Blueberry picking at Lovön

19 July 2026

Blueberry picking adventure continues to today. Yesterday, I was at Översjön, dissatisfied with my picking as I spent most of my time looking for blueberry bushes rather than picking them. Today, I cycled to Lovön. I was here in 2020 where we cycled to Lovön and passed by blueberry bushes with large blueberries. I did not get the chance to cycle back here as I found other places to pluck blueberries. Today's weather was not sunny but I was adamant to continue with my plan to pick blueberries. The weather forecast showed rain and it rained on my way to the island. My arms and hands were in physical pain and I questioned my decision. But I just went ahead because I know I am going to get good berries and I don't like to give up. Either I finish it or I don't start it. 

For the destination, I chose K2 Scoutstuga - Mälarscouterna, 178 93 Drottningholm, also another scout hut. I did not see any scouts. Distance is 19km and it will take 1 hour 5 minutes. So, the way to the destination took longer with a distance at 22km because I had a problem understanding the direction in Google Map. For the way back, it is 19km but still, it took me longer to get home as there are slopes. Also, Google Map did not give me a cycling path for the route back on Lovön (before I reached Drottningsholm Palace) and I cycled on the main road that has a speed limit of 70km/hour! Shit. I was stressed and prayed that I don't get hit by a vehicle. Thankfully, only 2 vehicles passed me and gave me ample of space. I tried to cycle as fast as I could but I am not a pro-cyclist and I had been doing squats for 2.5 hours picking blueberries. I did not use the same way back where I came from because I did not remember the way - sense of direction is bad in me. 

Stop at Drottningholm Palace on my way to the destination.

I stopped about 2km before reaching the scout hut as I saw blueberry bushes. I parked my bicycle, took a selfie for check-in point to my boyfriend.

A photo to show that my bicycle is locked and fastened to a tree trunk. Evidence to insurance in case my bicycle gets stolen. Home insurance covers household items, including a bicycle but it has to be purchased during the insurance period. But thankfully, there was no one in the area as it was drizzling and the rain came back after a pause. I saw a jogger when I was finished, 2.5 hours later. 

I did not have to move far to pick the blueberries. The bushes are everywhere! Hands were unfortunately in pain from the direct contact with the continuous cold rain. I did not have my gloves on me. Thankfully, I was wearing a thumb-hole dri-fit top and I pulled the sleeve over my thumb and covered the hand. Pain became manageable. 

I am happy today. 878g. Legs exhausted. Bum hurts because I did not wear my padded cycle shorts. My colleague commented that she did not wear padded cycle shorts when she was younger and it was fine for her. I said that my bum hurts if I don't and she mentioned it is dependent if the saddle is narrow or wide. I have no idea what my saddle is but a quick search on the Internet now explains that mountain bike (mine is a mountain bike) has narrow saddles. I thought I could manage without my padded shorts but I know now that I can't. And I know now that I have a narrow saddle on my bike. 

Blueberry picking at Översjön

This weekend on both Saturday and Sunday, I picked blueberries from the forest. I fill up the freezer with a one year's supply that will last until the next summer. I am extremely grateful that my knees are strong as I could squat sufficiently long to pick the blueberries. I did not have the blueberry rake that will speed up the picking and one need not squat too long. So, I picked the berries by hand. I must love picking berries because I did that when it rained today (Sunday) and I do not like to go out when it rains. But I was very adamant about my plan. 

I was very nervous initially as I was doing this alone and my sense of direction is very bad. So, I was worried that I might get lost in the forest but I was quite confident that Google Map will bring me out. I always have my boyfriend to lead the way as he has excellent sense of direction. He said that they learnt orienteering in school and he was often in the forest with his mum to pluck mushrooms when he was little. 

18 July 2026

Today, I cycled to Översjön (the Over Lake). I asked the Internet which nature reserve or forest in Stockholm has blueberries. I cycle 10km to work so I know I could cycle that distance and maybe slightly further. So, the Internet suggested this place, the east side of Översjön, amongst others and I looked at the map. I chose the Scout cottage (Översjön, Hässelby Scoutkår Hajkstuga) as my destination. It looks like a good route with 13.8km and about 45 minutes. 

I started my ride at 10am. When I reached the entrance of Norra Järvafältet (north of the Järva field - pronounced as Yar-va) nature reserve about half an hour later at KM10, I took a picture to send to my boyfriend to update him on my whereabouts. So, if I go missing, he has some information.

The path to my destination is a nice gravel road. I saw many families with children taking a walk or visiting the barns that have grazing animals (cows and sheeps). I thought that this is a safe place then. There are also many benches. I was not the only cyclist that day. I even saw tourists on bicycles. How did they even know of this place? Is this recommended to tourists too? 

Finally, I arrived at the scout's cottage about 10.55am. Right opposite the cottage is the lake. Another check-in photo to my boyfriend. 

I had no idea where to start to look for blueberries. So, I asked Chatgpt where I should start. I gave information on where I was by sharing a printscreen from Google Map. It suggested me to start northwest about 150meters as it is better to be further from the waters. 

So, I led my bicycle and looked around, and it was right. I saw some blueberry bushes! It was, unfortunately, up a slope. So, I hiked upwards and into the forest to be away from the walking trail. 

