Routine is settling in. Similar procedures, as described in an earlier post, repeated day by day.

Today’s route had the height profile of a Tour de France stage in the Alps, well, at least it felt that way.

I didn’t have to push the bike uphill, but I had to get out of the saddle to get some extra pressure on the pedals. There where some ascents, where I was worried that the bike’s chain might rip apart.

During a motivational snack pause, I met a Swedish bike traveller, who, as it turned out, did not just travel but lived that way. Meaning no job, no home, just slowly riding through Sweden, camping in the woods or staying in a town for a few days before heading on. He was in his fifties and stated that Sweden is a boring country and that’s his way of having fun. We chatted a bit, and he tried to give me advise for my trip. Most notably the warning of wolves and, starting 200 km further north, bears. However, he proposed sleeping in the woods instead of camp sites, and sneaking into one of the them from time to time to have a shower.

Today’s original goal was to reach Karlstad. Shortly before that goal I had two options, either proceed to Karlstad and stay at a camp site there, or save some km by cutting off Karlstad and going to a camp site in Forshaga. While evaluating these options, my dear friend Google maps proposed a route to Karlstad via the highway. Being sceptical about that, I asked a local, who was watering his garden, whether or not that would be a good idea or even allowed. Short answer: no and no. So Forshaga it was, as the non-highway route to Karlstad would have been a major detour. The guy I asked was very nice and refilled my water bottles. After a quick chat, I started the final 25 km.

These last km were fast, but tough and it got colder and colder. After dusk, the temperatures quickly dropped to 12 degree Celsius, and I had to stop twice to add another layer of clothing. Note for the next days: ride with the sun.

When I finally arrived at the camp site, around 22:30, everything was dark and the showers locked. So I sneaked around the camping vehicles and found one with lights on. I knocked at a door, and friendly, older Finnish man opened the door. After telling him my situation, he opened the showers for me and we talked a bit, as he and his wife also do bike tours.

The day ended with a huge portion of pasta with tomato sauce.

During the night, temperatures reached 8 degree Celsius.