After three nights at a hostel Los Cormoranes in Ushuaia I headning north.
My first 1400 km through Patagonien
For the first 1400 kilometers, I will cross the border between Argentina and Chile four times. I will leave Argentina for good once I pass Villa O’Higgins.
Örnsköldsvik, Sweden
September 16 2023
My second leg of the journey around cycling starts on November 12th from Arlanda, Sweden. After two layovers, in Ankara and Buenos Aires, I will land in the southernmost city in the world, Ushuaia, in Tierra del Fuego. This flight takes two days
My flight from Arlanda Sweden to Istanbul – Buenosa Aires aand final destinatioin Ushuaia, Argentina
From Beziers I follow the Canal du Midi and it was a nice surprise. The Canal also named as Canal de las Doas Mars, meaning a canal of the two seas, is a 240 km (150 mi) long canal in Southern France
Locks at Bezier
Ther canal is quite old, around mid or 1780.After the canal lie lots of small boats by the river bank, some of them for tourists but also home for others.
Lots of boats lies by the riverbank
French tourist and bicycle authorities have really done a really good job which continued to maintain the canal and also provide the canalroute with a
cycle path 🫶💓👍
This Canal has sections, parts so beautiful so I had to stop, just breading the atmosphere…
The cyclepath is mostly packed with gravel either or paved, but some parts are very tight and on some short lines it growing back…
The flight over the Tasman Sea to New Zealand is going well, and we land almost exactly at 11:30 PM local time.
I have some comments about the landing. First, the plane tilts quite a bit, almost as if there was a big bump in the middle of the runway. Then, there’s a sudden stop, causing us to almost hit the seat in front of us. Neither I nor anyone else seems to be injured.
After that, I go through passport control, which is self-manned. A scanner reads the passport, and you’re supposed to be allowed into the arrival hall, but not for me and a few others. We have to take the regular route.
On the plane, we had to fill out a form about what we have in our luggage, where we’ve been, and so on.
The form also asks if you have camping equipment, medications, explosives, weapons, and such.
I indicated that I have a tent and other camping gear and that my last destination was Borneo, where I also camped. The passport control officer wants to take a look at this form and notices that I marked a few ”yes” boxes.
Then I’m allowed to proceed towards the exit and the next checkpoint.
The next officer also looks at the form and then asks, ”Where is your tent?” I point to my North Face bag, and the officer tells me to follow the red line. There are also yellow and green lines. Now, I’m asked more questions about the tent, and they also want me to produce it.
I hand the woman my North Face bag, and she goes through a door and asks me to wait.
After about 10 minutes, she returns and says…
– We found some ants in your tent, and you have two options. You leave your tent here, and we destroy it for free.
I look at the woman as if she’s joking and say…
– Destroy?
She responds…
– Yes, but your other option is to let us send the tent for cleaning, but that will cost you about 160 NZD.
What do you do?
Starting an argument with these officers is out of the question, so I ask,…
– How many days do I have to wait to get it back?
She replies…
– About a week.
I have no choice but to accept their offer, and I provide my address in Christchurch, my phone number, and email address.
She says…
– We’ll send you an email when and where you can pick up your tent.
Sigh, sigh, and more sighs, and now the time it’s almost half past two AM .
I’m tired and realize that my hostel tonight won’t be open when I arrive.
See yah later
P-G
// TheGlobalCyclist1719
Soon, in about a day, I’ll be stepping foot in my twentieth country, the land of orangutans. I’m looking forward to this adventure with excitement and delight… Wow, I have to pinch myself for all the experiences and challenges I’m going to face.
Borneo, my planned route through island
Roughly an hour after departing from Changi Airport in Singapore, we touch down in Jakarta, Indonesia, at Soekarno-Hatta Airport. It’s pitch black outside, and the time is approaching 11:30 PM. My flight to Pontianak on Borneo is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, so I’ll be spending a good chunk of time at this airport.
But first, I need to go through passport control, and the first thing I see when I enter the hall is a big sign obove my head that reads ”VISA on Arrival.”
