Tag Archives: Walking

Walking Skeppsholmen island

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Walking Skeppsholmen island

Monday, 27-May-2024


My first day of adventures in Stockholm hit a bit of a snag… I’d planned a full day of museums, but unfortunately Mondays turned out to be their weekly day off, and so I arrived at closed doors, one after another… closed, closed, closed.

You know what, though? I kind of needed a day to let my brain rest and process all of the different things I’ve been seeing and learning over the past few weeks. It would have been a bit nicer for my mental state if I’d been able to have that as The Plan, so I could have expected it… but hey, growth opportunities. Helping forge myself into a more relaxed and flexible person, at least in mind state.

I still followed the walking route that I’d laid out for myself the evening before, even as it became more and more obvious that none of the museums would be open. The path led me around Stockholm, regardless of my entry into the waypoints, which made for a good wander for the day – a wandering that led me to the old naval base / island of Skeppsholmen. It was a bit perfect; nice trees, lapping waves from the passing ships, and lots of neat informational placards for me to read and learn from.

A pivot from the plan, to be sure, but a welcome one.



Heyarfoss Waterfall & Miðjanes waterfall

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Heyarfoss Waterfall & Miðjanes waterfall

Thursday, 16-May-2024


After Stathur Harbor, I headed back inland to visit some of the spots that I’d seen on my drive out to the where the road ended.

Most of the spots were fairly simple and short – so much so that I just added them into the main post about my #van_life adventures. But two of them were a bit… bigger. Taller orders, you could say. Waterfalls. They were waterfalls.

Each took a bit of walking to get to – nothing big enough to really be called a hike, but… I mean, there was some elevation gain, rock scrambling, and maybe even a spot of mud and hopping over fences! Almost an adventure; maybe something like .75 adventures, if you combine both waterfalls together.

In short – worth visiting, if you happen to be in the area.

Getting to spend an extra two days in Nuuk – or – I started my adventure, and immediate caught COVID

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Tuesday, 07-May-2024, through Thursday, 09-May-2024


I caught COVID.

After my sunrise hike, I felt low energy… which is normal, after sleeping 2 hours and then ascending a mountain in what felt like hurricane force winds, well below freezing.

The next day, I was a bit tired and congested… again, kinda normal.

The day after, I was fully congested. Okay, I’ve got a cold. Neato.


On Monday evening, while packing to fly out, I did a quick COVID test. It came back positive. I did a second test. Also positive. Okay, so that settles it. Good news – I don’t have a cold! Bad news – I do have COVID. Fuck.

I tried to sleep on it, to decide what to do. I didn’t have a major fever, so… maybe I could fly with a mask? I was planning on effectively isolating myself in Reykjavik anyways… so maybe it would be okay?

I slept fitfully, and when I woke up at 6am, I couldn’t fall back asleep. It didn’t feel right to fly with COVID. I checked the CDC recommendations, and the EU recommendations, and Sweden’s recommendations, and looked at my body temp, and… Decided that I shouldn’t fly. I rebooked my flights, then extended my Airbnb in Nuuk, and then confirmed that there wouldn’t be issues with my reservation in Reykjavik.

Then I went back to sleep. I was able to sleep better, after that decision.

I went to the grocery to get some food, took a nice long walk, ate lots, and took the time to relax and rest. Tuesday was a rest day for me – both mentally and physically. I let myself watch stupid youtube videos, and I kept my adventuring to light walking along the boardwalk, and to and from the grocery. Wednesday I’d focus on the trip work that I had planned to do anyways… but Tuesday was spent maintaining my mental health.


Wednesday I awoke nearly 100%. No fever, minimal congestion… still a bit tired, but nothing horrible.

I made the right decision, I guess.

Still, I laid low and took it easy. I did some trip work, wrote lots of blog posts, and took a nice walk around town to help clear the lungs and move the blood. I repacked everything that had gotten unpacked, and made myself some dinner.

It was relaxing, and healing, and a good opportunity to practice pivoting.