After an absolutely great breakfast at my B+B, I took had a relaxed morning visiting with its owner and using her computer to upload yesterday's ride report and web page. Then I headed south looking for the Swedish East Coast Bicycle route - Cykelsporet - which I would not have found if she hadn't told me exactly where it started.
This is the part of Cykelsporet that run in front of the B+B and on into Ahus
The fact that it is part of Cykelsporet is indicated by that little black bicycle sign
Actually, the B+B is right on the cycle route, but that isn't obvious and the place where Cykelsporet leaves the road and become a nice path throught the woods for 6 km isn't marked as Cykelsporet! This is not much of an issue for riders coming north but it would have been a real problem for me, heading south if I hadn't been told right where the path was. If you come north, you'll see a sign for the B+B I stayed at when you reach the road - Avagen, with accent marks over both As - at the end of the path through the woods. The B+B's is at 71 Avagen, roughly half a mile north of where you turn on it. There is another small sign by the bike lane at that point. I highly recommend that B+B for a pleasant environment, a good bed, and a great breakfast, all for a very reasonable price.
A later section, whch was less fun, but fortunately short Most of the 'path' is small paved roads rather than bicycle path
Another shot of highway 9
When I got to highway 9, I should have taken it toward Simrishamn, but there was another road that was marked Cykelsporet, so I took it instead. It was very steep and I was very tired and in need of food, so I stopped part way up it for a break. When I restarted, I found I couldn't sustain the climb - A-Fib exhaustion - so I pushed my bike most of the way to the top. When I finally reached the top, it was very nice riding, even for an exhausted rider, and I could see rain falling on either side of me and hear thunder from the storm on the seaward side, so I kept pushing to get past that rain. It wasn't very long before that road came back down, steeply, and Cykelsporet was back on highway 9 again. I would have ridden 9 instead if I had known that was going to happen.
Riding on 9 wasn't much fun and it was wet from a recent rain which made it even less fun, so, when Cykelsporet left 9, I followed it. That turned out to be a good move since it got me away form the wet road with heavy traffic. I rode in Rorum - pretty town - where Cykelsporet headed further inland on a rough, chip-sealed road. I decided not to go that way but to continue on the smooth road through Rorum. That road led me back to 9 ;-{, but now 9 had a cycle path beside it and it was much more pleasant to ride. The cycle path, and/or diversion onto smaller roads kept me off 9 the rest of the way into town.
I rode down to the harbor and found the tourist office. I asked about B+Bs and they suggested one that cost $135. I said that was a but too much, so we ended up with a room in a house - no breakfast, a shared bathroom, and bring your own sleep sack for about $45. It is a nice place and a good deal, but it wasn't available for a couple of hours, so I dragged my exhausted body around Simrishamn playing tourist, It is a pretty town with a nice harbor, and a touristy pedestrian mall with lots of shops and restaurants. I found a little cafe out side of the area and had a very late lunch. the lady running it is very nice, so nice that when I said I liked breakfast much earlier than she opened her cafe, she said she'd be there a 6 AM and I should just knock on the door and she'd fix me breakfast. So much for unfriendly, reserved Swedes! I told her I wouldn't do that to her, but that I would be there when she opens the cafe at 9 AM. On my way to my room for the night, I stopped at at a supermarket and picked up food for supper and my 'first' breakfast tomorrow.
Next morning: I've decided I need to take a rest day today. My body needs to recover from yesterday's abuse before I ride on to Ystad where I will take a ferry to Poland tomorrow.