There’s no line, so I approach an officer and inquire about how to apply for an extension of my already-granted 30 days. I don’t think 30 days will be enough to explore the island. He tells me that I need to purchase a card or receipt for $30, which, starting from today’s date and before my initial 30 days expire, should be presented to an immigration authority in one of the cities I’ll be passing through.
Then I’ll automatically get an extra 30 days on Borneo.
I pay the fee directly to the officer and then proceed across the hall to passport control, where I show both my passport and the newly acquired VISA card.
The woman says the same thing as the officer on the other side of the hall, that I should later present my passport and VISA Receipt in the city where I wish to extend by 30 days.
I receive my passport stamps and head towards baggage claim. There’s a sign that says ”Claim 6,” so I make my way there.
The suitcases start coming down the conveyor belt just as I arrive, and I load them onto a trolley.
I notice that my bike box is a little further down and steer the cart in that direction. Just as I’ve loaded the box onto the trolley, I realize that one bag is missing.
It’s the red North Face bag with a complete tent, mattress, liner, pillow, and silk sheets inside.
The belt has stopped, meaning no more bags are on their way. I find a service staff member and am advised to go to Garuda’s service office to file a loss report.
Using the stickers on my boarding pass, we note that a bag is missing, indicating that it’s the airline’s fault, not mine.
The luggage was checked in correctly in Singapore, as confirmed by my stickers.
I provide my mobile phone number, WhatsApp number, my address in Pontianak, and the man behind the desk takes note of everything. I receive a receipt for my report.
The receipt also contains their WhatsApp number and a reference number I should mention when calling.
I’m afraid it might be more than one night in Pontianak, I definitely want to get the North Face bag with the tent back before I continue.
I then push the trolley cart back towards the exit and take the escalators two floors up to terminal three and Gate F.
Up here, I’ll try to find somewhere to rest. I find a booth with the sign ”Scandinavian” above it, it fits me perfect
Inside the booth, there’s a sofa with a upright back, two light green armchairs, and a table. I try to get into a relaxed position so I can get a few minutes of sleep, but it doesn’t take long before the travelers start walking around, so I didn’t get much sleep.
Good night, it started off well with Indonesia…!!
See Yeah from Pontianak, Borneo
// P-G The Global Cyclist 1719
7 August
Yippee Ki Yay, I been waiting for this day since august 2. Of Course I’ve seen a lot in Baku and it was worth to be rememered but my hotel or hostel visit dosen’t.
My flight to Uzbekistan depart 12.15 p.m first for a stopover in Almaty, Kazakhstan where I need to find somewhere to stay one night.
Wrapping my bicycle in plastic at Baku Airport
My connection flight to Tashkent departs day after. The flight did well and also to find a cheap room.
Almaty Airport in evening light
Just outside the entrance to the airport a tall woman, perhaps 175 cm in height, handed me her business card and said they have a small hotel with good WiFi just a four-minute walk from here.
Initially hesitant, but the woman seemed trustworthy, and I accepted. I did’nt need to worry about my luggage and bike, this had already been taken care of at Baku Airport.
Four, maybe five minutes later, we reach the hotel, which looks more lika a single storey house and nestled in a residential area with lots of greenery.
Nice double room, with large TV, working WiFi, waterboiler and microwave own, clean, cheap and just a few minutes walking to Airport. On Eurosport they send cycling. Shower and bathroom close at the corridor. Also search for E-VISA to Tajikistan. Easy and quick to get access to the country. Got some probs with the connection while I was typing. Tomorrow I will finished it.
After changing clothes time to look for a dinner restaurant. 15 minutes walk I found a resturant and it seems to be popular, lots of guests inside.
On my way back to hotel withdraw some cash from a ATM
Tomorrow flight to Tasjkent and Uzbekistan
See yeah
P-G
//The Global Cyclist 1719
July 23
After Badab Soorts Spring Water, we had a challenging bike ride on narrow gravel roads with a lot of uphill. Moreover, the heat was intense, but the surroundings were magificent and beautiful.
Small, narrow gravelroads from Badab Soort
We passed through some small villages before we had a long downhill ride where my maximum speed reached almost 76 km/h.
