Waking up with “Odin’s Fakes” in front of me, I had the third day of my summer adventure ahead. I had spent the previous day exploring the island of Öland and it was now time to head back to the mainland. But where should I go next? Should I repeat the previous year’s visit to the province of Blekinge? I knew I had more to discover around Karlskrona, Ronneby, and Karlshamn. But that would take the whole day and I wanted to get further south. Was driving towards Skåne an option? It’s a long drive, but there would be many new places to explore. It was time to give it a chance and see how far I could get in a day.
Driving Through the Forests of Småland
A beautiful drive back across the Öland Bridge marked the start of a new day of adventures. I did not stop in Kalmar or continue south along the coast. Instead, I continued inland. My first stop of the day was the town of Nybro. It is best known for being a part of what is known as Glasriket, or the “Kingdom of Crystal” in English. This is a part of Sweden known for its glass production. In Nybro I found a grocery store to buy breakfast before I continued towards Skåne, through the inland of Småland.
Following Nybro came a few minor stops to explore Emmaboda and Tingsryd. I did not want to stop for too long, as I was just in the early part of this long drive. However, I wanted to stop at Kyrkö Mosse just outside of Ryd. This is a forested area that is home to a car graveyard. The forest paths are lined with older cars and where nature is fighting back. It is a surreal sight and possibly an environmental disaster. But it is a popular stop with lots of tourists visiting alongside me. German, Dutch, and even French cars were parked in the small parking lot. Was it worth visiting? Not really, especially not if you bring your dog. But it is in some ways an interesting sight in case you are in the area.
Back in Blekinge
I might have skipped the coast of Blekinge, but after visiting the four coastal municipalities of the province the previous year I still had one municipality left. Olofström is the only non-coastal municipality in Blekinge and along my path towards Skåne. I just had to make a proper stop to explore the town. Let’s say there is a big difference between the coastal towns and Olofström. It is a different feeling walking along the streets of Olofström. This industrial town once had an ironwork as its main employer. The industrial feeling and the lack of fishermen might make this place feel different.
I made one more short stop in Blekinge, which was to see Jämshög, but now it once more felt a lot more like the countryside parishes I had seen before, such as Tving and Nättraby.
The Eastern Coast of Skåne
Finally, I got to Skåne at around lunchtime. That might say a bit about how early I had left Öland. This is the best part of Swedish summer, the rarely-ending sunshine. My first stop in Skåne was the town of Åhus. Yes, this is the home of Absolut Vodka. But it is also a historical town with a beautiful waterfront. This is where I located a park bench and sat down to eat my lunch. I had purchased a salad earlier in the day and sitting outdoors with a view of the marina was a great way to enjoy it.
From Åhus I followed the coast south. I made a short stop in Kivik before reaching Simrishamn. Simrishamn turned out to be the big positive surprise during this trip. It has a beautiful waterfront and a historical feeling along its central streets. I hope to return one day to explore more, hopefully with the sun shining like it did this time.
As the evening approached I continued along the coast. I made a short stop in Skillinge to stretch my legs before I reached a sign for Sandhammaren. Sandhammaren is famous for its long sandy beach. But it was once better known for its treacherous waters resulting in it being the location of a historical rescue station and a lighthouse.
Sunset at Ales Stenar
But I had made a decision. I wanted to get to Ales Stenar for the sunset. As a result, I had to continue a little longer to the fishing village Kåseberga. This megalithic monument is the largest stone ship in Sweden. It is impressive, measuring 37 meters in length and even more so with the Baltic Sea in the background.
As I walked through Kåseberga it began to rain. When I took shelter under a roof, a few brave people with umbrellas walked up the hill to the stones. Once it stopped raining and I began the short climb I met these people when they were on their way down. With no one directly behind me, I could enjoy this monument alone for a few minutes while the sun set on the horizon. It is an impressive sight, made even more magical by the rainbow appearing behind me.
Afterward, I continued a short distance towards the town of Ystad before I found a good parking spot for the night. Once more a night in nature, alongside others sleeping in their cars or small RVs.
Join me Exploring Sweden! Read more: Summer Road Trip 2023
