This wll be my first entry in English. It wonˋt be perfect, but I would like to give the people, who helped me that much, the chance to understand, what I write about them.
Monday, 26th June, Day 4: Kolari - Pajala
It was raining the whole night and I really love (ATTENTION *ironic*) to tidy up the wet paddock and the wet tent. Santano was much calmer this night and there were no moscitos for Qaanaaq to catch, so I slept much better. But it should become a bad day, this day. It started with a broken stick of my tent.
We started at 8 hrs to walk to Kolari. It was the first city-trip for Qaanaaq and the dog was nervous and the horse calm - crazy world ^^ At Minnaˋs place, the vet, we waited for the health certificate to cross the Swedish border. And then at 9:49 hrs (Swedish time) the big moment was there: It was the first time that I crossed a border by foot - yeah.
Then it was going better. It stopped rainng, we found enough gras for Santano to eat during the breaks and my world was in order - except of my aching hip bones. I created a new ritual and announce the starting pain to my two companies. It doesnˋt help, but I just need to tell anybody.
In the lunch break an old man offered a whole field to us. Really nice, but even my fod-loving horse couldnˋt make it ^^ And then the misery continued, because Santano stepped on Qaanaaqs paw and he didnˋt suffer quietly. He was limbing for a while, but we stopped a few minutes and then it was getting better with every step.
We ended up close to Pajala on a caming site. I tried to fix the stick of the tent and failed. I tried to activate my Swedish SIM-Card to tell Mamsi and Dad that everything is ok and failed. And it started raining again - yeah. But at least I enjoyed a hot shower. It felt so great.
For dinner I had bread and cookies - really healthy. I was just not in the mood to go out and get wet again. I was so cold.
Tuesday, 27th June, Day 5: Pajala - Ohtanajärvi
Rain again, wet stuff again, bad night again due to a nervous Santano. After I packed everthing, it stopped raining - FINALLY!!!
This day should become a really good and really hard day at the same time. We hit the road at 7:50 hrs to the direction of Pajala. I decided to meet Steven, the manager of Bioenergie in Pajala. Luca and me always went there to get woodchips for the dogs and the horses in the camp. I hoped that he could help me with the Swedish SIM-Card.
Steven solved all my problems in three hours: I fixed Santano and Qaanaaq at the office building -both relaxing- and went with him by car to Pajala. He helped me to activate the SIM-Card, repaired my broken tent stick in a proper way, tried to get a new tent stick, offered me coffee, loaded my power bar... Because we couldnˋt get a new tent stick in Pajala, he wanted to check in Lulea, where he had to go to in the afternoon.
Later on , we met on the road and he handed over a fully-loaded power bar to me. And I also met Veronica. She wanted to have a picture and had an idea, where we could spent the night, but it was little far away for me, I thought.
Kilometer by kilometer passed without a proper sleeping option. Meanwhile Lillemor, the contact of Veronica, called me to explain, where she lives. Oh my god, it was still more than 15 kms to walk and it was already 16 hrs. But is there another option?
No, there was not. So we continued - with aching hips, knees, hind paws, blisters at the feet. I cried and complained at this stupid road without water and gras. Luckily, there was no one, who saw and heart me.
In the evening I arrived in Ohtanajärvi and suddenly someone came with a horse to meet me. It was Lillemor and I cannot describe, how happy I was to see her on her Fjordhorse coming in my direction.
After a while we met Benkku, my ex boss, on the road, who heard about my bad luck with the tent stick and Qaanaaqs paws from Susi. He gave me a new tent stick and cream for Qaanaaqs paws.
After 40 kms, we ended up at a very nice place. Lillemorˋs husband and her two children came out to say hello. I removed the luggage and the saddle from Santano and introduced him to his two new friends for the night. Qaanaaq and me went inside - tired, but really happy to be here. Lillemor made an omlette and offered me a bed for the night. NO wet tent today. We hang up the tent and all the other wet suff to dry.
Steven came with a new tent stick and a repair kid. And I didnˋt know how to say thank you again.
40 kms were far too much for Qaanaaq and me, but I am so happy, overwhelmed and greatful for the help of Steven and Lillemor and her family today. THANK YOU!!!
WEDNESDAY, 28th June, Day 6: Ohtanajärvi
Lillemor offeres me to stay and I answer YES. Everything hurts, we need a break. Qaanaaq is sleeping, I am writing and Santano is happy wth his two new friends on the field running around. Tomorrow our hit-the-road-trio will be on tour again.
