2nd day (9.8.22)

11:00 AM

The slow train slowly arrived in Gothenburg, marking the end of my first train journey. We threw our backpacks over our shoulders and eagerly walked out of the train station. Sven had to buy provisions for the rest of the journey, so we strolled to the nearest supermarket. There, I replenished my supplies with garlic, tomato paste, and a Swedish canned soup. I also grabbed an apple and after a painful battle with the self-checkout, we returned to the train station where I parted ways with my companions.

Once again on my own, I strolled into the city center, carrying the weight of my travels. I soon realized that the lockers were not within my budget. So I wandered through the slowly awakening shopping streets. For a while, I observed the busy workers hurrying with briefcases in their hands to grab a quick coffee on the corner. Young adults enjoyed a leisurely breakfast in almost empty cafes, the first tourists pulled out their cameras, and seagulls accompanied everyone with their coastal ambiance.

After this detailed study of Homo sapiens, I was drawn back to the realm of flora. I walked along a quaint canal and on the other side, I discovered a park that I had to cross. This park happened to be a botanical garden, and when I saw the sign "Free Entry," a smile appeared on my face. I explored the rose gardens, studied a Chinese mahogany tree with its benevolently downward tilted branches and ochre-colored shiny bark, and finally arrived at the Palm House. My hiking gear, designed for the mild Scandinavian summer, struggled under the high temperatures and punishing humidity of the greenhouse. Nevertheless, my spirits were high, and I wandered from palm to exotic flowering plant, from giant water lilies to red shimmering fabaceae, from philodendrons to extraordinary conifers.

After this adventure, I sat on a wooden bench under a maple tree and called my grandmother to reassure her that she doesn't have to worry too much.

6:00 PM

I felt the fatigue creeping back to the forefront of my consciousness and decided to find a place to sleep. I searched the internet for something green, and when I found a beautiful forested area, I set off. First through the urban canyons, past sports fields and amusement parks. I stumbled upon a mansion in front of a large meadow and spread out my belongings to dive into the green of the well-maintained lawn. After a short break, I decided to walk the last stretch to the forest.

I had to hike through the wooded hills for quite a while until I found a suitable spot for my hammock between a beech and an oak tree. While setting up my camp, I had the opportunity to snack on some blueberries that covered the ground like a bird's feathered plumage. I took out my sleeping bag from my backpack and made myself comfortable in the hammock. It didn't take long before I fell into a deep sleep.

11:00 PM

When I woke up in the late afternoon, I felt refreshed but also a little dirty. I promptly decided to walk the remaining distance to the nearby lake, packed up my camp, and started walking again. After just a few hundred meters, I unexpectedly found myself on a golf course and asked a local golfer for directions. The tall blond man showed me the way, and I followed his instructions. I walked through a pine forest until I eventually caught sight of the glimmering water.

At the lake, I entrusted my belongings to a couple, put on my swim trunks, and joyfully jumped from a jetty into the icy-cold lake. The water had the color of pitch but still appeared crystal clear. The lake extended in all directions, and gray sandstone cliffs climbed up along the shores. Above the horizon, a play of sky and pine trees unfolded as they competed for space. I swam around, dived under, and tried to absorb the soul of the lake. When my need for refreshment was satisfied, I left the lake and got dressed again.

I thanked the couple and took my belongings to a picnic table with the intention of cooking my dinner there. I peeled garlic, took out my cooker, and started boiling water for noodles. I had pasta with tomato sauce. What the food lacked in character, the view made up for it. The sun made its final attempts to illuminate the landscape but was slowly swallowed by the clouds on the horizon.

After finishing my meal and washing up, I packed everything up again and followed the couple's recommendation to set up my camp on the peninsula on the other side of the lake. I trudged through the rugged rocky landscape along the lake shore. The red of the pines paled in the dusk until the only lights left were those of the moon, the stars, and a radio tower. I hiked over rocks, floating bridges, and paths strewn with umbilical cord-like roots until I finally reached the peninsula. There, I quickly realized that there were hardly any proper trails, and I had to fight my way to the tip along wild paths.

Surrounded by water, two young Swedes awaited me at a campfire, apparently having had the same plan as me. They showed me a good spot to hang my hammock and returned to their fire while I focused on setting up my camp in the dark. Once I was done, I joined the remaining camper by the campfire. We exchanged a few words in English and listened to the musical crackle of the fire. The fibers of the wood crackled under the heat, producing the most beautiful sounds. When exhaustion once again overcame us, we each withdrew to our own shelter. And now I lie in my sleeping bag, writing. Goodnight.