Changing of the guard

Went to the Royal Palace on the island of Gamlastan, which is the old town today. Cost £14.00 to tour the royal rooms, together with the treasury for the crown jewels and also 2 museums within the palace. Not very expensive at all.
I was also able to see the changing of the guard within the grounds of the palace, this takes place at 12.15 each day. As you can see from above the guards wear bright blue uniforms and the ceremony is NOTHING like you would see at Buckingham Palace, in fact it was all I could do at times to stop laughing. The guards appear very lax in that when they are standing on post they can talk to visitors, unlike those in London. They also carry old rifles that are single shot bolt action with bayonets fitted - well I suppose Sweden is a neutral country, but the rifles appear so, so old.
The parade started with the band riding in on horses as the current guard is a mounted regiment, they were followed by the guard riding in behind them with swords out and held up. The mounted soldiers, men and women then rode around and stopped in what could loosely be described as 2 lines, foot soldiers then made their way between the lines to hold the horses whilst the mounted soldiers dismounted, whereupon the soldiers changed helmets and the foot soldiers led the horses back to the barracks. The new guard then formed up and did a little bit of marching, doing a right foot stamp every so many paces. They then lined up again and amd a semi run forward, looks so funny. After changing the guard the mounted band rode around playing music which was the highlight.
At the end of the parade a soldier carrying the swedish flag lowered it and started to twist the flag pole he was carrying in order to roll up the flag, however, as he did this he did a sort of skipping dance, again I had to stifle my laughs, Buckingham Palaice it aint.
Following that and the tour of the palace I had a wander around the old town before I was defeated by a heavy rain shower. Reverse logic told me to buy a brolly, which I did for the silly sum of £4.00. I put the brolly up for all of 5 minutes and it stopped raining - it works every time.
I will be breaking camp tomorrow morning and riding into Stockholm to visit Skansen which is an area covered in old houses bought from all over Sweden, the people in the village dress in old fashion clothing so this may be interesting, will also try the science museum if I have time as there is a NASA exhibition on.
I then have to cathch the overnight boat to Tallin, so possible no blog entry tomorrow as I don't think I will have internet.

Vibes

Must admit I do not get the same vibes on this trip as I did to the States. People are very reluctant to speak even when they take a look at the registration plate on Blackie and realise that we are not local. People were far freindlier in the States and people spoke to me every single day.
Perhaps its a language thing, I don't know, we will see how it develops.

Jed looking serious with the Palace Guard.

Woke to a nice warm sunny day so did a little washing and rigged line between tent and bike in order to dry washing whilst out siteseeing in Stockholm.

Met a dutch lady last night who had cycled up from Holland and was carrying on to north Sweden and Norway, unbelievable, however, the point is she gave me a rail ticket that will allow me to travel the 30 mins into and out of Stockhom. In view of this I was on the train to central station at 9am.

Picked up a central map and visited a tourist information office and I was pointed in the direction of the best things to see on a short stay.

My first stop was for a guided tour of City Hall which was most informative, it was then a trip up the 106mt towere that is part of the City Hall, the only problem is that it has 365 steps to the top plus sloping passageways, however I was promised fantastic views.

One member of the team made a gallant effort, managing 1 step before crying foul and saying he needed carrying. He said his legs were far too short.

At the top he also demanded a photo be taken to show everyone at home, so he stood on the ledge as you can see, he also had a chat to a little Swedish girl, telling her where he came from and that he was riding his motorbike!!

After the tower we caught a tourist boat for the 1 hour trip over the water to the Royal Summer Palace, another place well worth a trip. It was here that Jed blagged having his photo taken with one of the female palace guard, looks good eh!

upon the return to Stockholm I was pretty much worn out so had a hot chocolate and a chill in the shops, same as UK really, before catching the train back to the campsite........you guessed it, it started raining just before my stop, so when the train stopped it was a rush to get my washing in before it got wet again...made it.

Tomorrow we will go again into the city and take a look at the old town which is built on one of the many small islands that make up the capital.

Jeds new chapter

Jed saw this sticker on a petrol pump in Malmo and decided this is what he will now join.

I give up with him.

Also a picture of the little mermaid, just to prove we went there,

1000mile in 3 days

Got up a little later today, 7.30 to be welcomed by a nice clear sunny day so a lazy start beggining with a brew chief, as Guy would say.

