{"id":1178,"date":"2025-05-27T06:31:12","date_gmt":"2025-05-27T04:31:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/?p=1178"},"modified":"2025-06-11T22:39:47","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T20:39:47","slug":"pouring-rain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/pouring-rain\/","title":{"rendered":"Pouring rain"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

#throwback – May 27, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In my little shelter, I hear the steady tapping on the roof\u2014it\u2019s raining! Luckily, the weather radar says it won\u2019t last too long. I\u2019m hungry, so I make the most of having a dry spot with a roof over my head. I fry some eggs and brew two rounds of coffee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then my phone rings\u2014right on time. It\u2019s Radical Design<\/a>, the manufacturer of my Wheelie cart, calling to let me know when the spare parts will arrive. Yesterday I gave them the address of the post office I hope to reach on Wednesday. The package is being shipped via FedEx, but there\u2019s no FedEx location in that town, only a regular post office that also acts as a DHL pickup point. Turns out, Radical tried calling the post office to confirm someone would accept the package, but nobody there speaks English. So then they reached out to the pilgrim association in Vadstena\u2014no luck there either. Finally, they got hold of someone at the local campground. She promised to call the post office and explain in Swedish that they really needed to accept the delivery. I\u2019m impressed by how much effort Radical Design put in to make sure the new frame gets to the right place. They even added stickers on the box with instructions in Swedish. What a service\u2014so much care and heart for their customers. Chapeau!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 10 a.m., the rain stops, and less than half an hour later the sky is a perfect blue. Since my cart can\u2019t handle rough terrain anymore, I stick to paved roads, which luckily works out fine. Around 11:30, I arrive in \u00d6desh\u00f6g, a village with a square featuring a giant sculpture made of spheres. No idea what it\u2019s supposed to mean, but it\u2019s definitely\u2026 noticeable. And ugly!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weather quickly takes a turn\u2014dark clouds roll in, and I can already see rain and lightning in the distance. There\u2019s no way I\u2019ll stay dry today. A grumpy man smoking on the square tells me I look like a horse with my cart. I laugh\u2014well, I\u2019ll take that as a compliment. Noble creature, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just after admiring some Bronze Age rock carvings, the sky suddenly opens up\u2014it\u2019s like someone dumped a whole bucket of water over me. It happens so fast I don\u2019t even have time to put on my rain gear. But then, not even a hundred meters ahead\u2014I spot a big, spacious bus shelter. And that\u2019s where I end up staying for the next three and a half hours. The rain pours down endlessly, but I\u2019m dry, I\u2019ve changed into warm clothes, and I\u2019m perfectly fine. I read a little, snack a bit, text some friends\u2014honestly, I\u2019m having a good time. Nothing and no one could ruin my mood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once it clears up, I follow a gorgeous trail along the lake. The landscape here feels completely different again. Such a treat, and the sun is starting to peek through. In Omberg, I find another shelter\u2014this one with a view and a staircase leading down to the water. I try to go for a swim, but the water is freezing\u2014ice cold! There\u2019s a little waterfall flowing in right there, straight from the mountains, completely unheated. I go for a sponge bath instead. That feels brave enough with water like that!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At the stairs I meet Anders Jonsson<\/a>. We have a fun and pretty long chat\u2014until the mosquitoes get too annoying. We mostly talk about hiking. He\u2019s been wanting to do it for ages but hasn\u2019t quite taken the plunge. He thanks me for the tips and the inspiration. We exchange Instagram handles and will probably stay in touch. Turns out, he\u2019s a Swedish singer\u2014quite a successful one, apparently. The start of a fun new connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The shelter comes in handy\u2014I can dry my stuff there and have a backup in case the weather turns bad again. I do sleep in my tent though, because the hut reeks of smoke. But the night stays dry, and I sleep like a log after such a beautiful day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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#throwback – May 27, 2024 In my little shelter, I hear the steady tapping on the roof\u2014it\u2019s raining! Luckily, the weather radar says it won\u2019t last too long. 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I\u2019m so glad I got vaccinated against the tick-borne virus that circulates here \u2014 different from the Lyme disease bacteria we have in the Netherlands,\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Blogs ENG"","block_context":{"text":"Blogs ENG","link":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/category\/blogs-en\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Dag-29-plafond-kerk.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Dag-29-plafond-kerk.jpeg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Dag-29-plafond-kerk.jpeg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Dag-29-plafond-kerk.jpeg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/Dag-29-plafond-kerk.jpeg?resize=1050%2C600&ssl=1 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":836,"url":"https:\/\/footstepsoffreedom.nl\/en\/a-tough-trail\/","url_meta":{"origin":1178,"position":1},"title":"A tough trail","author":"Marnix van der Lijn","date":"19 May 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"May 19, 2024 After a long, lazy morning, I set off late\u2014but that\u2019s allowed now, I tell myself with a smile. 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Still, it\u2019s nice to watch the locals coming by early in the morning for a refreshing swim. I just sit there, people-watching for a while\u2014which is actually quite fun. 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