But not a musical reference this time;
The rock is because the landscape is dominated by outcrops of granite bedrock everywhere, which the roads drunkenly weave between, and pine trees somehow cling onto.
Also for the bronze age rock carvings found in this area, from a time when sea levels were 15m higher. Only 3000 years ago!
The roll is for Volvo, meaning "it rolls". The high Volvo density is justified by the fact that the company and factory is based in Gothenburg. Have even seen a VW van with the Volvo badge glued on the front!
Visited the museum which contains a full history of models, from early american style whales, thru stylish 60’s sleek curves to the classic 80's box shapes and the present variations, you can see the common DNA in design throughout.
Volvo cars are now owned by the Chinese....
So in Gothenburg I had a delightfully relaxed stay with Lena and Lasse, thanks to the worldwide influence of Monday Night Football and Axel back in Nottingham.
They are keen ornithologists, with a goshawk in the living room, a clock which strikes the hours by different bird calls, and while Lasse is in the elite club of having observed all 300 of Sweden's native species, Lena has a published book on encounters with those you might find in your garden!
I learn that the swift, when it learns to fly, stays airborne continuously for maybe three years, only eventually coming to earth to rear a family. I can't help thinking there is some easy parallel or metaphor to make there.
I'm afraid to say the rest of the city got the whirlwind photo tour treatment, since I spent most of the time off napping. And what a great nap it was!
I have abandoned the coast line, which is unspectacular and smothered by holiday villages, so now progressing a few miles inland, through a region of lovely forests and lakes, with gentle climbs and subsequent long lazy freewheel descents.
Yesterday I finally realised that the USB cable I was using to charge my phone from the dynamo keeps cutting out, and hey presto, with a new cable everything is working properly. So the last couple of weeks have been unnecessarily tough power wise!
I never thought I'd see more volvos than in that one town in California, but here it must be the law that every household has at least one Volvo estate car.
Getting used to the slightly different exchange rate, things aren't really horrendously expensive, they do have a novelty way of selling booze though, if you want anything over 3.5% it's only available on government run bottle shops, which can be few and far between in the countryside!
Storks. No wait, cranes.
Camped by a lake again. V.nice.
Yesterday I finally realised that the USB cable I was using to charge my phone from the dynamo keeps cutting out, and hey presto, with a new cable everything is working properly. So the last couple of weeks have been unnecessarily tough power wise!
I never thought I'd see more volvos than in that one town in California, but here it must be the law that every household has at least one Volvo estate car.
Getting used to the slightly different exchange rate, things aren't really horrendously expensive, they do have a novelty way of selling booze though, if you want anything over 3.5% it's only available on government run bottle shops, which can be few and far between in the countryside!
Storks. No wait, cranes.
Camped by a lake again. V.nice.
Had a brief photo stop in Roskilde, where I met another cycle tourer, and first Brit since Holland - Doctor Tim, who had travelled up from Gibraltar, quite a trip!
Onwards to camp just outside of Copenhagen, in a nature reservey type place full of waterfowl.
Next day I rolled into the city not sure where I would stay, but noticed a guy (Ali) on couchsurfing was organising a BBQ. He travels from the UK making deliveries, and if the weather is good, stops off to cook in a park - 250 times so far!
Of the dozen other attendees, only one was a Danish local, so no hosting joy, but then I got a call back from Hilary on warmshowers, rescuing me with the offer of a sofa bed, leftover pasta, perfectly cooked eggs, interesting conversations and beer tasting with her housemates Jan and Manulus.
Their kitchen is occupied by a huge hairy spider which has its own Facebook page!
Next day was supposed to be a day off sightseeing, but it was pretty rainy so I spent most of the day trying on new waterproof jackets.
The city itself is very very nice, lots of parks, street art, classic architecture, trendy neighborhoods, modern flats, colourful canal side, easy to get around by bicycle.
Then finally some sunshine so made another lap of the city for some photos, then northward, briefly stopping to see the crowds gawking at the little mermaid statue.
The road north along the coast is a very prosperous and pleasant region, beautiful houses looking out over the water to Sweden.
In the evening I stopped at Louisiana, a modern art gallery, which had on a fascinating exhibition of the career of the performance artist Milana Abramovic. Lots of nudity and screaming but rather thought provoking.
Then one last night camping in the woods at a Shelter location, before leaving the country - not quite though, as spent the day at Kronborg castle, setting of Hamlet, following the cast around as they put on the play.
Short and cheap ferry ride to Helsingborg, which also has an interesting looking castle keep, but it was getting late so had to do a quick 20km up the coast to get out of town, everyone is having a bbq and queuing for ice cream as if its being banned tomorrow!
In Sweden you can camp anywhere, as long as not too close to property, not disturbing anyone, and no signs saying otherwise - ie nature reserves, so this rules out almost the entire coast!
Found a shelter on the map, occupied by a friendly German couple on a two week hitch hiking trip.
Nice sunset, nice beach, but the coast is heavily populated and utilised by the locals so an early rude awakening by dog walkers and then kids activity groups!
