Strömsund - 18 June 2018

Geoff

I gave the Dutch couple in a neighbouring van details of our blog as they are interested in the crossing we did from Sweden to Finland via the Åland Islands in 2016.

We rejoined the E45 Inlandsvägen continuing northwards. It was very quiet. A few cars passed us and quite a lot of camper vans were heading south. Yesterday's rain had cleared the air and it was a fine day. We passed through Hammerdal and then Östersund where ordinarily we would have stopped as it has quite a bit of interest but wanted to get the miles behind us. The roads were mainly forested either side with occasional really long straight. I think the longest straight was about three miles. 

Reaching Strömsund, we decided to call it a day and booked in at a proper campsite with all facilities, including showers and kitchen. Later, we went to explore the small town, what there is of it, which isn't much. A park by the river had a number of restored wooden buildings, some of which were open. One had an amazing array of hand knitted items for sale. 

The site isn't very full at all but this is out of the main season.

I took a walk through the adjacent golf course into some lovely woodland and then follows path by a lake but the humid still air had brought the mosquitoes out and these really plagued me so I cut the walk short. I should have had Amanda with me as the mosquitoes much prefer her, as is evidenced by the number of bites she has, despite having brought every medication and device known to man. 

Tomorrow we start a little adventure, taking a detour off the E45 to go round the Wilderness Road (Vildmarksvägen). 

What we are really noticing is how light it is in the evenings. Even after 11pm it is still quite light and this will continue as we head for the land of the midnight sun. 

Amanda

Bright skies this morning!  The Camperstop was fine, although a dozen or so vans was quite a lot for the single WC to cope with.  We had been bemused and slightly alarmed to read one review of the place by someone who had not stayed, because of the loudspeakers at the nearby mosque. We can only assume that the reviewer had mistaken the warning signal on the railway crossing for a call to prayer!

I requested a proper campsite for tonight, with a view to washing a few clothes and having a shower. We have been wearing the same clothes for a week! We are taking our cue from campervannng/ backpacking friends of Geoff's - you know who you are - who, in their blog of their current travels, mentioned that they only change clothes when they think they are beginning to get a bit niffy. Well, we don't seem to have reached that stage - at least, we don't think so.

Heading on up the E45, with more lovely views of lakes, forests, and the road stretching out into the distance,  we stopped here at Stromsund, and based ourselves at the campsite just before the roadbridge into town. It is the beginning of the "Wilderness Way" a detour off the E45 towards the Norwegian border, which we plan to start tomorrow. It will probably take two or three days.

Lonely Planet is dismissive of the town - " there is nothing here to detain you" = but a stroll around was pleasant enough, and included an outdoor folk museum by the river. Although the buildings were mostly closed - it still being out of season - it clearly has the facilities for fun events through the summer. A small exhibition reminded us that we are now in Sami country, and I daresay we shall learn more of the history and customs of these people in the coming days.

Insect bites are still being accumulated, and nothing affords any lasting relief from the itching and heat of them. I have to confess that I would be enjoying life more without them. Geoff acquired his first major bite , requiring an antihistamine tablet, this afternoon, on  a foray down a wooded lakeside path. He blames me for not being with him as a decoy!