Then, shortly after Dibaj, we set up camp for the night at 2300 meters above sea level and slept under the open sky for the third consecutive night.
The next day, we decided to take different routes. I opted for an easier and more southern route, while Lars chose a tougher and more northern one.
View over green valley from Niala
Cycling from the valley up to Nyala was a significant challenge, nearly 10 km and the heat was awful.
But nothing lasts forever; everything has an end, including this climb. I see a large sign with the text ”Red Crescent Society of Iran,” the Red Cross. I knock on the door and ask for the use of their restroom, which they kindly grant.
I take off my shoes outside the entrance and place them on a shoe rack. Then, I’m invited into their lounge, and they offer me tea. They know a little English, and we manage to communicate a bit.
Despite the language barrier, they are really friendly and are dressed in sharp red uniforms.
Of course, we have to take ”selfies” before I continue my bike ride.
My self and Red Crescent employee
From here down to the Caspian Sea, Gorgan strait and Galugha was downwards, nearly 13 miles or 20 km. Beautiful and scenic road and throug a nationalpark, Tooska Cheshme Forest. I also notice that one or two spokes where broken. I calculate to find a bicycle workshop in Galuga.
See Yeah Later
P-G
//The Global Cyclist 1719
July 23
First I did when I reached Galugha was looking for a bicycle workshop. A youngster helped me to finde one. While waiting I crossed the street stepped into a patisserie for coffe and sweet cookies, and i did’nt need to pay 🫶👍💝. I wonder if this would be possible in Sweden?, not likely
I went back then for fetching my bicycle and they seems to made a good job. Then out of Galugah towards Gorhan.
On the main road leading to Kord Kuy, I get overtaken by a guy on a motorcycle with a young girl on the back. He points to the right and shouts…
– Come along, follow me.
Father and his doughter Yeganeh and their house outside Galugah
We turn off the road onto a small path between two fields and stop at a small square stone house with an upstairs made of branches, planks, sticks, and a metal roof.
The stairs up are a homemade ladder.
A big carpet is on a wooden floor, and on one long side, there’s a homemade shelf where they store china and such.
The girl sits across from me, smiling so beautifully that it brings tears to your eyes.
Yeganeh offer me homemade bread
The man, who is her father and is in his mid-thirties, brings out a plate of bread, tomatoes, and cream cheese and asks me to eat.
If the house is of simple quality, their hearts and generosity are all the better and greater.
Before I leave, he gives me tomatoes from his own garden and a watermelon.
Once again, I have been shown that Iranians are something special, truly unique.💓💓
After this unexpected invitation and kindness from Yeganeh and her father, it was time to find a camping or tent spot. Which would turn out to be a little bit more problematic than I had anticipated.
Continuing towards Kord Kuy, but many small communities follow one another, and the darkness makes it difficult for me to find a good camping spot.
Around 9 PM, I tooke a chance and turned onto a narrow road leading to a university and find a spot between the road and a field with a large green area urrounded by trees and bushes, where I set up my tent in the shelter of some low trees.
After pitch up my tent and arranging my sleeping area, a guard from the university across the road approaches and indicates with his body language that I can’t camp there.
I tell a white lie, saying that I had to change my camping spot due to roaming dogs. At the same time, he looks at my leg and sees the bandage and my injured elbow.
He walks away, and then a chain of events unfolds like a carousel, which I hadn’t anticipated.
A few uniformed guards show up, leading to more discussion before I’m allowed to settle into my sleeping bag. I’ve just fallen asleep when I hear new voices, and I open the tent flap to find three paramedics in white attire with protective gloves, mentioning something about an emergency.
– No, no, I’m okay.
– I have medical treatment and antibiotics.
After more discussions, they leave, but soon, the police arrive, saying that I should come with them to the police station and sleep there.
They claim the area is dangerous, and I could be killed. I deny their request, and when they won’t even let me take down my tent, I’m about to fall apart. Of course, they check my passport and VISA.
A little later, another group, apparently from the city’s government office, shows up. In total, about ten people gather around me, all talking over each other, and some of them shining several times a bright flashlights right into my face.
Finally, I’m allowed to stay, and it’s 12:30 AM.
