Journal, Ritsem-Narvik day 4.
The sun, ever the benevolent deity, graced me with its gentle awakening. It filled me with gratitude, a sentiment that clung to my bones even though yesterday had been a relentless struggle.
Navigating the rocky tapestry that adorns these grand lakes, I made steady progress through the landscape. The jagged, rocky scenary eventually revealed a vast expanse of open grasslands. Trail led me to a bridge that beckoned me to halt, offering an invitation to indulge in a modest breakfast and test the waters with the rod.
As I cast my line into the river's embrace, a lonesome reindeer materialized on the other side of the rushing rapids. It paused, regarding me with inscrutable eyes before embarking on an aquatic odyssey, determinedly swimming across the turbulent waters. Ahead, a valley unfurled its beauty, a picturesque scene that invited easy ambling. Two avian companions, resplendent in their sleek black plumage with a striking white underbelly, decided to make me their fleeting muse, following in my footsteps for a considerable stretch.
I set out with a modest goal for the day, intending to cover a mere 17 kilometers and stop at the border. Yet, ambition propelled me further, forging a path all the way to Noajdejavrre, where I could overlook the icy visage of a glacier. I must have trudged well over 20 kilometers, but I've managed to right my course.
The night sky, with its frigid countenance, hints at a hilling ordeal ahead.
My focus remains anchored in the present, resolute in making decisions that propel me forward, with nary a glance back, save for gleaning wisdom from the past's offerings. Tonight, a familiar sense of homesickness reared its head, a recurring affliction that seem to make an apperance on these sojourns. The logic remains elusive, for why should one pine for home while dwelling in the untamed wilderness? But I reckon it's all part of the grand scheme—a vote cast for the person I aspire to be, a testament to my existence out here in the wild, where life, in all its glorious ruggedness, unfolds.