Baltic Sea

[Lone Rider]

Hi all,

Has anybody tried cycling round the Baltic Sea? Any ideas or suggestions?

 

[Ticktockmy]

this link might be of interest: http://www.ironcurtaintrail.eu/en/

 

[Brains]

Have a browse through the maps these guys do, here is one that covers a big section of the route

http://www.esterbauer.com/db_detail.php?buecher_code=ICT1

 

[Lone Rider]

this link might be of interest: http://www.ironcurtaintrail.eu/en/

This looks very interesting... I'll spend the weekend browsing the web page. Thank you.

 

[Lone Rider]

Have a browse through the maps these guys do, here is one that covers a big section of the route

http://www.esterbauer.com/db_detail.php?buecher_code=ICT1

Thanks for the link - I thought they only did guides of German routes. I'll get the one you suggest as it covers a good part of the route I have in mind. Pity they don't do it in English.

 

[Lone Rider]

Thanks for the link - I thought they only did guides of German routes. I'll get the one you suggest as it covers a good part of the route I have in mind. Pity they don't do it in English.

They do have an English version ))

http://www.esterbauer.com/db_rtb_detail_int.php?buecher_code=ICT1-E

Thank you esterbauer.

 

[Dayvo]

Not quite the Baltic Sea, but the Gulf of Bothnia;

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_of_Bothnia

My mate cycled from Stockholm (OK, ferry across to Turku), north up the Finnish coast and down again though Sweden back to the start. I was going to do it with him, but I moved to Noway instead!

In the summer, it's virtually 24 hours' daylight, so you can sleep when you're tired, not just cos it's night time.

I don't know how difficult it would be cycling though Russia, but it looks an exciting route.

 

[psmiffy]

I have no idea about cycling in Russia apart from that you need a visa - too much hassle for me so I have always avoided Russia

However, I have cycled around lots of bits of the Baltic (and the Gulf of Bothnia) - compared to southern Europe, it is not so interesting - but if you are familiar with southern Europe and are like me and curiosity is your bent then it worth having a look

The circuit round the Gulf of Bothenia described by Dayvo above is easy enough to do as a short trip -Stockholm- Turku -Vassa - Umea - Stockholm also I suspect a loop from Stockholm - Turku - Helsinki - Tallin - Riga - Gdansk - Kiel - Copenhagen - Gothenburg -Stockholm would provide some interest

 

[Echolalia]

Cycling through Latvia, there are beautiful deciduous forests that line alot of the coastline, I headed across north of Poland from Wolin national park to Gdansk, really easy to cycle only problem with Poland there are many trucks and they share the same road as you, interesting watching all the habits of truck drivers as they all drive past you and their name plates in the front windscreen. Then had to head inland, as only had a single entry russian visa so couldn't get into Kalninigrad which was a shame, as it is the birthplace of Kant. So carried onto Suwalki, where met loads of electro minded individuals and was out with them till the early hours, in a basement club, loud soundsystem, imported all their vinyl from the UK. Crossing through to Lithuania, is like going back 50 years, Litwa was not my favourite country, people just seemed to scowl and show disregard for cyclists, I had to cycle on their motorway equivalent which was about as much fun as sitting through a Kenneth Anger omnibus on a saturday morning. The best thing about cycling along the Baltic? The differentiation of the coastline as you cycle, and the variety of wild camping spots. I camped along serene coastline, slept in lookout wooden towers, met many individuals and seemed to have a great time even if it was on my lonesome.