Phew, what an ordeal.
I fall asleep like a log and feel mentally and physically exhausted.
Distance: 101,23 km
Average speed: 16,4 km/h
Max Speed: 73,8 km/h
Lowest Altitude: – 11 m m.a.s.l
Highest Altitude: 2435 m.a.s.l
See Yeah
P-G
// The Global Cyclist 1719
When You reading this blogg I’ve left Hungary for Romania and a new chapter in my cycling calender will be started. I’ll never been i Romania with my bicycle Before, so for me it’s exciting.
The first town I get into is Oradea and when I did that I realeased I been on my global journey now for one month and I still enjoy it.
Oradea Square, big, magnific and Clean. If You never visit Oradea make it tru. Because this town is an attration
My experience of Romania is that the people here are more friendly to those like me.
They are curious, questionable and helpful, but their language skills in English could be better.
Romania is also more hilly than Hungary, lots of slopes every day but it’s worth it.
My next stop for relaxing will be in the capitiol of Romania Bukarest were I also have planned a vistit at Swedish ambasey.I need a Swedish flag because I forgot to bring it with me Before I left Sweden.
Horses just before their work for today.This view is everyday for many in the Romanian l countryside. Everyone can not afford tractors
Romaina is beautiful, hilly and excating, Everything else is not true
Soon they may be three or more in the family. Too bad that our farm in Sweden does not provide space for these beautiful birds.
They were beeging for money and food and I feelt so sad about it, but they were glad and effervescent.
What can we do about it
Before Bukarest I took a trip to Bran a the castle were the myth of Dracula began. All stories about
Dracula is fairy tales but nevertheless exciting story.
Dracula myth began at this castel
Torture room , still going strong…? (pic)
Most of the stories about Dracula is fairy tales, but of course You must visit it.
I stayed in Bran and around the castle most of the day and I did not left Bran until 4.30 P.M
Curious, oblivious and very cute girl in Bran (pic)
Curious, oblivious and very cute girl in Bran. The father seem to be very proud over his doughter
The first two km out from Bran was easy but then a very steep and long climbing started
After 11 km uphill I stoped for water and just admire the view some was something very special
I love cows (pic)
Next stop in Bukarest at a hostel don´t worth the name. Bad service, loudly and dirty but cheep.
I found the Swedish embassy after 8 km Walking. Even though I arrived after closing time (open only 10-12) I get entered to embassy by a beautiful, dark-haired, nice Romanian woman who search up a Swedish flag among the belongings in the basement and handed it over to me.
Now I’m Swedish for real (pic)
Outside of my hostel window, there was a party and it’s bothered me all nights. That’s the price I have to pay if I choose a hostel like this
Two days in Bukaret is enough for me and then 150 km to the Bulgarien border. Quite easy ride, tailwind and fine weather.
Giurgiu is the Is a Romanian city on one side of the Danube which constitutes the border. and on oposite side is Ruse located
Some km frpm croosing Donau into Bulgaria ( pic)
Me, and the ladystaty at the entrance to Giurgiu (pic)
Stalin build this bridge 1954 ( maybe not himself , but probably a number of underpaid workers) (pic)
Exactyl in the middle of the bridge between Romania and Bulgaria (pic)
Soon my sixth country whitin 6 weeks and Bulgaria will also be an experience for me.
See Yah from Bulgaria
maj 26th, 2017|Europe, Journey Blog|0 Comments
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July 28 – May1
Visiting The Avas hill.
I started my second morning in Hungary with an English Breakfast and coffe at the hotel, then I checked out and cycled to the bicycle workshop to leave my bicycle for service as planned since yesterday.
With a small rucksack I started to walk up to Avas hill. Upwards all the way and passing some residential areas but the landmark was hard to miss, the television tower was visible from everywhere.
The Avas televisopn tower visiable from everywhere
The sad thing was that the weather became more cloudy with risk for rain. Well up there I observe a luxurious views of Miskolc and it´s surroundings.
Luxurious views of Miskolc
I chose another way back down to town, steeper, more na rrow and switchback-path similar. Much nicer, lots of flowers, trees and small houses.
