Hot weather arrived and we wanted to make the most of it, but we also didn’t have the energy for a hike on this particlar day. A beach day was the perfect solution! We packed some books, snacks and the Trangia stove, and headed to Erstviksbadet. The beach was covered in snow when we last visited in January.
One end of the beach is very open in full sun; the end we prefer is still sandy but also has forest cover and rocks.
Sunbathing is unusual for us but that’s exactly what we did. Trees shaded our heads while our bodies sprawled out in the sun. I’d been feeling like I hadn’t fully kicked my Winter lethargy but several hours of sun on my body did the trick. I felt like a new person the next day.
Lunch was portable and delicious. A tomato, mozzerella and basil salad — the mozzarella was stuffed into an insultated flask to keep it cool. We also took some bread and cooked a bunch of asparagus on the stove.
The Trangia is a fairly new addition to our outdoor kit… and I love it! It came with a liquid fuel burner but I bought a gas burner attachment for extra convenience (faster to heat and there is no need to fill/empty fuel).
We watched several people take a dip in the sea without screaming (unlike last year), which tempted me to have a go. I hadn’t packed any swimwear so I just swam in my underwear.
The cold made my legs hurt but deep breathing helped a little; getting past boob level is always the biggest challenge. A lady sat on the rocks called out to ask if it was cold… and I replied with “very cold”. She didn’t seem surprised. I came out and ended up going back in another three times though.
Scott finished his book and we’d eaten all the food, so it was time to go home. I left feeling so relaxed.
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