Monday 02.08.2004
On 13.00h a jeep from the Abenteuerteam brings me from Bengtsfors to Lenungshammer which lies about 2 hour drive north.In Bengtsfors a stop is made which gives me the opportunity to by some food in the local market. Between Bengtsfors and Lenungshammer another stop at a home improvement store is made because the Abenteuerteam still needed some things. After the two hour drive we arrive in Lenungshammer at approx. 15:30h. There they provided me with a trekking map and an access card for one week of the Glaskogen national park.
After deciding which route I will take I leave the camping from Lenungshammer at ca. 16:00h. I walked until ca. 20:00h through forest, swamp, gras as high as I am and all you can find in the primeval forests. It must have rained a lot this morning or yesterday because everthing was soaked. Especially the rocks on the slopes where difficult to walk as they were very slippery. The tour today was the hardest of the whole week because most parts of the trail were very steep.
At 20:00h I build up my tent in the middle of nowhere in the forest, cooked and went to sleep as it started to rain anyway.
Tuesday 03.08.2004
Getting up very early, packed my backpack and made me on my way with as first destination a small cottage on a lake. There I arrived at about 10:00h and made breakfast on the campfire. It also started to rain but I decided to walk further anyway. Next destination was the cottage nr. 23.At 12.00h I continued my tour. After a while I met two guys from Sweden who were on a fishing tour and lost there way. At the cottage I arrived around 15.00h.
The cottage, Gladaekers Cottage, lies at a historical spot. From 18xx until 18xx an iron blacksmith was located here. The cottage lies direct between the �vre Gla and the Stora Gla which have a height difference of 4 meters. At the cottage this results in a nice waterfall. On my arrival at the cottage, it still rained, I noticed that my shoes where complete soaked from the outside and the inside. (Lowa didn't promise to much...waterproof from the in- and outside)
The cottage itself is completely equipped with four beds, a table, four chairs, a cupboard, a wood stove for cooking and heating, a complete cleaning set (after you leave the cottage), empty (unfortunately) whiskey bottles of different brands and on the loft of the cottage a vespiary with the entrance right above the door of the cottage.
Outside the cottage you'd find a fire place and dry wood (small peaces). Also a water pump was available.
Wednesday 04.08.2004
The whole night the stove warmed the cottage but nevertheless my shoes are not completely dried from the inside.Outside it still rains..didn't stop over night. I decide to stay in this cottage for the next night and travel further the next day. My shoes are wet anyway.
Because the cottage is very dark inside and outside no sun is shining...the candles the Abenteuerteam gave me were perfectly to read my book (Snowcrash).
Thursday 05.08.2004
This morning...finally the sun is shining again, my shoes are completely dry and therefore the tour goes on.I leave at ca 09:30h with the destination cottage nr. 26. As everything in the forest is totally wet I take the dirt road instead of the track through the forest. I arrive at ca 12:00h.
This cottage has just been left by a small group of people. After one hour staying at this cottage three girls from Denmark arrive with their canoe at this spot with the intention to stay overnight also. The three girls are part of a larger group and are on holiday that is paid by their work. A little bit later two guys from Germany (backpacking just like me) arrive and, as the cottage is full with four people, decide to build up their tent next to the cottage.
Each day the girls from Denmark had to solve a task. The day before they had solved the given task the best of the total group and won beer for that achievement. An extra which tasted really good at dinner. The task for today was following puzzle.
The puzzle:
x x
x x *
-----
x x
x x +
-----
x x =
Replace the x with a digit between 1 and 9. Each digit only may be used one time. Good luck with solving.
At night a group of 12 people from Belgium with their canoes arrive at our spot. We are able to convince them to find another spot which is located on the next island.
Friday 06.08.2004
This morning the fog is so dence you hardly can see something. The people from Belgium, on the other island, leave very early this morning.After an hour or so we here some loud voices (happy voice like they found a spot to stay at night) As they come close they see us and suddenly they discover that they already were here. Exactly...the same group of people from Belgium made a large round on the lake. Because of the fog they probably lost orientation. A compass will do good somethimes!
After having breakfast I leave to the camping in Lenungshammer where I started last Monday. There I also stay overnight.
