Milestone

So, today I decided to ramp up the preparation jogging to the next level. My usual jogging path is one lap around the nearby lake, and it tends to be quite a nice and comfortable length. You go through the whole spectrum of "Hah, this is easy as pie!", "Okay, I finally feel that I'm actually running!", "Pjuh, okay. Keep going!" and "Okay, I'm done. Just one third of the way to go". But it tends to feel just right.

Usual jog of about 2.1km

 Today however, as I said earlier, I decided to pick it up and the end result was about an hour consisting of biking, jogging 5,5km and then biking back home. I have to say it was surprisingly great. Those of you who know me, know that I enjoy jogging/being out at night, and today was no exception. I headed out at about 21 and was back home at around 22. And the track I ran, that was supposed to be 5km, instead of the actual 5,5km (Not that I mind), was not lit up. There was an illuminated track, but I instead chose this pitch black one, in the middle of the forest. And I loved it.

The 5km (5,5km) running track in Ursvik.

I even ended up seeing plenty of interesting things. Of course that depends on your definition of interesting, but in any case I ended up seeing plenty bats (Yes, those quick, black "birds" that fly at night, are bats, for those of you who hadn't really thought about it before), some places I hadn't visited before, and even close encounters with five deer. And that was due to actually being able to see those things, and because I was running in the dark. Towards the end of the track I got onto the illuminated part and in an instant it was like two black walls and a lit corridor you had to run through. Quite a downgrade if you ask me.

^ Jogging outfit

^ Non-jogging outfit

The jog ended up being strangely easy and enjoyable. It took me until I got home and sat down, that I felt that my legs were not really acting as they should. Nonetheless, it was not the last time I jogged that track, for sure!

This whole endeavour is starting to feel less and less crazy, and more realistic and about to happen. In the beginning I didn't care about if it was doable or not, I had just decided to do it, no matter what. Now I'm starting to to accept the fact that we might end the trip for whatever reason, but that we're going to do give it a serious, all-in try.

Still have plenty of very real issues to solve however. I, so far, have no idea what is going to take me to Amsterdam. I know that my current bike is in no condition to carry me half-way across Europe, so I'm left with three options. Either a possible "sponsored" bike will be available, I'll have to upgrade my current bike (Which I'm afraid might cost more than the whole bike), or I'll have to buy a new bike altogether. I guess we'll find out sooner or later.

Peace out!

The Gameplan

Starting to feel a bit restless. I guess ignorance is bliss, because I really can't wait to get this show on the road! I do not doubt for a second I'll be missing the comfortableness of just sitting at home. But right now I'm done preparing (Not technically though... I would probably die within a week if I had to leave today. Mostly due to the lack of decent breaks on my current bike), and I really just want to roll!

I've been working on the planned route and this is what it looks like. I was going to add "right now", but the map will, in fact, stay up to date and you'll see the most recent changes. However, I doubt there will be any more big changes made at this point. I already cut off a hundred kilometers or so today by fiddling around with some better routes.


View Planned Bicycle Trip.kmz in a larger map
The original idea was basically... "Stockholm to Netherlands", but then I had to accept the fact that Netherlands is a country, and it's probably a good idea to have some more precise destination. I guess Amsterdam will do. My sources tell me it should be a cool place to visit! Then again, this is not exactly going to be your ordinary tourist visit. Who knows, we might not even make it there. I'd give it a 50-50 at this point.

So, back to the map. As you can see, it's not exactly the most direct path, but I've chosen to prioritize routes close to the shore, as I think that might be more thrilling than hundreds upon hundreds of kilometers of Swedish primeval forests. Specially now that it's off-season for the polar bears.

^ Stupid enough to bike 2.000km

I also had planned to bike by Berlin, as it would have been quite cool to go Stockholm-Copenhagen-Berlin-Amsterdam, but I mean... Really? Look at the map and you'll realize that's not exactly the most direct route. And if you still think we should have done it, then by all means, by my guest and bike the 4-500 extra kilometers with all the paraphernalia.

Sweden, Denmark, Germany and the Netherlands. Quite sweet that they're all part of Schengen. Should make for a considerably more comfortable transition between countries, and we don't even have to bring passports if we don't feel like. Yay for politics!

It might also be worth mentioning that this is the PLAN for the trip. This in no way means it's even remotely close to the end-result. I can't for the  love of me imagine what it's going to be like, being out on the roads a week into the trip. Hell, we might be saying "The hell, isn't that the same rock as yesterday? Screw this, lets take a train!". No shame in that I guess, an experience nonetheless!


I think I'm should be doing something more useful. How does one prepare for a trip like this? Half the fun is going to be when you're in the middle of nowhere, out of water, haven't eaten for days, the tent has scratch marks from hungry bears and you get that feeling of "How could we possibly NOT bring 'x'?" ('X' being everything I would have needed, but forgot/chose to leave at home "as I probably won't need it anyway")

And with that, I think I might actually go do something useful.

Peace Out!

Method to my Madness

So it is decided. On the 20th we've planned the get-go.

2.000.000 meters on bikes, give or take. That almost doesn't even sound as much as 2.000 kilometers. Neither of us has done anything like this before, nor do we have any idea if this is doable or not. Well, we know for a fact that this kind of thing is being done basically all the time, by others. But those others tend to know what they're doing, they tend to start off smaller, prepare for a long period of time and be sensible. That, however, is not how we roll.

^ Me

My name is Henrik Niku and I'm a Project Manager in Game Development. I'm 23 years old and I currently live by myself in Stockholm. You most likely know me already, else you probably wouldn't be here. Now that we've covered that, lets move on.

This is the travel blog for me and my partner in crime. Respect to her for being nutty as fruitcake, I mean it. Not everyone would have been ready and willing to drop everything...school, work, life... for the crazy spur-of-the-moment proposal I texted her one late evening. Now, however, it has been decided. We leave on the 20th, come hell or high water! (Terms and condition apply, like the fact that we might just as well leave on some other day, depending on circumstances)

Preparations are being had daily. This blog being one part of that. And on that note, let me introduce the blog. I have set out a few rules and guidelines for myself and for this blog:

1. Minimum of one blog post per day. Actually, preferably one post per day. Therefore the name "Dailies". In case of technical difficulties, I will make the post the following day.
2. The blog has a map showing the live progress and location of me, which hopefully will be the exact location of the both of us. If you need a reason: Because I think it's cool!
3. I will post as many interesting pictures as I can manage, be it a flat tire, a tent at a lake at sunset or what I look like after a day of biking in the rain.
4. I am, and will be, fully open with everything concerning me. However, I will do my best not to say more about others than I know and/or feel is okay by them.
5. Lastly, I will list all the expenses of the trip, mostly for my own use, but I guess it might be interesting to someone else as well.

The view from my bedroom window.

So, yesterday was the first day I was actually on a mission specifically for preparing. It ended with me buying an external battery pack for charging my Google Nexus S, who will be a big part of this Venture. The plan is to use her as GPS, E-mails, Blogging, Photos, Maps, looking up tickets for ferries and so forth. It is also the thing continuously transmitting our location, live, to the blog.

The coming two weeks will consist heavily of preparations, in all shapes and forms.
Here in the form of clothes being tried on:

Surprisingly comfortable hoodie

Five seconds before taking this picture,
the store shuts the lights off due to closing.
However, a nice rain-/windproof set.

Last but not least. I am not expecting or counting on getting feedback, but if you feel like you have something to say, by all means leave a comment on the blog or contact my directly @ Henriknik (at) hotmail dot com.

Peace out!