June 21: Day 51, Sollefteå-Åsele
The ski resort hotel was facing north over a valley, which meant an unusually good view of the midnight sun. Good sense did not prevail: I stayed up to midnight to get some pictures of it, and as a result this morning was a bit slow.
There was waffle maker at breakfast. (In addition to museli, eggs, bacon, and meatballs, but having a waffle maker immediately makes the breakfast great.) I cooked up a half-waffle, and it had a clear gradient - overcooked on one end, undercooked on the other. Probably means I should have had a full waffle, I guess!
I got on the road before 10 - not too late, considering - and stopped at a Sollefteå supermarket to find some lunch. It took a while: the lunch options were well hidden, and there was not much was left. I got a pair of slightly soggy wraps.
From left to right: the view at midnight. Looking in the direction of the sunset. Waffles, showing the temperature gradient in the maker! Today’s lunch - no need for Powerade, I have enough already.
The route followed the river Ångermanälven for 75km, starting from Sollefteå. The river has the third biggest flow rate in Sweden; it starts up in the Swedish mountains and flows 460km down to the Baltic sea. Once away from the city it passed through some spectacular valleys, with unbroken forest in every direction.
From left to right: the cycleway out of Sollefteå - there was 3km, and that was all for today. Nice view from a bridge. Further up the river Ångermanälven, the whole left bank was unbroken forest. Possibly a truffula tree. Crossing a concrete tiered-arch bridge.
I'm also impressed by the bridges. There was a suspension bridge over the river, connecting a rural road, with only a cluster of houses - barely a village!
There were a few hydroelectric power stations along the way; I crossed at a bridge by this one. (https://powerplants.vattenfall.com/en/lasele/)
From left to right: suspension bridge existing for no reason I can see. And another one! This sign means Danger, Moose Crossing. Lasele dam. Random lakeside.
Midafternoon, I visited the location where they film the Den stora älgvandringen ("The Great Moose Migration") documentary/livestream. We've watched this since it started in 2019, it is so chilled it's glacial. Swedish TV set up cameras at the location used by moose to cross the river, and stream continuously for a few weeks in April and May. Yes, a group of otherwise competent people can be transfixed watching a moose as it chews some ferns, looks at the river, and wonders whether it's time to go for a swim ...
From left to right: View of the moose crossing point. Selfie as well. I found a cable there, maybe part of the production? Later that day, cycling over a causeway.
In all, a straightforward day. No rain, not much headwind. Komoot estimated 8h for 130km, I think I was slightly faster when lunch and sightseeing at the moose migration location are accounted for...
What I’m listening to: Lovely head / Goldfrapp: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=orpA5qT7pbk
Another one I like is Utopia: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUB7e3BtnvU
