Forced break and change of plans

The next day, after arriving in Hemavan, I was to continue south on the Lapplandsleden. Already after a few kilometers I felt a slight pain in my left foot. I first took a break, reduced the pace and shortened the day. In the evening the pain had become stronger and the next morning unfortunately not better either. Neither kinesiotape nor painkillers helped and so I took the shortest way off the trail and walked to a road. From there I hitchhiked back to Hemavan and hoped that a few days of resting would be enough to continue.

The first day on the Lapplandsleden

While I was quite calm for the first few days, I became more insecure with each new day, as the pain did not get better even a little bit and all the overwork symptoms I had had before became much better when resting.

After just under a week, I made an appointment at the nearest hospital and was x-rayed there as well. However, a fracture or something similar was not visible and the doctor also assumed an overwork and advised me to continue to wait and keep the foot still.

The only positive thing about the situation was that I had a well-stocked supermarket nearby and a kitchen and could therefore eat anything I wanted all day long.

Breakfast

After almost two weeks, however, I couldn't take it anymore. I needed an alternative and I really didn't want to go home. But since winter would soon arrive, I could not hold out for weeks, because the trails would soon no longer be passable.

So I had the idea to organize a bike and cycle the rest. Therefore I took the first bus to the coast to Umeå in the morning, because I could not find a used and cheap bike in the small town of Hemavan. Once I got there, I quickly found a bike store that also had one used bike and that's what I took after some deliberation. A bike bag, air pump, helmet and patch kit to it and a few hours later I was ready to go. The rest of the equipment I had already with me.

On the same afternoon I set off, however, not far and I treated myself in the evening with going to a campsite, because the day had been very long and exhausting.

My new bicycle: Emilia