Day 20

Day 20, Tännforsen - Medstugusjön Lake, 20 km approx.

Again an easy hike towards Norwegian border. There was slight elevation gain, but it was so gentle that it didn't tire me completely. After one gentle climb the scenery changed like from a switch. Most of the coniferous trees disappeared and the birches remaining turned quite small. Mountain scenery.

It has been two days walking on the pavement. Some might think it as boring and in a way it is, but it's so desolate and quiet here. This is the ancient road to Norway. People have moved to the Atlantic coast via this road for ages. There's nowhere else the path can go than on the pavement as not many people have lived here either. There are no forest roads zigzagging the area. It's just this one line to Norway. Nowadays most of the car traffic is on E14 and this old road is relatively quiet.

Even when I don't mind this pavement section that much my right ankle has. It got quite sore and painful today which is of course made worse by all the food I need to carry. I'm slightly worried that can I continue or not. I'll have to see how it is tomorrow morning. The next three to four days I had planned to walk very short days so it would be rest too. I might still try to do that if the ankle isn't any worse than this in the morning.

But my tent spot couldn't be more beautiful. Sandy beach by the lake and three snow-covered mountains are visible from my tent.Read more