While snow is melting away on the lakes, on the sides of the streets and in the hiking tracks in the mountains, I am getting some tan while sitting barefoot and in only a skirt and a top at the side of an ice cold lake. Right in front of me I see a huge mountain covered in snow. All I hear is the water streaming down to another lake situated a bit lower, tweeting birds and a mouse ferreting about the leaves just two meters behind me.  

I am in Jämtland, Sweden and I just went for a four hour bike ride to explore the area. Today is the first day of spring I am experiencing in Sweden and I love feeling the cold wind blowing through my hair, while the sun burns on my skin like it is ready to deliver some serious summer.

I am all alone on the road, just me and my yellow-blue mountainbike, with tires too heavy to go for a long long ride, but since I had to choose between this bike and walking, this Dutchie chose the bike. The peace and quiet from hearing nothing but streaming water and tweeting birds was disturbed by a breaking twin, not far away from the side of the road.

Jämtland Moose

Three grey horse like creatures stared at me through the few naked trees that seperated them from me. More moose! I saw 47 yesterday, when we went on a moose safari by car. I was surprised to see many locals did the same thing on their saturday night off. Usually moose live alone, but youngsters stay with their mom, until they are one or two year old and mom expects a new baby moose. That’s when she kicks her kids out and they stick with their friends for a while, because they have no idea what to do in the big and scary forest.

I pulled over to look at the three lost boys. They truly are the kings of the forest. They stand on their long legs, curious until they feel threatened, and then walk away quick but silently and graciously. They reminded me of king poodles. Only bigger.

View over the mountains

A few kilometres further up and down the road, a path leads up a hill. I have a wide view over the mountains. Green needle leaved trees all around, and far behind them are mountains covered in snow. Part of a big lake is hidden by all the trees, but another part is visible, while the sunlight sparkles on it’s surface. A buzzing bumble bee or maybe an unidentified flying insect disturbs the quietness and peacefully tweeting birds, and with a 180 view over Sweden I feel like I am on top of the world.

Going downhill I think about my plan to cycle from south to north Norway via the coast line next spring and summer. Three thousand kilometers of feeling the wind, hearing the birds and be alone on empty streets. When I go up hill again my legs are tired, my back is protesting and my feet are asleep. And I realise three things: the first being that I will need a LOT of training to complete that mission; the second being that I am so happy that fresh water is always available in Scandinavia and the third being that I should not forget to bring my cycling pants next travel.

I fill up my bottle and enjoy the cold taste of freshly melted mountain snow.