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S:t Olavsleden 2026
  • Doug Fitzgerald
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  • Doug Fitzgerald

S:t Olavsleden 2026

A pilgrimage following the route taken by Olav Haraldsson on his quest to reclaim the Norse crown in 1030 CE. He fell in battle at Stiklestad on 29 Jul 1030. He is the patron saint of Norway, the Faroe Islands, and Normans. Read more
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  • Doug FitzgeraldS:t Olavsleden 2026Traveler
    Dragons abound!
    Gustav Adolfs KyrkaGustav Adolfs KyrkaGargoyle, Gustav Adolfs KyrkaEntrance, Gustav Adolfs Kyrka

    A day wandering Sundsvall

    Jun 25–Jul 1 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Today started with my baggage still missing, and ended with it found, still absent and no indication of when it will be delivered.

    After breakfast , I had a chat with the woman at the front desk. She had checked me in last night and was back this morning, so she might live in the hotel. I then went out and had a pleasant walk into the centre of Sundsvall, really only a handful of blocks away, through to the other side of the city and then back along the river. It was too early for most shops, but there was an ICA open, so I bought some snacks there and returned to the hotel.

    Next was getting my mind around what small among of gear I would need to walk until my baggage arrived. A change of underwear was high on my priority list, as well as some toiletries. Simple raingear like a poncho might have to suffice if everything was going to fit in the pack I had brought with me, and I didn't know what to do about sleeping gear and walking poles. My first-aid kit was in my checked bags, so some simple blister prevention was also important.

    It would also be nice to have at least the basics of a change of clothes when I finished the next couple of days walking so I could wash the gear I had walked in.

    My first foray was moderately successful, and my booty included a pair of shorts, tee-shirt, socks, and two pairs of boxers from Stadium, Compeed and nail clippers from a pharmacy, and scissors, some microfibre flannels large enough to work as towels in a pinch, rehydration tablets and snacks. That was enough for the moment, and I was ready to crash at this stage, more, I expect, from being on the road for 45 hours than all this shopping.

    After a light salad lunch and a long snooze, I picked up a couple of extra bits and pieces then explored a bit more before calling it a day.    Read more

  • Doug FitzgeraldS:t Olavsleden 2026Traveler

    By train to Sundsvall

    June 24 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    This afternoon has been one thing after another. The net result is that I am on my way to Sundsvall, where I planned to start my walk, without my walking trailer and other gear. Those were last seen in Abu Dhabi, but I don´t think even that was certain.
    My thinking is to get to the hotel I have booked tonight, and get some rest before dealing with anything else.    Read more

  • Doug FitzgeraldS:t Olavsleden 2026Traveler

    Arlanda

    June 24 in Sweden ⋅ ☁️ 20 °C

    Getting through Arlanda was complicated by my bags not arriving. By the time I had reported that, I was well behind and was clearly not going to catch the train I had originally contemplated.

    I travelled through Arlanda in 2018, but there have been some changes, although clearly my memory of how far the train station was from the arrivals hall didn't deal well with the reality. It wasn't as close as I recalled! The other change is that SJ, the Swedish train company, needed me to purchase my ticket online. That worked.

    I spent much of the three hours on the train puzzling about who would be responsible for getting my bags to me and how long that would take. At the lost baggage counter, they informed me that the last time my bags had been 'visible' in the system was at Abu Dhabi, so it seemed that they still had some way to travel, which would take a little more time to get them to me than if they had been mishandled later in my journey.

    I did a quick calculation at Arlanda that I had been travelling for nearly two days at this point. Ugh!    Read more

  • Doug FitzgeraldS:t Olavsleden 2026Traveler
    Landing at the same time on a parallel runway. I know it happens, but this is the first time I have

    Coffee and Cake

    June 24 in Finland ⋅ 🌧 15 °C

    I'm feeling remarkably overdressed in my long trekking pants and long sleeved trekking shirt. I wore these on the flight so I would have just the clothes I need for walking and not have to send gear forward to collect in Trondheim at the end of my walk. But it's real shorts and tee-shirts weather here in Helsinki, just as it was at CDG a couple of hours ago.

    The transit is just over an hour, and the airport here is quite compact, so there is the opportunity to sit and enjoy a coffee and a little cake. Bliss, especially after the rushing around at every other airport so far.    Read more

  • Doug FitzgeraldS:t Olavsleden 2026Traveler

    Abu Dhabi

    June 24 in the United Arab Emirates ⋅ 🌙 34 °C

    There's a first time to visit every place, although transiting an international airport probably doesn't really count as a visit!

    I have three more flights to go today, one more with Etihad to Paris, and then two to Arlanda. It will be fun, I think.Read more

  • Doug FitzgeraldS:t Olavsleden 2026Traveler

    Getting underway

    June 23 in Australia ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C

    I was greeted with one of those text messages noone ever wants when they are starting out on a long journey. Qantas have delayed my flight to Paris by four hours. This has not quite completely absorbed my buffer for getting into the EU, collecting my bags and changing terminals at CDG, it now seems an impossible ask. We'll see what they can do when I get to the airport.Read more

  • Doug FitzgeraldS:t Olavsleden 2026Traveler

    Getting into Sydney late

    June 23 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C

    My flight from Canberra was delayed, and I missed the next flight, so I have been re-routed a second time today. The first attempt to send me through Hong Kong failed because of the delay. This second go, transiting through Abu Dhubai, looks like it will work.Read more

    Trip start
    June 23, 2026