Los Angeles herald., 1906-09-30
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@WI{N avail myself Of an opportunity to
U8fHV behold the scenes among which my
fancy had wandered There arose
doubt as to whether bicycle tour IN Sweaen era
rocky mountains and lakes form the chief tea
lures of the peninsula.
Finding it a matter of difficulty to OBJ
tain any authentic information concern
Travellers chance and ascertain for myself;
Accordingly, in the month OF June OF last
year / set out for the land Of the fair-halred
Norsemen, with my trusty bicycle as sole
companion.
From Hull to Gothenburg by the good ship
Romeo was the pleasantest voyage have
ever had. 1t is about only two days duration
by water, and fortunately the weather was
Delightfully."- fine.
On approaching the Swedish coast wit
to hyperborean regions. The great lumlnary
leaves its reflections for hours after 1T has
sunk below the horizon, changing continually
into endless tints. Many of the passengers
remained on deck throughout the night to
watch the sight.
To reach Gothenburg we had to enter the
Gotha River, which is studded with bare rocks
for some distance. The banks are interspersed
with picturesque hamlets, manufactures and
saw-mills Gothenburg looks quite picture
directly it burts into view. Its streets are well
planned, and the houses look substantial, be,
ing mostly of stone The town is intersected
by a canal crossed by iron bridges.
1t took two days to reach Venersborge on
Lake Venern. The roads were wretchedly
bad, and for long way unrideabe. l passed
through some pretty scenery, composed most
ly of gneiss hillocks, generally crowned by
little wooden cottage, occupied by the peas
ants, pine-woods and pastures.
At Trollhatta, near Venersborge, j stopped
to visit the famous waterfalls, which are real,
ly grand The river rushes down in fearful
volumes over rocks, which send up spray
to be seen from considerable distance: There
are also at Trollhatta the locks, which are
the most stupendous of the kind in the North
of Europe By these means the waters of the
Venern are conducted over three separate
declivities into the River Gotha, about a hun
dred and twenty-six feet lower than the sur
face of the lake. 1t is a curious spectacle to
see steamers as it were, walking up num-
ber of steps from the river into the lake.
This occupies about two hours.
Seeing there was no chance of continuing
my tour in Sweden, where the roads are un-
worthy of the name, resolved to get into
Norway as quickly as possible with help of
the railway. 1t was very tedious journey
to Christiania, the train scarcely averaging
more than twenty. to twenty-five miles
per hour.
But / finally passed Frederikstadt and
Frederikshall, noted for their enormous tim
ber traffic, and arrived at the capital of Nor
way.
Perhaps all are not aware that the Norwe-
On many an occasion have lain in bed and
read book of small print at midnight, or
ridden until very late hour not thinking
to look at the time, owing to the light.
A few days journey from Bergen will carry
YOU into those northern regions of the Mid
night Sun which attract such number OF
visitors. On the voyage is passed the great
Maestrom, which has filled the minds OF
mariners with SO many strange superstitions
The true cause of this dangerous whirlpool
is the conflicting agitation Of the waves, as the
confine the sea to narrow passage These
straits do not afford sufficiently quick out