I borrowed my boyfriend's 2m security cable that is used to lock bicycles to objects that are not meant for bicycle parking. In this case, a tree trunk. I attached it to my bicycle lock. I took a photo to show that my bicycle is locked in case my bicycle goes missing and I can show this photo to the insurance company that my bicycle is locked with an insurance-approved lock. Sweden's home insurance includes loose items in the household but the items has to be bought during the insurance period. 

As I feared, I got lost as I wondered further into the forest. I got off the walking trail. So, Google Map helped me to get me back on the main trail. I checked the map to make sure my distance to the main trail is shorter and along the way, I saw the walking trail and finally, the scout huts. Phew. I was extremely nervous when I realised that I was lost. 

On the way back to my bicycle from the scout huts, I saw more blueberry bushes on a slope close to my bicycle which I missed! I could have stayed there and plucked many. Today's pick weighed about 600g. It was 2pm when I left the area.  

Cycle to Lovön

The cycling trip continues the following week. This time, we cycled to Lovön, a much shorter distance than our first cycling trip to Tyresta National Park. The route has lesser uphills. I am glad we chose this destination because Lovön (ön = the island) is scenic and has very large blueberries. I was disappointed that we did not bring huge boxes to store the blueberries. 

This is a 2-day cycling trip. We camped near the waters on Lovön. The first day had a distance of 38km and it took me 3 hours and 45 minutes. The next day was way shorter - 19km and it took 1.5 hours only! You can imagine how surprised I was that I was home so quick. Haha!

  

22 July 2020

At 11.45am, we started our ride towards Ekerö kommun. We decided that we will have lunch along the way. We cycled past Drottningholmslott, one of Sweden's UNESCO World Heritage. It is a palace and the garden is open to public. 

Cycle to Tyresta National Park

Summer break has started. I had a plan for my summer holidays but everything is cancelled because of Corona. So, it is just Stockholm for me for my summer break. For this summer break, the plan is to do a cycling trip. I bought a bicycle in April and I cycle to work from May onwards. I invested in two cycling bags which can be attached to my carrier. These cycling bags will contain all the items I need for my cycling trip. It is not a multiple-day trip. I am not an experienced cyclist, so I do not have the stamina to cycle multiple days. 

This is a 2-day cycling trip to Tyresta National Park. The plan is to camp in the national park. Thankfully, the national park is spacious enough to accommodate several campers. I am very paranoid when I am within close proximity to humans now. 

On the first day, the distance is 47km and there were a couple of uphills and downhills. It took me 4 hours 18 minutes to ride the distance. Gosh, the uphill ride burnt my thighs! I did not understand why there are uphills. Won't it be easier to flatten the ground? Gradually, I found out that there are pipes underground. 

On the second day, the distance is 42km and it took me 3.5 hours. I was thankful it took lesser hours and also, we took a different route.

Random cycling in Kista - 21km

21 May 2020

I got myself a bicycle last month and invested in the proper equipment - helmet, cycling gloves, a cycle stand (I did not know that cycle stands did not come with mountain bikes. I suppose people who uses mountain bikes have their bikes lying on the ground in the nature. Very different from city bikes), changed the easily-removable screws to tools-required screws. I have been cycling to work ever since. We are not encouraged to travel by train to avoid the spread of the virus, unless you are an essential worker i.e. without them, the society is unable to function. 

As today is a public holiday which is Kristi Himmelsfärdsdag, the 40th day after Easter i.e. the day Jesus went up to Heaven, we took the opportunity to cycle around. It was a lovely sunny day. We cycled around Kista, Husby and Tensta which has a beautiful neighbourhood. Cycled past a farm and saw some livestock. So heartwarming to see that. In Swedish, the bicycle is also known as iron horse (järnhäst pronounced as 'yarn-hest') and we saw wooden horses where I took a photo with them! We saw paragliders on top of a hill which was a pain to cycle up. I ended up pushing my bicycle up and down the hilltop because it was too steep for me. 

Gotland in 24 hours: Part 3 - Cycle on Fårö Island

14 July 2018

We got off the bus at Fårö jetty and collected our rented bicycles at a small shop behind the wooden restaurant. The wooden restaurant is the second building after the jetty. There is a path next to the row of shops (where the restaurant is). Payment is made once we collected our bicycles. This bicycle shop is by Gotlands Cykeluthyrning and is only open in July (for the one at Faro jetty).

We got on the ferry and was on Fårö Island within 10 minutes. Here is how the ferry looks like - there are 2 ferries that takes turn to go to and fro.

It was my first time cycling in Sweden, and also maneuvering a 3-gear bicycle. To be honest, I am not familiar with all these gear stuff. I don't usually pay attention to it. I am happy enough if the bicycle can function. So, it was a bit stiff when I cycled. Then, I got the hang of it. It was about a 14km-cycle to the nearest sea stacks. See the signboard with the brown background that reads - Raukområde. We cycled on the main road and the cars avoided us carefully. It was also burning hot as we cycled. We stopped a couple of times to check the map. We saw other cyclists using the same route, and I stopped one of them to ask and she affirmed that we were on the right route.