Day 2 Göta Canal - Töreboda to Karlsborg

It dawned a beautiful day - predicted 23 deg C. Today Yvonne will drive me as far as Forsvik when she takes our luggage onto our destination and I will walk from there.

Earlier, when MF starts his cycle ride, I walk with him the first 1.5 kms so I can see the ‘Färjan Lina’. This is Sweden's smallest ferry in regular service - it takes only 20 to 25 secs!!! It is only open May to September, as is the canal in general (I understand the canal closes for maintenance).

Had a nice chat in broken English to the ferry operator - he moved here from Syria 10 years ago on a very arduous journey with his young family; he has a brother in Melbourne.

So MF sets off into the wild blue yonder. The towpaths were built along the canal whilst it was constructed since it was not possible to use sail power on the narrow sections of the canal. Oxen or horses provided the muscle power to pull the cargo boats.

And I walked back into the Töreboda centrum which this morning IS busy with people, a market underway. I had a nice wander before returning to the pensionat for my lift to Forsvik.

I looked up the history of the B&B; it was originally a vicarage (hence the name ‘Prästgården’) - and which is why it is near the church! In the Middle Ages in the rural areas, the vicarage was a centre for education and the garden grew medicinal plants used in the parish pharmacies. 

All this in Swedish - thank goodness for Google Translate! 

Yvonne kindly went out of her way to show me a number of sights enroute to Forsvik. 

We ducked and weaved along narrow forest roads stopping at one of the canal’s two hand-operated manual locks at Tåtorp and the lovely brick church at Beateberg. 

We passed MF who was making heavy weather of it up some hills. Although today’s ride started along the canal, it eventually became open road as the canal flows into Lake Viken at Tåtorp. This is the highest point of the Göta channel - 91.5 m above sea level.

Forsvik was ‘tourist-central’ and I should have got out to see the oldest lock on the canal (1813) but the number of people was off-putting. MF had planned to meet up here and have coffee and lunch but he was taking a lot longer than anticipated. 

The road to Karlsborg looked AWFUL so I changed my plan to walk from here and we drove onto until the road turned into a smaller (albeit) still busy road into Karlsborg; Yvonne and I found it had a dedicated cycle/walking path so I asked to be dropped there and that gave me a 5 km walk in. 

In Karlsborg, it was ‘all go’ with people picnic-ing, swimming, cycling, eating, sunbaking, etc. and the walking was pleasant along Lake Vättern. MF and I arrived at the hotel almost at the same time and we enjoyed our packed lunch sitting out on the jetty opposite and looking out at the lake. Lake Vättern is Sweden’s deepest and second largest lake.

Check-in. Then off to visit the Karlsborg Fortress, an enormous complex that took 90 years to construct, starting in 1819 (the site being chosen by our Baltzar von Platen of Göta Canal fame), the intention being that it would be the seat of government in reserve should there be war (this occurred after Russia took over Finland which meant Russia’s border was now closer to the Swedish capital Stockholm putting it at risk in the event of an invasion). There is still an active garrison here.

We visited the museum and garrison church - all very interesting. 

Much to see at the fortress complex and we only saw a fraction of it.

We returned to the hotel with just enough time to walk a kilometre in the other direction to a bistro for dinner. We had a lovely meal (!) outside - it’s quite balmy.

Then walked back to the hotel. It’s a beautiful evening.

I walked 14.5 kms.

MF cycled 56 kms and given that the bike is pretty ordinary, he’s feeling it in the legs!!