Butt on the ground

Feeling fit again. The digestive issues seem to be resolved, but I had quite an eventful night. Around three o’clock, I wake up with my butt on the ground. My brand new, expensive mat from the renowned brand Nomad is punctured. How could that happen?

With my headlamp, I meticulously inspect the mat inch by inch and eventually find a tiny hole on the top. I really can’t understand how this could happen. I’m always so careful. I patch the hole and try to sleep again, although it takes me some time after this disappointment. Hopefully once, but never again. This has never happened with my previous mats.

The weather gods are on my side

The weather is surprisingly pleasant: a mix of sun and clouds at a comfortable temperature. Rain is likely tomorrow and the day after, but we’ll deal with that when it comes. We ultimately live for NOW.

Wheelie as a photo model

Throughout the day, I encounter four hikers. One of them is Lars, a Dane who quit his job to see how long he can make it with his savings. We completely agree: this is the life we want to lead and you don’t need much money for it. Wheelie, my hiking trailer, has to be photographed from all angles, and Lars asks me all about how such a trailer performs.

Fantastic. Nothing but praise from me. I also get to be in a photo. ‘I won’t put you on the worldwide web,’ Lars apologizes, ‘but then I won’t forget your face.’ I have indeed adopted the habit of photographing people I meet along the way. I immediately note down their name, so I won’t forget them either. It’s always nice to see them again after a while.

Dreamed forest paths

After days of asphalt and gravel roads, I walk today on dreamed forest paths. Hard, rolling, and almost free of tree roots. Wheelie glides effortlessly over them. It’s magnificent. For the first time, I also see expansive heathlands.

Don’t believe everything you see on YouTube

I prepare my warm meal at a shelter in an idyllic spot. It’s quite windy, and I’m using the windscreen I crafted from aluminum foil yesterday. A tip from YouTube: reinforce the foil on the inside with tape to prevent tearing. It seemed like a good idea until the whole thing suddenly caught fire. And yes, I had of course directed the plastic outside, but still…

In a panic, I grab it and throw it a few meters away into the fire pit to prevent a forest fire. The shock is real. The hairs on my arm are singed, and my hand is a bit red, but otherwise, the damage is limited. Disaster averted.

Near Nørre-Snede, I find a spot for the night overlooking rolling fields. It’s good!

Overnight stay: Nørre-Snede