#throwback – 14 June 2024

I wake up very early and do some writing. I enjoy writing most in the early morning, when my mind is clear and empty, and inspiration is at its peak. It feels as if the words just flow effortlessly from the keyboard.

All the while, I hear a buzzing sound, and suddenly I realize I’ve been sleeping under a wasps’ nest. It’s a beautiful sight: a structure built from layers of chewed wood and plant fibres, now still about the size of a tennis ball. I’m not sure whether it’ll still be possible to sleep in the hut once the nest grows, but maybe it’ll be fine as long as I leave the wasps alone.

The weather is cool but dry. There’s barely any difference between day and night — it’s 11 degrees at night and just one degree warmer during the day. I feel wonderfully zen, and what strikes me most is that I’m no longer struggling with procrastination. If I see rain coming, I immediately put the cover on my cart and get out my rain gear. I don’t wait until it actually starts raining. It’s an annoying chore, but when I delay it, I usually end up getting wet anyway. A pebble in my shoe? I stop right away and take it out. And I’ve got more examples like that. It might sound trivial, but it feels like a real victory for someone who’s long been a chronic procrastinator when it comes to unpleasant tasks.

The route is beautiful and varied — forest, open landscape, castles, and the little town of Trosa. I cook my meal at a ‘gran-di-o-so’ viewpoint and once again thoroughly enjoy my own cooking skills. On the map, I see there are several picnic areas in the Tullgarn nature reserve, and indeed I find a lovely spot to camp. Just off the trail, I discover a place by the water, where many waterbirds are busy with their nests. In the hour before I get there, I spot a fox, a deer, black wild boars, and a family of badgers. No shortage of wildlife here. After pitching my tent, I realize I can’t actually reach the water, but luckily I still have enough left for the night and for coffee. No need to be picky.