Scenic Sweden - Rolling Through the South - Day 1

We kicked off our 10-day bikepacking trip through southern Sweden with sunshine! Forget the country's reputation for gloom - we're soaking up every ray. ☀️
Right away, we dove into a peaceful nature reserve on smooth gravel paths - perfect for getting used to our loaded bikes. But then, things got tricky...
A detour onto a mountain bike trail turned into a hike-a-bike nightmare for our touring bikes. Mosquitoes feasted while we wrestled our bikes over rocks and roots.
After a quick lunch break surrounded by Swedish families enjoying a BBQ (we settled for homemade wraps!), we continued on the single tracks. Big mistake! The path was more suited for walking, and the rain clouds decided to join the party. ⛈️
Lightning flashed all around us as we desperately sought shelter in a horse stable. The horses weren't too impressed, but we were grateful for a dry (ish) place to wait out the storm.
Back on the road, we finally reached our cozy hut after 6 hours of adventure. Exhausted but exhilarated, we settled in just as another downpour began. Listening to the rain patter on the roof, I couldn't help but feel happy - day 1 complete, and many more Swedish surprises to come!