Sleep enjoyment by a babbling brook

It’s wonderfully relaxing to sleep next to a babbling brook. I understand why recordings exist to help people sleep or meditate, as it works perfectly.

70 percent

But back to the matter at hand: I need a power outlet! My power bank is running out faster than expected, and only my phone is still charged to 70 percent. The rest is completely dead. I decide to take the shortest route to the nearest village, where I need to go for groceries anyway.

Power outlet at the school

The five kilometers there go quickly over a bike path. As I pass the library – libraries are available in almost every town here – I am deceived: it is closed. But as I fumble at the door, a woman from the adjacent school walks up. She leads me to a power outlet in the schoolyard. I’m allowed to use it. What a relief!

Overheated

While my power banks are charging, I go to the supermarket and visit the little white church in Näsum. When I return after an hour, panic strikes my heart. My power banks are flashing wildly. In the sun, they’ve overheated and are no longer charging. Noooo! And now? I sit defeated on a bench. Right in the melted gum. Yuck. It’s sticking to my pants and I can’t get it off no matter what. As if that wasn’t enough!

Searching again. With sticky pants.

Well, back on the hunt for power. Once again, I decide not to follow the official hiking route, but to take a path that runs roughly parallel, hoping to find another power outlet further on. In populated areas, I have a better chance. On the map, I see a caravan site with a toilet building five kilometers away. I should have a chance there. And yes, I’m lucky. Very lucky. There are power outlets and picnic tables, I can sit there quietly for a few hours. Not that I’m really in the mood for such a long break, but it can’t be helped right now.

Confidence

I am amazed by what I find there. There is absolutely no one, but you can rent canoes. Everything is based on trust. Everything is ready for the taking: the canoes, the life jackets, the paddles. No one checks or keeps an eye on it. This is so beautiful. That trust. That mentality here in the northern countries. It should be like this everywhere.

An iron would be nice.

With a charged phone and matching power banks, I continue after a few hours. My pants are still sticky from the gum. I couldn’t get it off even with a knife. It feels dirty and gross. I’ve read that you can easily remove gum from your clothes with an iron. A piece of fabric in between, heat it up, and voilà, the gum sticks to the fabric. But I don’t have an iron with me. Not even a lightweight travel version. Moreover, it would be pointless, as I have nothing to iron. My wardrobe is very limited, and I make sure I have wrinkle-free clothing. It also saves a lot of choice stress in the morning: what should I wear?

The creative person in primitive circumstances.

But then I get a brilliant idea, if I may say so. In primitive circumstances, one becomes creative. I heat my titanium cup with my gas burner and have my own outdoor iron! I sacrifice a piece of my pillowcase and use it as a cloth. Another problem solved.

Just before dark ‘home’.

Unfortunately, I haven’t really paid attention to the time and have to hurry to reach my camping spot before dark. Silly weather, but I manage. Charged and ready. Without sticky pants.

Overnight stay: Grundsjön.