Islands and Cliffs - Denmark and Sweden

Discovered wifi in Sweden and time for a quick update. Our big trip to celebrate turning 50 is speeding by, but we are soaking up every second. 

The isle of Mon (with that o with the line through it) is a Meca for bike touring and we are taking advantage of the routes that mark and interpret the landmarks. Our latest trip included a 29 km tour from our island to the next - Nyord. And while this is high season around here, we had the shores to ourselves.

Nyord is hub for artists and the village has a unique, octagonal church.

The rides on the winding roads along the coast or the field are gorgeous, AND windswept. So a 25 km peddle here takes the toll of a 50 miler in Maine. Our route home from Nyord was through forest and salt marsh preserves though, so with the shelter from the wind, it was a trip that felt like coasting all the way - relatively speaking.

Sunday we woke to rain pouring off the thatched roof in sheets, so we packed up the car instead. By the time we were out the deluge had become a drizzle so we detoured to Mon Klint preserve 

 http://www.visiteastdenmark.com/ln-int/south-sealand/natural-areas/moens-klint
For a chance to see these incredible, 100   Meter high cliffs from the top and the bottom. To reach them at the base involves a walk down 450 stairs, which is fine- while the trip to the top conversely involves a trip UP 450 steps. But the cardio work out is worth it....

I took about 500 pictures and could have taken 500 more, but we would be back- as you will hear!

So next we stopped at Elmelunde Kirk on Mon https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmelunde_Church

The present church stands where even older churches once stood, but this one is not too shabby- dating from 1085... And this church boasts the most impressive fresco paitings.

NEXT we met Tina, a kayak guide from the island, for a sunset tour of the Mons Klint from the water side!

Tina explained the glacial history that formed the cliffs by pushing up the clay, chalk and flint that form the bedrock of the Denmark peninsula. The cliffs and the chance to view them from a kayak were the reasons we chose the isle of Mon as our destination, so we were thrilled to make this dream a reality. 

And today, we jumped the divide that separates Denmark from Sweden by crossing the international bridge to visit Kullaberg http://guide.visitskane.com/en/to-do/a347555/kullaberg-nature-reserve-kullabergs-naturre/showdetails
The magnificent cliff preserve was our kayak guide's recommendation, so we have to put out a thank you to Tina! 

In addition to the cliffs, there is a historical  lighthouse - as the sign says "Kullaberg Light- saving lives since 1561".

This is the original light- see the basket? It was filled with wood and lighted on fire - a simple but effective medieval solution to the problem.

And just a few minutes ago, a walk down the cliffs led us to a cave

It creeped Kyle out a bit, but he managed to smile for yet another demand for a picture. 

Until the next wifi- which maybe Wednesday when we are back in NL with Caleb, Ben and Jane.