Onwards to camp just outside of Copenhagen, in a nature reservey type place full of waterfowl.
Next day I rolled into the city not sure where I would stay, but noticed a guy (Ali) on couchsurfing was organising a BBQ. He travels from the UK making deliveries, and if the weather is good, stops off to cook in a park - 250 times so far!
Of the dozen other attendees, only one was a Danish local, so no hosting joy, but then I got a call back from Hilary on warmshowers, rescuing me with the offer of a sofa bed, leftover pasta, perfectly cooked eggs, interesting conversations and beer tasting with her housemates Jan and Manulus.
Their kitchen is occupied by a huge hairy spider which has its own Facebook page!
Next day was supposed to be a day off sightseeing, but it was pretty rainy so I spent most of the day trying on new waterproof jackets.
The city itself is very very nice, lots of parks, street art, classic architecture, trendy neighborhoods, modern flats, colourful canal side, easy to get around by bicycle.
Then finally some sunshine so made another lap of the city for some photos, then northward, briefly stopping to see the crowds gawking at the little mermaid statue.
The road north along the coast is a very prosperous and pleasant region, beautiful houses looking out over the water to Sweden.
In the evening I stopped at Louisiana, a modern art gallery, which had on a fascinating exhibition of the career of the performance artist Milana Abramovic. Lots of nudity and screaming but rather thought provoking.
Then one last night camping in the woods at a Shelter location, before leaving the country - not quite though, as spent the day at Kronborg castle, setting of Hamlet, following the cast around as they put on the play.
Short and cheap ferry ride to Helsingborg, which also has an interesting looking castle keep, but it was getting late so had to do a quick 20km up the coast to get out of town, everyone is having a bbq and queuing for ice cream as if its being banned tomorrow!
In Sweden you can camp anywhere, as long as not too close to property, not disturbing anyone, and no signs saying otherwise - ie nature reserves, so this rules out almost the entire coast!
Found a shelter on the map, occupied by a friendly German couple on a two week hitch hiking trip.
Nice sunset, nice beach, but the coast is heavily populated and utilised by the locals so an early rude awakening by dog walkers and then kids activity groups!
The rain has now evolved from sunshine and showers to all day drizzle and downpours. Hasn't put the locals off from going out to cut the grass, I'm starting to wonder if there is a regulation height and a secret police who come round to check that standards are being maintained!
Yesterday I crossed the small bridge to the middle island, Funen, and sought refuge at the hostel in Odense. Danhostel is their YHA - the Danes love putting Dan in front of the names of things.
Thursday nights is free entry to the rather good Brandts museum of art/photography/media, displaying more clean Scandinavian design, excellent realist landscapes, and crappy modern cubism.
Today had to take the train to cross over to the eastern most island, Zealand, as cycling not allowed on the 30km bridge/tunnel crossing. The trains have loads of space for bikes, but to get on and off, three steps, maybe 50cm in total, not easy to lift a loaded bike!
Haven't been stopping to admire the scenery much as the rain is monotonous and the horizon disappears into mizzle.
Tonight staying in a nice looking shelter (open fronted wooden shed on a platform in the forest), rather than putting up my already damp tent. Forecast better tomorrow, and onwards to Copenhagen!
Yesterday I crossed the small bridge to the middle island, Funen, and sought refuge at the hostel in Odense. Danhostel is their YHA - the Danes love putting Dan in front of the names of things.
Thursday nights is free entry to the rather good Brandts museum of art/photography/media, displaying more clean Scandinavian design, excellent realist landscapes, and crappy modern cubism.
Today had to take the train to cross over to the eastern most island, Zealand, as cycling not allowed on the 30km bridge/tunnel crossing. The trains have loads of space for bikes, but to get on and off, three steps, maybe 50cm in total, not easy to lift a loaded bike!
Haven't been stopping to admire the scenery much as the rain is monotonous and the horizon disappears into mizzle.
Tonight staying in a nice looking shelter (open fronted wooden shed on a platform in the forest), rather than putting up my already damp tent. Forecast better tomorrow, and onwards to Copenhagen!
Since I've been getting reports that Norway is somewhat hilly, (and extremely rainy), thought I'd better do my best to get warmed up by tackling Denmark's biggest peaks, topping out at 172m above sea level.
As exciting as you'd expect. Actually to be fair, Himmelberg (sky mountain) has a 150m cliff drop to a lake, so the view is quite nice.
The day ended with the added bonus of Denmark's steepest hill climb, just when I was ready to stop for the night!
Still, camped in another lovely spot overlooking the fjord. Unfortunately the dog walkers think its lovely too!
As exciting as you'd expect. Actually to be fair, Himmelberg (sky mountain) has a 150m cliff drop to a lake, so the view is quite nice.
The day ended with the added bonus of Denmark's steepest hill climb, just when I was ready to stop for the night!
Still, camped in another lovely spot overlooking the fjord. Unfortunately the dog walkers think its lovely too!