Day 64 (6): Roller-coaster Of Emotions

Straumbu to Bekken

Distance: 35km

No thunder, no steong winds. But another rainy night (at times it rained so heavily, the water penetrated the rain fly, making it an uncomfortable night), another early start, another fast packing due to mosquitoes.

The walk across Rondane National Park offers some wonderful views, however, due to a rocky track, my focus was mostly where I would put my feet down next.

On the other side of the park, at Rondvassbu, I more or less bump into Frank as he just gets out of the hut. Frank, a lovely hiker from Germany, who I met in Abisko, 4 years ago. Me on E1 southbound, he on his way to Nordkapp. Such a huge coincidence, we meet again. Again, I head south, he's heading north. There's so much catching up to do. We spend nearly 2 hours talking. It feels good and really motivates me to carry on my adventure. 

After a long hug, it's time to continue. A long road walk to Otta to resupply. Or at least so I thought. 

In Bekken, around a kilometer out of Otta, I get into a conversation with a local. And shortly after, get invited to pitch my tent in their garden. A wonderful, highly appreciated gesture as I don't have anywhere to stay in Otta. 

I settle in, preparing for a relaxed afternoon. Well, at least so I thought again... 

As I blow air into my mattress, three loud 'pops' make me flinch. It takes me a couple of seconds to realize that some of the seams of my mattress gave up the ghost. And from reports from other hikers I met over the years, that's it. Nothing to fix. Distaster. Yeah Maria, I know you warned me a while ago... But ignorant me wouldn't listen... 

What to do? I take out my phone, google for sport stores in Otta. Bingo! But they close in less than hour. Marit, my trail angel, offers me her bicycle. What an nice gesture. A 10 minutes cycle takes me into town and to the sports store. Very limited selection. I go with one of their overpriced foam mattresses. Something completely different to my air mattresses. I'll report tomorrow how I slept. 

Anyway, once back, I get treated with a delicious fish dinner with potatoes and carrots. We have very interesting conversations about the area. Great so get some background information about the area I walk through. Time flies. They are headed to some friends, I do my resupply, have a hot shower, write my blog. It's well past nine, whenn I finally retreat into my tent. 

What a day it was. Full of surprises. Negative but (luckily) mostly postive ones.  A day to remember for sure.