Riding through thunderstorms, rain and bumping into yet another biker who made it perfectly clear he’s not actually a cyclist.

New perspectives on family, my personal feud with gravel hills slowly shifting, and crossing the longest hanging bridge in Sweden.

96 kilometers of sunshine, gravel hills and mind games, plus a surprise reunion with family I never met before.

Day 11 of this trip turned out to be one of the most enjoyable so far. From vibrant university streets to quiet riverside camping, it was a day of many small joys.

A day of pedaling through misty lakes, chatting with strangers on a wooden bridge, and indulging in a much-needed buffet feast.

This part of the trip took me from the comfort of Luleå’s hotels to the wild, where a meeting with another cyclist and a muddy swim made me think about what it really means to embrace the unknown.

Waking up to an empty campsite, I realized I’d slept through the departures of every other traveler, which was perhaps a testament to the deep rest my body needed. The ride to Luleå was supposed to be short, but the road had other plans.

I pedaled past the Arctic Circle and its sticker-covered sign was a quiet testament to the ground I’d covered. A week of cycling, and I’d finally crossed it. The days were still long, the light still lingering, but the coast was calling. Töre awaited with the promise of a shower, a rare luxury after days on the road.

I barely spent a day in Finland, but I think I made them count. A cozy breakfast by a rushing river, a warm chat with a German couple, and two surprisingly delicious bolognese pizzas. Then, with a full stomach, I pedaled over the bridge into Sweden. It felt like saying goodbye to the wild and most remote stretch of this journey so far.