At midnight I got up hoping to snap some good milky way photos in the dead of night. However, clouds were moving in above us so the result was meager.
Already at sunrise the sky was clear and blue. Another fine biking day was approaching and we set off at 9:30.
We passed through very picturesque landscapes and west of Vitaby we reached a high plateau with a magnificent view over the sea and northwards along the coastline.
Shortly after Vitaby we passed Borgvallen, a ruined castle from the Viking Age 1000 years ago ...
... and from there onwards we biked between one big apple/pear orchard after the other.
This corner of Skåne is often called "Äppleriket" (the Apple Kingdom) as the many sunshine hours and the proximity to the Baltic Sea create excellent conditions for growing fruits, ...
... mainly apples.
The shoulders of the bike route were very insect-friendly as a regional project called "Artsrik Vejkant" (i.e. "species-rich road shoulder") has managed to populate the otherwise dull road sides with multitudes of flowering plants to make bees and other pollinators beesy and happy.
Eventually, we made it to Kivik, the core of the apple country.
First we stopped by the impressive King's Grave, Sweden's grandest burial site from the Bronze Age.
In both construction and in size – it is a circular site measuring 75 m in diameter – this 3400 years-old tomb differs from most European burials from the Bronze Age. Most importantly, the cists are adorned with petroglyphs. However, we didn't get inside.
We proceeded to visit Kivik's Musteri, which is a "must-see" if you are in these tracts. To get tuned in, we engaged in a lunch-like apple pie with apple cider activity at Tina's Apple Treat ...
... and duly satisfied ...
... we then checked out the well-stocked apple must shop ...
... and went to the demonstration orchard where some of the many apple sorts were presented.
This is "July Red", a successful offspring of "Early MacIntosh" and "Melba"
On our way from Kivik to Simrishamn we needed another break. This time in the peaceful and picturesque harbour of Baskemölla.
On the bikes again, we were reminded that Skåne does have some very fast wild boars on the roads.
By 4 p.m. we reached the end of our bike trail "Sydostleden" in downtown Simrishamn. After 7 days of biking we have eaten a total of 371 km of gravel, cobblestones and asphalt.
We are presently in our B&B right next to St. Nicolai's Church in the city centre.
– – –
Tomorrow we will begin the second (and shorter) part of our bicycle adventure heading southwest on the bike trail "Sydkustleden".
Stay tuned !