Back in city I picked up my bike which was ready for more adventures and hardships.
Two hours after I visit Avas view point Chris and his girlfriend appeared at our meeting place at Tesco Express.
He described the best way to his address and 45 minutes later I stod infront of his residential buildings. He helped me to carry up my bicycle to his apartment
– It´s to risky to park your bike at the yard, even if you lock it up
We had a nice smal talk and a beer before nightsleep.
Chris couchsurfing host
It’s not a five star hotel but the experience of sleeping with a totally strange Hungarian is great for me and Chris was really a nice person to learn.
Next day, I less than 100 km to Balmazujavaros which is my goal to day.
106 km easy cycling today
coffe break next to the railway track
This guy from Germany had some odd packing
Balmazujavaros is a small village and I stoped only for provision at rural shop.
While I prepare and pack my purchased groceries in my panniers, a boozer hanging around my bike and talking incoherently. Tried to ignore him and cycled away.
When I pitched up my tent outside Balmazujavaros I noticed my cell phone was missing.
quite easy to pitch up a Hilleberg tent
Time has past 6 p.m and the rural shop closed so I had to wait until next morning bike back and ask if anyone found it, but I was sure the boozer stole my cell phone while I was packing food into my panniers.
I will kill the soon of a bitch.
A mobile phone is just more than a phone, it´s a life line to sister and friends, pictures, documents, addresses, codes, and you name it.
Day after I cycle back for searching my phone if someone ….! It was now I met an older well-dressed . He told me during our cycling that he spokes ten languages and was a proud father of two world-famous daughters, both Celione Dione and Maria Carey… !!!! Wow what a father
In Balmazujavaros this man told eme he was father to Celine Dion and Maria Carey…!
No Phone, it´s gone for ever so I turned back for heading romania at Ártánd Border Crossing 75 km south.
For me as a Swede it´s always with joy to see a storkfamily. In Sweden they are very, very rare, only in the very south, Skåne if you are lucky get to see some couple.
a pair of storks in their nest who may be waiting the birth of their newborn
Waiting patiently to perform a day’s work
A day later just before 14:00, passing the border croosing and passcontrol in Ártánd and then I cycled into a Oradea, Romania.
Ártánd Border Crossing Station a gate into Romania
and I stopped at a big, clean and beautiful square close to Crişul Repede river
Oradea magnificet square where I stopped for coffe
I asked my self while sitting with my coffe… Why is the traffic so scanty, it´s monday?
Then I remember, today is it May 1, International Workers’ Day, also known as Labour Day and an official holiday even i Romania.
I continue drinking my coffee and eating one of my pizza slices which I had in handlebar bag and at the same time browsing on my Huawei MediaPad.
45 minutes coffe drinking and peeking on strolled DEVA citizens anf then I cycled around and across the river until my hunger told me to stop.
After a small alley outdoor cafes are lined up and after a certain inner persuasion, I sat down inside one of the restaurants and order a pizza.
Sat for two hours with my computer connected to their WiFi and at the same time as I myself felt relaxed.
A kind of inner harmony and calm had spread to my mental state despite the hassle and the loss of my cell phone, but fortunately you learn a lot from events like this.
Then I cycled ovet river Crişul Repede again and further south direction of Băile Felix which is a few km outside the city but the goal I have set is Drăgești.
The traffic has increased significantly, but it is quite easy to find your way out of Oradeao. Signs keep saying I’m on the right track.
It is noticeable that I have left Hungary’s flat and treeless pannonian steppes, now it’s more like Wales. Hills and small mountains everywhere and very green.
Passing many small and cozy villages and noticed the Romania’s Orthodox Catholic is very visible in the design of all churches, specialy the roofs and they are beutiful.
Romania is Wales look alike, grreen and many hills
On the very peak of a small hill and with a magnificent view over the valley below and nearby community I steered my bike a bit from the road and pitch up my tent.
Time has past 20:00, the air is lukewarm and only few clouds on the sky, so I calculated with a chilly night.
Eating a late dinner and have time to listen to three chapters about Evert Bäckström’s achievements
See Yeah from Deva
// P-G
