The first return day after completing the trek brought a touch of melancholy along with a challenging morning. My day began in a chilly campsite, where I packed up a damp tent after a rainy night. This was followed by a nervous wait for the bus and a long journey through the Swedish landscape, crossing numerous lakes. In the end, not only a delicious dinner awaited me, but also an unexpected reunion with the night’s darkness.
Packing at the Campsite and an Encounter in the Main Building
As usual, it rained during the night. So, the morning greeted me with heavy condensation from inside the tent and from the ground. The night wasn’t the best, as I kept waking up and tossing and turning. There were many tents pitched very close to each other in the campsite, so every zipper and rustle of a sleeping mat could be heard. I got up at 6:45 AM, took care of my hygiene, and started packing. I tried to dry the tent as much as possible before packing it. However, the cold, overcast, and windless weather complicated my task. Once I had packed my belongings, I went to refill my water bottle. I spent the remaining time before the bus departure in the main building of the campsite, where I charged my electronics, warmed up, and gazed out at the landscape. There, at a table, I met a Czech couple and struck up a conversation with them. I had lent the guy toothpaste the previous evening. The couple was heading to Nikkaluokta with their two teenage children. So, they would be going in the opposite direction to me. We exchanged some experiences, and I wished them a safe journey.
During our conversation, I realized something important. I was incredibly enjoying the regular routine of the trek. Even though the weather was tough, the entire journey had a deep meaning. I was tired, wet, and cold, but incredibly happy. However, in a campsite near civilization, sleeping in a damp tent suddenly lost its purpose. It all went by so quickly again.
Waiting for the Bus and an Unusual Swedish Road
Around 12:30 PM, I set off to find the bus departure point. I found it easily and met one fellow traveler there. Gradually, about ten more people arrived. The bus was scheduled to depart at 1:00 PM and was supposed to arrive fifteen minutes earlier. But at 12:55 PM, the bus was still nowhere to be seen. I started to get quite nervous. The only “consolation” for me was the fact that I wasn’t standing there alone. If there was a problem, we would have to solve it collectively. At 12:58 PM, the bus finally arrived. We loaded our gear into the luggage compartment and boarded. I had originally wanted to sit in the second row due to motion sickness. However, those seats were quickly taken by others, so I sat right behind the driver. The driver checked me off his list, which reassured me. We were heading in the right direction. The bus journey passed very quickly. I was surprised by a long stretch where they were repairing the road. In the Czech Republic, they usually close one lane and traffic is controlled by traffic lights. Here, however, we drove directly through the construction site. Through the windows, I watched the beautiful green nature and lakes with islands.
Stops Along the Route, a Salad Bar, and the Return of Night Darkness
During the long journey, we made a total of three stops. The first break was at a large rest stop with gas pumps and restrooms. The second stop took us to a commercial area, which surprised me quite a bit. Most people headed to the MAX fast-food restaurant for burgers. I, however, went to the COOP store. At COOP, I bought water and tried the self-service Picadeli bar. It’s a cold bar where you pay by weight, and you can mix and match vegetables, meat, pasta, crunchy toppings, and dressings. At the checkout, they weigh your container, and you pay. It was absolutely delicious! The third stop was at night in another town, where the drivers were changing. At that moment, a huge unfamiliarity struck me. For the first time in a very long time, I saw real darkness! Have you ever experienced that strange feeling when, after days in the wilderness, you encounter civilization? Would you miss the silence of the mountains more, or would you, like me, look forward to great food? Write me your feelings in the comments below the article and share your own travel experiences!
Day’s Summary
- Experience of the day: The return of night darkness after a long time and the delicious food from the Picadeli bar at COOP.
- Weather: Rainy night, cold, overcast, no wind.
- Interesting Encounters: A Czech couple with two teenage children heading in the opposite direction to Nikkaluokta.
