Interrail 2024

All photos are at https://photos.app.goo.gl/QsCXvZ9mRb8DcCpH7

Tuesday May 7th

After all the hassle and double booking I finally started out and the day went really well.

Up at 6am, time to shut everything down, do the washing up etc and get out.  Made the 7am train to Cardiff and the pass worked. Subway didn't open until 10am so a leisurely McD breakfast and on the 0837 train to London (on a lumpy seat) Tube to St Pancras where I found a Subway and used up the points on a snack and a drink. Eurostar check in went smoothly. An hour wait in the crowded undercroft was a pain. Travel to Brussels was OK. Made the connection onto the ICE to Cologne (it was pretty close, they have closed the shortcut due to customs) Checked in to the hotel, with a view of the Station and Cathedral. 
   Went out for a short wander but pretty tired so in bed. 

Wednesday May 8th
6am alarm and time flew, out just before 7am and crossed the road to McD for breakfast and a variation on the usual with a wrap.
   Train to Hamburg and rushed connection but the train to Copenhagen was 10 mins late so I didn't need to have rushed. No liferings on this train so a bit worried but it turned out that the ferry crossing had ceased in 2019 so no ferry. Some big bridges to get to Copenhagen. The North German plains ae boring, people complain about the USA!
   Copenhagen caught me out - just messaged Charlotte that all was on schedule when they cancelled the train. The bridge was closed. One hour later I took the train to the airport, where it was terminated, considered going back to Copenhagen, but stayed. Considered a hotel. Considered lots of things. The 8.30 was packed, managed to squeeze on, this was the last one to Gothenburg. Virtually everyone got off at the next stop which was the stadium for Eurovision. Dark ride the rest of the way so no scenery!. Met at the station by Stu and Charlotte and into bed.

Thursday May 9th
Really relaxing day. Breakfast at 8am down to the waters edge with Charlotte and the dog before going along to the dog training lesson at 11am, Shopping, walk out to a headland and view of the yacht club on the way back. Relaxing meal and then a game of Mexican Train (a dominoes variation).

Friday May 10th
Driven up to "The Summer House" via the Gothenberg Flat and treated to a ferry ride and the scenic route. Climbed the mountain and visited the sound before a very relaxed evening.

Saturday May 11th
Breakfast, dog walking, shopping, lunch, dog walking, tea, dog walking (up to the castle) got my green bar, dinner with Eva and playing Mexican Train till bedtime. A really relaxing day.

Sunday May 12th
Breakfast, a final dog walk and into the car for a lift to the bus stop. Saw some cranes on the way, so all boxes ticked, as far as Charlotte was concerned, Elks, ferries etc. Realised I have not mentioned Sture's bad shoulder, hope it gets better.
     Don't know what it is about the bus that makes it much less fun than the train, maybe the views, or the  packing in, less room. Bus was comfortable and had power. Got in at 13.30. Walked to waterfront via McD. Back to check in being told I could not see the display on democracy because of an Israel/Gaza demo.
     Room is comfortable and washing is done.

Monday May 13th

The day started with a nice lie in and a breakfast at McD. Then the railway confusion started. No regional train on the board, there was a train at the right time going to Trondheim. People on the platform said ask and stay on it, so I did. One short bus ride and the new conductor accepted things. The scenery was spectacular, but I failed to get photos. 
    Got into hotel, bit of a labyrinth to find the room but it's OK, if small. Short wander around and shopping. Hoping the train isn't cancelled in the morning.

Tuesday May 14th

With a 10 to 8 departure there was time for breakfast at the hotel. Usual problem of getting familiar with what was on offer. Would have liked to have had herring but salmon in the ham and cheese rolls made up for that.
Train was fantastic. It follows the edge of Fjords and rivers, which were full of water, passes waterfalls and rapids. As we got further north and higher there was more snow and frozen lakes and it went on and on for hours. The Arctic circle was marked by a landmark, and a souvenir shop on the road! Back own to sea level for the approach to Bodo and the mountains reflected in the flat calm water. Into Bodo on time at 5.45pm
   Three hours to kill so walked along the waterfront, saw a number of yachts out, the local sailing club having their weekly race. Now I have seen the southerly (Sydney-Hobart) and the northerly race starts!
  It sort of began to rain so spent an hour sitting in the station before getting on board and into cabin at 20.40 for a 21.10 departure. WhatsApp conversation/exchange with Josh as I tried to get to sleep.

Wednesday 15th May

Just lost previous account typed on Blogger so start again! Up for photos at 4am and awake at 6am -train arrived at 7.15. McD was not open and not due to open until 9 or 10am. Decided to walk to the Green Path, picking up a bus ticket on the way from a machine at a bus stop. The path was very pretty, lots of waterfalls, lots of photos. Climbed all the way to the resrvoir. Just missed a bus so 15min wait and back to the centre. Eventually found the Tourist Information. Seems trips to the island don't start until Saturday, the Tram Museum doesn't open until June, so I decided to walk along the river.
     Started at the Cathedral and got distracted by the armaments museum, for a while. Walk was interesting, much gentrification of areas that were once working areas. Still over an hour to kill, fast transit boats were expensive and infrequent, so I took another trip on the Tram (view of the city is good) went all the way to the end this time and back. Bus to station (sav‌ing my legs) and check into hotel. Pictures to edit.and shopping.

Thursday 16th May

Up at 5.15 and at station to catch the 06.07 to Oslo. Pretty crowded I thought. It turned out to be the stopping train so I came back on a different route. Scenery just as spectacular - we ran alonside the river for a long way and then went over the mountains. We were runnig half an hour late at one stage so I got vaguely worried about the connection but in the end we were only about 15 mins behind and we got in around 2pm giving me time for an ice cream. 14.37 train to Stockholm, scenery was not as good and I got rather hot. Arrived Stockholm on time 20.22. Got a wireless connection and found the hotel which is OK. Big question is what to do tomorrow? It's a 1hr walk 3.7km to the ferry terminal, check out 11am.