking nation.

Back in 2000 they also built the impressive Oresund Bridge and tunnel to cross the seven miles of sea between Denmark and Sweden, but unfortunately won't let bikes on it so I had to cheat and get the train across from Copenhagen airport. Miki - I'm pretty sure you'll love it all when you visit.

The first thing you see as you enter Sweden is... you guessed it - Ikea! Just a 43 mile dash left, and after a perfect summer's evening, having crossed a lovely rolling landscape of crop fields, small lakes and red roofed houses I was finally there, greeted by a union jack at Krageholm Farm with our family friends, the Palsson family. What a feeling!

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It has truly been an incredible few weeks, one of the best things I've ever done. As well as the day of 36º heat, thunderstorms, car factories, breaking a 50 mph speed limit, seeing De La Soul over a fence, getting lost continously, Tour de France and Russian submarine, there's been a few things I've not mentioned. 

The people I've chatted with - the hippy cyclist I met in a hostel in Hampshire riding to a festival. The South African girl, who on the last night of the Tour De France was out to dinner with Chris Froome's fiance (great story in itself). The Afgan guy working in a German Kebab shop who fled the conflict to study languages. The American student who wondered why eveyone hates the Yanks so much. The disabled Belgian guy with downs syndrome, who waved the stump of his arm in my face for me to shake. The German schoolteacher who's been to Falmouth. Plus loads more.

In terms of problems, I've been very lucky really. A lost book, sock and a brake pad (the second two whilst I was riding!). A broken GoPro camera bracket. A bit of rain, a touch of road rage. Worn brake pads and a few squeels and rattles from the bike, but not one single puncture! My so called smart phone has been my biggest bug bear. It is head and shoulders above using a map for navigation when it works and has battery, but when it doesn't it drives me bonkers. A handlebar bracket and solar charger required another time.

I've learnt just how flat Northern Europe is (incredibly), how far I can ride in one day (128 miles in Holland), how fast I can go (51.8 mph in Dorset) and how much I can eat (lots). And the distance? 

Measured by the speedo on my bike, a grand total of, wait for it, 1,416 miles!!!

The Palsson's home at Krageholm

Copenhagen

Copenhagen, Denmark

Once again I've stopped over a couple of nights to look around Copenhagen, the biggest city in Scandinavia, and some city it is too. 

There are locals everywhere enjoying themselves; walking, lazing, bbqing and drinking. I've never been anywhere where drinking alcohol socially on the streets is both so acceptable and so common. Everyone seems to be on it, though not in a lairy way. On a dirtier level because companies give money back for recycling, you see poor folks rooting through bins collecting bottles etc to earn a crust, which doesn't really fit with such a stylish modern place.

Apart from a bit of touristy stuff, and an Danish architectural centre where the only exhibit was ironically British (Zaha Hadid), I went to a district called Christiana which is by definition an 'Anarchist Community'. Basically back in the 70s a load of hippies took over an derelict area and declared it their own, and it now has special status allowing them to rule themselves. This rule includes no cars, no taxes and open sale of cannabis. There were literally street stalls everywhere selling all the different varieties, like greengrocers in a market! The area was pretty run down though as you might expect from a bunch of stoners; safe, but no utopia.

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Copenhagen is bike mad - everyone cycles and there's more bike congestion than car. I'm convinced there's more bikes here than both Amsterdam and Beijing; it's crazy. After getting tired of walking, I decided to dust the old bike off and joined them for a cruise about the city and eventually found myself at the Carlsberg brewery (it being Danish after all).  

Once there, I could hear loud music and followed the sound until I got to a wooded park. 'They're playing De La Soul' I thought, until I got closer and realised it actually was the US hip hop legends themselves playing live! Turns out it was a music festival so I cycled round the perimeter fence until I got beside the stage. I could hear but not quite see, until they finished their set and I got a load of paparazzi-style photos over the fence of them walking off into the backstage area. Totally unexpected!

Last day of the cycle tomorrow - heading over the water to Sweden.

Cornwall to Sweden - day 15

Vordingborg, Denmark to Copenhagen, Denmark

Just as I get used to spending Euro's, I find myself with a new currency to contend with - Danish Krona. For most of today I've been horrified by how expensive Denmark is. It turns out that was mostly cause the hostel I stayed in fleeced me, charging me for a whole room, not a bed in a dorm room. Not knowing the value of the Krona with certainty at the time I just paid up, but I've asked for money back... we'll see. It is pretty costly though, more so than Germany.

So it was a shortish day today at about 68 miles, though would have been shorter still if my phone, and therefore sat nav hadn't broken (lets hope it does come back to life again). This happened after just 15 miles, meaning I spent the rest of the day just relying direction from road signs, instinct and, don't laugh, my own shadow! Turns out none of these are particularly accurate, but get you there in the end!

The scenery has been pretty nice, and the people seem to have a bit more character to them than the German's - they actually smile back when you pass them on a bike for instance. Not that I found anything to dislike about the Germans really, they were nice to talk to but just seemed to live up to the stern stereotype you expect.

In Copenhagen now for a day or so, which is at the same latitude as Edinburgh... but a lot warmer. Seems like a great city so far. The day ended unexpectedly watching well over a thousand people come past on rollerskates, led by a Police escort. Not sure what it was all about but it was some sight nonetheless.