Escaped the downpour

Freed from the kamikaze mosquitoes, I sleep reasonably well. I just don’t feel great. My stomach is a bit upset, and I feel drained. In an even slower pace than usual, I start the day and pack everything up. Just as I’m finally about to leave, it starts pouring out of nowhere. What luck I have again. I dive into the shelter and wait, ultimately leaving only at two o’clock.

Difficult route

The route makes up for a lot, although it’s challenging for the first time with my cart. Many narrow paths with stones on both sides, which slows me down. My first goal is a shelter to cook there, and then to walk as long as possible until it gets dark and I can set up my tent somewhere.

Heaven on earth

However, I’m quickly off that plan when I see the perfect spot. It’s a kind of boathouse with canoes, a dock with a small staircase, a table, a luxury garden chair, and benches. The view over the lake is magnificent, the water is ripple-free, and the sun suddenly shines again. This is heaven on earth. I will stay here. So fewer kilometers (12) it is.

Brown water

In my foldable lightweight bucket – what an invention – I soak my clothes to wash them. I, myself, go into the lake via the staircase. The water is dark brown, and I can’t see the bottom. By the way, the water is always brown here. That says nothing about the quality; on the contrary, it’s good, but about the iron content.

Under the muck

After a lovely bath, I climb out of the water via the ladder. It’s shallow, and I feel stones with a slippery substance under my feet. When I want to dry myself off, I can’t hide my disgust. I look like a hairy gorilla! I’m covered in muck, algae, or whatever it is. Super fine black particles are stuck to my hair on my chest, back, arms, and legs. I can barely get them off. With my bucket, I scoop water from the lake and pour it over myself while scrubbing my body. What a mess!

No mosquitoes in sight

Afterward, I feel happy and refreshed again. I cook and set up the canopy as a bedroom. Today, no mosquitoes in sight, and lying on my mat on the benches, I continue to enjoy the view. All’s well that ends well!

Overnight stay: Vesslarpssjön