Day 30: Tue 8 Aug: Stockholm

Cycle: 28 km - Total so far: 1,397 km

Weather: fine and sunny with some clouds about, 14 to 22deg

Everyone except Greg decided to do the Archipelago Boat Cruise today. He thought the six hours on the boat and two hours on an island was better spent in Stockholm itself. We all left the hotel together, on the bikes, for the ride to the wharf. Stockholm has a massive Harbour with an equally huge boat / ship / ferry system to service the many islands around the city, in Sweden, and beyond. Additionally, 100s of cruise ships call into this port every year. 

The bicycle infrastructure in Stockholm is as good or even better than Amsterdam. So, Greg did what he loves to - do ride around, and around. He went onto as many islands as the bike paths would permit and ended up back in the city. This was a bit of a mess with all the road and tram works going on. Like half of Europe Stockholm is being dug up and redone. The one and only museum for the day was on Photography. Greg found it a little disappointing as the current exhibitions tended to be too "alternative" for him. He was hoping to see some "conventional" photos. He did appreciate the work that had gone into most pieces. 

Wendy did the canal tour to Sandhamn (Swedish for Sand Harbour) on the island of Sandön (Sand Island) in one of Stockholm’s outer archipelagos. It was a six-hour return journey, with two hours on the island.  The outward journey was, of course, more interesting than the return, only because you saw everything twice! The island itself was populated in the industrial age when the wealthy middle class wanted to spend their summers other than in the busy, dirty and noisy cities.  It was quickly transformed into an idyllic holiday destination which resembles (allegedly) the French Riviera.  The population swells from a mere 100 permanent residents to 2 500 in summer; tourism is the island’s main source of income.  We did a short tour with a guide, and were then left to wander around on our own.  We wandered through the shops and marina area and admired the flash boats and dreamed of winning Lotto.  Back on the boat for the three-hour return trip and we were all a bit piqued.  The ride back to the hotel was frantic with all the workers heading home as well. 

Pre-dinner drinks were had in the hotel in the recreation area on the first floor and then dinner (Ken and Maree’s choice) was the pick-your-own salad from the COOP down the road.



Our canal tour boat

Looking back at Stockholm from our tour boat

Greg up on the hill watching us cruise by

Nice little shacks on the waterfront

Three-arch bridges, first one finished in 1915, second in 1957

Ingaro Church, 1792, largely original, popular for weddings


on the island

Axel Sjoberg, a Swedish artist and illustrator

Old Customs House, Sandhamn

The oldest house on Sandhamn

A rock, allegedly from the Ice Age, on Sandhamn

A magnificent statue near the boat departure wharf

Some of the 100s of Stockholm ferries

A lovely old ship used for cruising

Swedish Marines raise the flag

Prince Eugen's old windmill

The Horse exhibition at the photo museum

One of the best photos

A view out the window of the Photo Museum



The bike paths are packed at the peak hours


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