Day 20

Tännforsen to Medstugan
Distance: 14.3 miles / 23.0 km
Cumulative: 230.7 miles / 371.2 km

“What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not a goal.” Friedrich Nietzsche (Apparently Nietzsche didn’t understand gender neutral.)

During the Napoleonic Wars in the early 19th century, there was quite a bit of toing and froing between European nations. I’m pretty sure this period is the basis for the game Risk. At some point, Norway and Denmark were supporting France while Sweden was allied with the UK on the other side. In January 1814 the treaty of Kiel was signed bringing hostilities between those entities to an end. Though Norway and Sweden seemed still to have an issue, I think it was Subsection 2, clause (b), and continued their own minor war for a few more months. When they finally stopped fighting they were so happy the two nations entered into a union at the Convention of Moss. (By this point you’re wondering where this is going. Stay with me.) In order to foster trade and promote travel between the two parts of the union, they built bridges. Today’s hike took us past several of these 19th century symbols of good vibes. 

As described yesterday, we arranged for a car to take us to the point we should have reached the night before. So glad we started there. Tännforsen is the largest waterfall in Sweden and it is beautiful. 

The days hike was straightforward, almost all along a fairly busy asphalt road, along the river, and past mountain meadows. 

We are in what is described as the wilderness section of the trail so we encountered few amenities, and none of those well place picnic tables. 

Our accommodations for the night are simple, but comfortable enough. It’s a hostel type place with three rooms, a kitchen, shower, and toilet. We carried all our food for dinner tonight, and breakfast and lunch tomorrow. The only other person here is our pilgrim friend, Yvonne. There is no staff. We were given a code to enter the building. 

The new Hokas worked well today. 

Alas, no bathtubs.