Posted in Switzerland on Aug 25th, 2008
From Demark, I took a ferry to Germany and spent a day and night in Hamburg. Primarily, I came here to buy some relatively cheap climbing gear at the well-known Global Trotter store, but I was greeted with no stock—all sold out after the summer craziness. I did, however, still have fun in the store; [...]
Posted in Scandinavia on Aug 25th, 2008
After a healthy dose of the city, I drove to Kjugekull, located 560 km south of Stockholm, for a bout of bouldering. Kjuge is Sweden’s preeminent bouldering location and it’s worth visiting; it’s a beautiful forest, scattered with interestingly-shaped granite boulders begging to be climbed. I camped on a tiny island, the closest site from [...]
Posted in Scandinavia, Van on Aug 25th, 2008
I’m in Zurich, just arrived last night. I’ve travelled more than 2000 km and I’m pleased to report to my virtual mechanic that there were no flat tyres; however, the anticipation of being sentenced to the grim task of changing a flat was nerve-racking, like a defendant waiting for a verdict. There were only three [...]
A traveller friend recently exclaimed that the pound was killing them in the UK. Well, I can guarantee that a visit to Scandinavia will be carnage to any savings. Despite Norway being the world’s fifth-largest oil exporter, the price of unleaded fuel in Norway was a boggling AU$2.84/L, and marginally better in Sweden at AU$2.48/L. [...]
We’re didn’t make it to Stockholm; we scored flat tyre no.’s 5 and 6. We’re stranded at a camping ground, 200 km north of Stockholm, because mechanics in Sweden definitely don’t work on the weekends. If it had to happen, getting a flat close to a camping ground, alongside the remote highway, was timely. We [...]
Posted in Lofoten Islands, Norway, Sweden, Van on Aug 8th, 2008
Right now, we’re driving to Stockholm (and the Taj’s inability to attain subsonic levels has forced us to concede defeat; we’re finally wearing earplugs). Lofoten was an awesome experience but once we conquered Vestpillaren on Presten, everything paled a bit and motivation dwindled. Preston is a really impressive slab of rock; clean and striking against [...]