A whole week has whistled past since leaving Kiruna and a whole lot feels different about this ‘adventure’…
When I left home (over a month ago) I think it is fair to say I was filled with optimism about the journey I was about to make. Yes, I was a little bit nervous, but this was mainly around silly things – out of my control – which I have since learnt are really not worth the worry at all (…bears for example).
Then came reality. The first part of my journey was tough – long days trying desperately not to slow Aleks down too much, tough terrain which I arguably hadn’t prepared for, and very low calorie intake – which I definitely hadn’t prepared for…
These factors helped make the decision to switch to a road route of Scandinavia – sparking that optimism again that this journey could really be something which I could enjoy. However, a few days later, I started to become ill, and everything started to feel like a battle and a real struggle once more.
Then of course I reached Kiruna and after a couple of days spent hoping I would miraculously recover, I gave in and saw the doc. And that’s where I left you last time, with a detailed description of what was wrong with me.
A few days later and about a week after arriving in Kiruna, it was time to set off again, with my body feeling much more healthy and my bank account much the opposite. As I left the hotel I was more nervous than when I set off for Nordkapp (potentially reflected in the fact I managed to drop and smash my phone right outside the entrance 😤). The nerves here were more to do with what would happen if I were to feel ill again – not only would I have to be the one to make the call and return to the hospital – I knew that if I were to start feeling worse, that would be it, game over. And to be honest that was truly frightening.
Nevertheless there was only one thing to do and that was to get marching towards Abisko – something which I had scheduled to take 4 days, but which happily only took 3, meaning I could rest for a day at Abisko Turiststation (hostel). As these days just involved walking, bad singing, eating and camping, I’ll lump them into one, and just provide some pictures…
Day 29 -31 in photos…
One thing that did strike me as quite odd was on day 31, when a stranger called out to me from their car which was parked up in a lay by. He then said to me “here, have some candy”… obviously this made alarm bells go off in my head – if there is one thing I know it is not to take candy from strangers. So naturally I politely declined and started to walk off, but this guy was not taking no for an answer. Determined that I should take one of his chocolate coated bears – he kept insisting I take one – so I just went for it, took a bear, and carried on walking.
Now I know I should have just chucked it in the hedge when he wasn’t looking… but I didn’t. I ate it. Then I spent the next 30 minutes or so convinced I had been drugged and checking behind me for an approaching vehicle. Needless to say, I hadn’t been (or the drugs were ineffective) and it was just a simple act of kindness… a very weird, simple act of kindness. Just goes to prove that you can trust some strange men who give out candy from their cars… although I probably wouldn’t advise that.
Day 32 – Saturday 3rd September – Abisko Turiststation…
The short time I spent in Abisko was fantastic. Not only did I get to bump into a familiar face again, I also met loads of new people, of different nationalities and with different reasons (although all thoughtless hiking related) for being there. On my first afternoon, Jan – who is German and hiking to Rome, gave me heaps of free food and provided great company, putting me to shame again with his great use of the English language. Whilst chatting with Jan I also met a Polish couple, who’s names sadly escape me, but who were equally as warm and friendly, and with their own story to tell.
Then there were all the people I was lucky enough to share a dorm with – on the first night a group of Swedish men and one Swedish woman who kindly shared whisky and yet more food with me. Then on the second an amazing group of women from southern Sweden who invited me to join them for a drink – and then later on for a stroll down the river, in the middle of the night, in an attempt to see the northern lights (it was cloudy but we were feeling optimistic…). All of these people complete strangers, yet being around them felt as comfortable as being with old friends. Hostels are beautiful places.
I also descended the slippery slope of selfie taking whilst in Abisko and for that I can only apologise…
Arriving in Abisko was one thing – but arriving there and feeling great was even better. For the first time since starting the trip, I was really starting to enjoy myself. Not only that but I was really experiencing emotion for the first time. For so long, I had been so focused on the pain, that I missed some really important things. But now I was able to take in my surroundings, be shocked, be wowed, even be really peeved off that I broke my phone! Zombie Sophie was a thing of the past and I was finally starting to shape this ‘adventure’ into my own.
This is something which has continued too… I sit here just south of Narvik and I am still feeling healthier and happier by the day. I’ll save the journey from Abisko to Narvik for another day as I am aware this has already dragged on a bit…
Again thanks to everyone for your support, I hope that I am doing you proud and I want you to know (without sounding too over dramatic…) you really have helped/are helping to make my dreams come true.
🙂
