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I’m out in the sticks now. And not, at the same time. There are villages and holiday houses. I’m on the only (main) road. Although it’s not busy,  it’s straight, long and boring. I miss those quiet forest paths. 

Day 35. 99km. Pello – Anttis. Map and gpx.

This morning I crossed into the country Ruotsi.

The road was boring, straight, and long. I was surrounded by forest, but it different cycling through it on a bitumen road with a car speeding past every few minutes. The going was slow with a moderate head wind and a slight climb on the average. Consequently the kilometres crawled past.

For the first time on this trip, I realised I needed music. Out came the earphones and out came singing Matthew. 2013 has been and is an awesome year for me. Christmas in Australia, work trip in Dubai, two months work in Boston, and now my cycle trip. My music of 2013 brought back all those memories. I found myself crying out with happiness. After all the coolness of this year, here I am cycling in Swedish Lappland on the way to the North Cape. How amazing is that?

And then I saw my first reindeer. Right in the middle of the road. I have a video of him. I’ll upload it when I have wifi. I know they will be really common later, but the first reindeer of an arctic trip is exciting. He ran down the middle of the road right past me. Wow.

Just before Pajala I took a little side trip and was glad I did. Kengis Bruk is some lovely rapids on the river. They were impressive in the beautiful sunlight.

Pajala is the last town of any consequence for a few hundred kilometres. There are a few shops on the way, but not much to choose from and not open too long. Also, I was told not to drink the water from the rivers. So, in Pajala I stocked up with water and food. Heavily laden I continued into what I thought was going to be a back blocks road. Well, it was only slightly less main than the other one. It, too, followed a beautiful river.

And the road went on.

There were lots of little side paths that went to the river. An ideal little camp spot, I thought.

The clouds were building, and an idea was being hatched. What did I not like about the road? The cars. I liked the peace and quiet. Being alone with nature. My plan: I would cycle at night. With the clouds, I might have an amazing sunset (although the sun doesn’t set), and there would be no cars. I took the next little path to the river. The wind had dropped and the mosquitos were viscious. Fully covered, and wearing my mosquito net, I threw up the tent and jumped in. I’m having a sleep now until midnight. Then I’ll be cycling alone under the midnight sun. Awesome!