Day 8

Bräcke to Gällö

Distance: 15.1 miles / 24.3 km

Cumulative: 103.7 miles / 166.9

“Sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy” Sunshine on My Shoulders,” John Denver, 1971

If yesterday was miserable, today was its opposite. Last night we had a nice Italian dinner, with a reasonably good bottle of Amarone, at the restaurant in our hotel, followed by a most excellent night’s sleep. 

This morning at breakfast we finally met other pilgrims—a group of six Norwegians doing the route by bike. 

The Norwegian bikers leaving us in the dust. 

We started with a short section through the forest then spent most of the day on hard pack dirt/gravel roads running along the edge of Lake Revsund. The views were gorgeous and we had sunshine all day. We were both in such better moods that at one point I stopped and kissed Kristine for no apparent reason. I’m sure she will recover in a day or two. 

Lunch on a sandy beach put Kristine in her happy place. 

Our hosts tonight, Gustav and Kerstin, run a B&B/bakery/brewery/pottery/glamping place. It is great. I’ve tried the Whisky IPA and the Coffee Stout. Both are excellent. Gustav also is an accomplished musician. 

Milestone of the day was breaking the 100 mile mark. Also Kristine spotted the second and third abandoned bathtubs of the trip.