Flø
It feels like a dream at this point; Or a long chain of half-remembered dreams that I haven’t woken up from.
The transition between place to place isn’t so quick that each individual place becomes an episode, but also not slow enough to be real. It’s the exact sweet spot between fleeting and unchanging. I meet people, I see places, I feel the sun on my face, or the rain, and inevitably it all gets mixed like a summer slushy. I suppose that’s why I write, photograph, sit down to slow down time on top of a hill; all to put a pin on the memories before they become a blur.
I would imagine it would be much easier to get lost in this dream if the connection to friends and my life in Hamburg wasn’t there, if the daily planning and preparation wasn’t there. I wouldn’t want that, I think. Being lost in a dream sounds as scary as swimming in a bottomless pool. And I am not sure if I want to be brave enough to be lost in a dream.
Today’s ride was mostly pedal smashing until I got to this island and it started to get sunny. I wasn’t sure where to spend the night, but eventually I found a relatively unknown idyllic village named Flø at the end of the road, and a campsite within it. My initial thought was to make it to Ålesund by tonight, but the edge of the island intrigued me. The closer I got to the village, the more dreamy it got.
Some technical notes, the new rain jacket held up exceptionally well. My fish-curry-in-a-can based diet have been tasty enough to make me think of dinner the whole day. My breakfast is getting more varied, sometimes I have oats in yoghurt, sometimes I eat sandwiches. My lunch system is still all over the place, but also I haven’t had a rainless lunchtime in weeks. My rear brake have been behaving odd lately, I should go to a bike store at some point. The drivetrain is also showing signs of wear, but I don’t think it’s near any real problem. My packing system had its quirks since day one, something to optimise still. I have changed my shaving routine from a lather based shave to a trimmer approach, which saves time and keeps the total weight down. Shedding weight is no more a concern, however, I see some things becoming redundant slowly. My laundry routine is purely based on the availability of sunlight, which is to say, I haven’t washed anything for days. I ran out of soap and shampoo weeks ago, haven’t found a decent travel sized replacement, but I don’t miss either. Sleeping in the tent has become very comfortable, and much more simplified since the beginning. Health has been fine, no serious aches or injuries so far.
All in all, it’s going good!
Good night!
Flø, Norway