We were very sorry to leave the excellent site at Färnebofjärdens. It was just about perfect, although the showers were a bit odd (I can only speak for the men's, of course). There were two showers next to each other. There was a plastic curtain and then a little outer area where the clothes hooks and coin machines were. Then, there were individual curtains to pull across the shower cubicle. No great amount of privacy. It wasn't a problem; the arrangement just seemed a little bit odd.
We drove a few miles to Gysinge where there was a nicely arranged visitor centre giving interesting (and just enough) information about the Färnebofjärdens National Park, its flora and fauna. I collected all manner of leaflets about it and the other national parks.
We then drove over two bridges spanning quite wide rivers on to a large forested island whose name, of any, I don't know. Looking at the map, though, it's shape is remarkably like that of India. We stopped at what seemed to be the hub, where there were a couple of loos, information boards and numerous walking trails. We did a circular one of 1km through the woodland. It skirted by a river at one point and was quite magical.
We rather had time to kill today. There was nothing particular to do. We didn't want to be too close to Uppsala as that is where we need to be tomorrow night. We pulled off a road and had a leisurely lunch in the sunshine. We thought about stopping there for the night but it was only about 3pm and the air was full of something like dandelion seeds being blown about. So we ambled on. We had identified a camp site not too far away but were quite happy to have a "wild camp". There was a possible spot by a lake so we drove about three miles down a single track rough road but it wasn't really suitable. Driving then past the camp site, we didn't really like the look of it (too big, for a start), we we went in search of the perfect wild camp. A longish loop road looked promising on the map but proved not to be. Along that same road, though, we have settled on a disused grassy track. Nothing will come along it as it is a loop off the nearby road. We obviously wanted to avoid stopping on a track which, to all intents and purposes was unused but then a vehicle appears apparently from nowhere (usually as it is someone's driveway).
Amanda
A last few minutes on the wooden swing gazing out
over the lake on a decidedly warm, sunny morning and it was time to
leave it behind.
We stopped briefly at the Färnebofjärdens Nature Reserve Visitor Centre, and then drove onwards through the Reserve enjoying the beauty of it all - over bridges that crossed tumbling rapids surrounded by forest. We stopped at the entrance to the Reserve, where several trails were marked, and walked the shortest one. Now, here was a walk through dense, rough woodland I could enjoy! It was well way-marked, and I knew in advance that it was under a mile long and would bring us back to where we started. Even the combination of quite long plank bridges, untried shoes and no walking poles didn't faze me. And I actually managed to keep up with G, who is a little wary on paths like these which are a tangle of raised roots, since the time he tripped on one and tore his hamstring.
The rest of the day was spent in a very relaxed manner, driving through lovely wooded countryside, stopping occasionally, first for lunch, then in the hope of finding a suitable 'wild camp'. I had threatened G with skinny dipping if we found a nice isolated spot by a lake, but none was forthcoming to his relief. He is not a fan of cold water! We eventually stopped here at about 5.30, in a grassy space separated from the road by trees. We have had to batten down the hatches to keep all the insects out, but not more than a dozen cars have passed in the last 5 hours, so hopefully it will be a quiet night.
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