Had to get up for the toilet at about midnight last night and was`suprised that it was almost light enough to read a book, land of the midnight sun, not quite but not dar off it seems.

Left the camp at 9.30 and rode to Vaxjo in order to find a camp shop to buy a new inflating bed. Nice town but blighted by roadworks just where I needed to turn to the trading estate for Intersport. After about 30 mins plus or riding around I managede to find my way to the store where I was in and out within 5 mins with my new roll, can't wait for tonight now to try it out.

There was also a Mcdonalds near the shop so it seemed rude not to give it a try, my excuse is that I had nothing to eat last night, after doing the blog I went back to the tent for my Goulash, only to break the tab on the ring pull - you could not make it up could you!

Anyhow, thats my excuse for eating the crap from Mcd's today.

Decided to push on towards Stockholm as I thought if I could get there today it would give me extra time to look around, however, about an hour short I was knackered so picked a little town on the coast off the map and headed to there (a 12 mile diversion from the route I was on)

When I got there it turned out to be a coal port, just one great pick coal tip and machinary to load the coal onto the ships in the harbour, what a shit tip, so turned straight round and headed out.

So, I finally arrived in Stockholm at half 6, tail end of the rush hour, and headed to the camp site I had `ear marked and booked myself in. The first thing I saw was a big lontail run across near to reception, need to say, I have pitched my tent 1/2 a mile away on a nice green flat field.

Bought 24hrs use of the camp wi-fi for 60 korner, about £5.50, so at least I can update my blog and talk on skype to my hearts content, little thing eh.

Found out this morning that the town I stopped at last night is the HQ and delivery centre for Ikea, there a fact for you.

I can also report that the Swedish main roads are covered by Gatso's, I think Mr Gatso was Swedish if memory serves, however, at least they play fair here......you get the posted speed limit, then 100mts further on a picure of a camera and then after a further 100mts the actual camers, at least it gives you time to prepare your smile.

As you can see, Jed is the sort that watches the pot boil so that he can have his cup of tea, I keep telling him a watched pot never boils but it is no use.

Skype

Yahoo, managed to get skype working on my netbook but not on the phone as yet, so sort of a result.
Only problem now is that without a skype headset and mic everyone can hear both sides of my boring conversations, poor them eh!
Had a photo of Jed making his evening brew to put on the site but I have left my camera across at my tent and it is all of a 5 minute walk away, oh well, always tomorrow.
With all the riding today I had only had a Mars bar to eat till 6pm, then had a small hot dog from a garage. I have bought a tin of Goulash for my tea, could not get Heinz tomato soup, whatever next.
Must make an effort to eat, although I knew these first days were just a run up to Stockholm where the real trip starts, from there I start to spend 2 or 3 days in places, so no doubt plenty of eating.
Thats it till sometime tomorrow, night all x x

Into Sweden

Up nice and early due to a rabble of young girls running around campsite at 5am, dozed a little longer and up and about at 6.30.
Had a crap nights sleep as I found that my self inflating bed mat liked inflating that much that it developed a slow leak meaning that it kept de-flating just for the experience of being re-inflated. Well it did come from a car boot so I only have myself to blame I suppose. Will have to fork out for another one when I find a camping shop.
tried to leave the campsite at 8.15am only to find that reception did not open till 9am and I had to call in to get my deposit back on the shower room key, all of 10 euro's but that is nearly £10.00.
Finally managed to get going and within minutes it was pouring with rain. The spray was terrible and it was all i could do to see out of my visor. Traffic was moving very quick and it was safer to travel with the flow which was about 140kph, far too fast in the conditions but I was worried about being hit in the rear, so to speak.
Crossed from Germany into Denmark by ferry, a 45 minute journey that cost me 52 euro, steep or what, anyhow next stop was Copenhagen where I followed the GPS to the little mermaid, just like driving into London to see the eye but at least it was now dry.
Left Denmark by way of a tunnel and a HUGE bridge that took me into Sweden, that cost me a further 22 euro, its been all pay out today.
I travelled nearly 600km today and have pitched up for the night at a camp site (found via GPS) right next to a lake. The mozzies are out in force though but I have managed to buy some repellant as like an idiot, I left mine at home in the bag I use for marshalling. The camp site is near Almhult should you wish to see where I am.
Having mega problems with Skype, have not managed to use it yet so I dread what my phone bill will be when I get home, Oh well.
Right , its now time for a well earned beer before turning in, hope to be a bit nearer Stockholm tomorrow night.