TS Day 72

TS Day 72

Via Tangådalsstugan

Sunday 19 September 2021

When I woke up today I decided I wanted to walk far today, so I tried to have breakfast and pack down my stuff a bit quicker than usual. When I finally got going I just walked and walked. At Tangsjöstugan, so after 5 km, I had a short break to use the privy, then I walked on until I reached Tangådalsstugan, where I had decided to have a lunch inside. On the way there I met some more Germans, and a Swedish couple crossing a small creek. You could walk on the stones, and if I'd had boots I could probably just have walked over without getting wet, but they had some kind of boots they put on top of their boots to not get wet (haven't seen something like that before) that they used. Then I came, at high speed, and just tripped over with my trail shoes. Before this I had stayed dry, but that's the life with trail shoes right? And I didn't really get very wet, I actually got wetter later on, as the ground was wet and muddy. Anyway, the man looked at me and said "Well, that's one way to do it" and we had a quick exchange of words before I kept walking.

I had hoped to be alone at the cabin today, but as I came closer I could smell a fire. But nonetheless, at Tangådalsstugan, so after a total of 15 km, I stopped, filled my water bottles and was about to go inside. I met one person outside and the porch was completely covered by backpacks. Perplexed, I looked at the man, who told me I was welcome, so I went inside. Criss-crossing between people and hung clothes, I found a corner that was free, and started making lunch. Suddenly, the room got very quiet and one of the Germans started to speak. I tried to prepare my lunch as quietly as I could, but it wasn't easy. I had no idea what he talked about, but I heard him say "Meine Eltern" (my parents) many, many times, and in the beginning he mentioned the wartime or something too. He sounded very emotional as he spoke, and sometimes like he was about to cry. I didn't look, so I have no idea if this was the case though, and the other, maybe 15 or so Germans was completely silent the entire speech which lasted for about an hour. I made two lunches today so I would stay full longer, and was done about the same time as the Germans. One of them came to me when they were all about to leave, and asked, to my surprise in Swedish, where I was going today and where I started from. I said I would go to Björnholmsstugan, but perhaps longer, and that I started 5 km away from Tangsjöstugan. Apparently, they had started by that cabin, and was going to camp outside Björnholmsstugan. When I said I wanted to go further than that, it sounded on his voice like maybe it was a bit far for one day, and he said that there are tent spots outside. He then got going together with the others, and as I became alone I had a little breakdown moment, wondering what the hell I was doing and missing Lukas again. But I pulled myself together and went outside to clean my pot. Outside, I met the couple that was crossing the creek, and they told me that my creek-crossing had inspired them! And that I was fast. They also asked how far I'd walked and this also impressed them of course. I told them you pick up the pace after a while, because that's true in my case anyway.

After cleaning the pot I got going again, a bit uplifted from the talk with the couple. I kept a high pace up the mountain side, and was pretty confident in myself. I wanted to race past the Germans! They were a group so they were bound to be slow(er) and I wanted to go past them before reaching Björnholmsstugan. When I came up the mountain, I got a bit delayed because I suddenly had phone coverage again. So I walked slowly and used this for a while. I then caught a glimpse of the German group, and finally decided to put away my phone and head for them. It was downhill now, so easier to keep a good pace. I soon raced past couple after couple, everyone pretty surprised to see me and someone even told me I was fast! Soon I had gone past 15 Germans and I thought it was a fun thing to do, just race past them. Didn't see them anymore that day.

Down in the valley, by Hamnen, I stopped to have a short pee break after racing for 10 km (about 2,5 hours from Tangådalsstugan). Unfortunately, as I paused, I found that my beloved pee rag was gone. Shit. And Lukas wouldn't come until next weekend. My mind was racing - would my toilet paper roll last for a week? Doubtly so... But I couldn't do anything about that, so I just texted Lukas to tell him about it, used my toilet paper and kept going. I also felt bad about having thrown something in the environment. But there was nothing I could do about it. Last time I saw it was at Tangådalsstugan so it could literally be anywhere the past 10 km now. So I kept going. Slower now, and while using my phone a bit because I had a liiiittle bit of coverage as I walked on the forest road. I love forest roads!

It soon ended though, and I had to continue on a path in the forest. I filled my water bottle in a creek and kept going. It was going uphill now, and was going to go even more uphill later on, so I was afraid I wouldn't find a tent spot. But suddenly I found a flat spot, and took it. Had a bit of a problem pitching the tent though, because the spot was so close to the trail! I did my best to stay away though, just in case someone would pass my tent in the morning (the Germans maybe).

Then I had some snacks, tried to use my phone but the coverage was really bad, and again, the moment I crawled into my sleeping bag, I fell asleep.

Today's:

Favourite: Swishing past 15 Germans at full speed 😁

Distance: 31.2 km

Start time: 09:24

End time: 18:52

Ascent: 334 m

Descent: 686 m

Snickers eaten: 1

Totals (from Grövelsjön)

Distance: 143.4 km

Ascent: 2,133 m