10-May-2018 -- This is the third out of six reports reaching confluence points during a 4-day cycling trip through Sweden (from Stockholm to Stockholm). The story starts at 60°N 18°E and continues from 60°N 17°E.
In the evening I reached the third confluence of this day. When I arrived at the confluence area at 9:30 PM, it was already beginning to get dark. But anyways, I had planned to spend the night in my tent at some hidden spot – so why not at the confluence point?
The last village I passed through was Blomdal (500 m from the confluence point), consisting of only a couple houses. At a distance of 400 m I spotted a huge forest aisle pointing directly to the confluence point. The forest aisle has been cut through the forest for the construction of an overhead powerline. The powerline must be very new, because I can’t find it in any of the previous visits’ reports or pictures, not even in the report of 2017! I decided to push my bicycle along the forest aisle to the confluence and set up my tent there.
The terrain was steep and the groundcover full of cut wood such that I decided to abandon my bicycle and visit the confluence without it. Since the daylight was already fading, I wasn’t able to make high-quality pictures anymore.
I camped at a lake – let’s call it Blomdal Lake – in 200 m distance from the confluence directly at the lakeshore. The water was warm enough for a swim. What a beautiful night!
The next morning I had a quick stroll to the confluence point again with better light-conditions. Picture West shows the power line in about 40 m distance to the confluence. There were boulders and lichen overgrown trees at the confluence.
After the visit I continued pushing my bicycle through the forest in southern direction until I reached a forest track. To my surprise I reached an UNESCO world heritage just 3 km south of the confluence point: the Engelsberg Ironworks founded in 1681 and nowadays a well preserved museum.
CP Visit Details:
- Distance from a road: 400 m
- Distance from a track: 400 m
- Distance of bicycle parking: 80 m
- Time to reach the CP from the road: 20 minutes
- Time at the CP: 9:30 PM
- Measured height: 125 m
- Minimal distance according to GPS: 0 m
- Position accuracy: 3 m
- Topography: hilly
- Vegetation: conifer (fir / pine) forest.
- Weather: clear sky, 17° C (felt temperature)
- Given Name: The New Forest Aisle Confluence
The story continues at 59°N 16°E.