The first ever trip abroad after starting my higher studies, High coast it was. Don't know how we chose this place, but after the trip, half of my heart was still stuck in that awe inspiring place. Such a beauty it was. The colorful dramatic skies, the water, beach, Baltic sea, the lush forests and hiking spots, fire places and grills, you name it, we have done it!!
All of it started in the summer vacations while three of us were playing volley ball at the court as usual spending the day. We were getting bored of same old game and the same old place. Just a talk of the trip at this time of the year in Sweden would be better is what we though. That's all, the day next, we brain stormed about the place "High coast", about hiring a car to go and the route with all the food and drinks we need to carry. everything happened in a matter of 2 hours and a day later, we had booked the stay and two of our boys were here with the rented car. Soon we started to pack up and hopped in for the drive of 700 Kms.
I had a good camera and a tripod. Friends brought some binoculars. Enough food for two days was stashed in the back of the car and we started our journey from Linköping to High-coast Via Stockholm, Uppsala.
As the day past, the sky started the throw all the colors. The sky was overwhelmed with all the drama. Then there was this wonderful bridge, an iconic engineering masterpiece in architecture. With the lights on, the bridge was glowing under night's dim lit skies. With some light music in the car, we were all cheering!
Everything went so well till now, it couldn't possibly be so smooth. Then this happened, we filled a petrol car with diesel!! all 25 liters of it!! The engine soon started choking just after a drive of 500 mtrs. We realized the mistake and pulled over at the next fuel station within 100 mtrs distance. We did not screw the engine yet. Since the car was rented from "Circle K", the multinational chain of car rentals, fuel stations etc. We were fortunate enough to stop the car right at another circle K fuel station this time. We could make some calls and connect to the known local mechanic and towing services. We just spent a couple of hours and 3200 bucks, then we were all set again. Because of all this drama, we reached our stay location by 3 AM next day instead of 8 PM the same day! but is was alright that we ended up spending lot less compared to damaging the engine.
The next day started a little late since we were all exhausted because of the journey and the wait for getting the car repaired. But it started with the refreshing excitement looking at the location we were in! It was straight out of the movies like Martian or Interstellar for me. The Pink skies, reflecting water, the beach all made it so overwhelming. I could see the surrounding color reflecting even in the faces of our trip mates!
We enjoyed our breakfast there, had some bear and left to the close by "Skuleskogens national park" nature reserve. Where we had to trek tremendous 16 kms! We started early in the day like 11am. Slowly covering the distance and enjoying the surrounding lush green vegetation and water spots. Now and then, we could see from some high hills down the Baltic sea and the largely grown forest. Those were astouing sights which made us buckle up for next few Kms. The end point was again out of the world. We were up on a highly located cliff, there were acres of green forest under us for some 2 kms and then the vast blue Baltic sea under the sunny blue sky.
Enjoying this scene, we left back to the car by the same trekking route. Only this time, it felt lot exhaustive and forever. After 1 and half an hour, we reached the car. Soon had a little bread and nutella which was in the car and some refreshing juice. And headed back to the camping spot. That day we had decided to have some chicken grilled by the beach and some Vodka with it!
This was the unforgettable moment of my entire life. The sky started turning pink again, the waters reflected it. I could see pink everywhere, even in the faces of my pals. Then there was a rainbow over this!! This couldn't get better, my words fall short to explain what is was like. I was already high enough, no need of drinking vodka!
We spent few hours there till it was 3 am again. We had another day coming up, so we had to rest properly and be prepared by the morning.
The day next, first we went to a tiny place called Mannaminne, the heritage town which preserved all the old man made art works and the evolution of technology. There were old carts, boats, all the antique cars, old ships, telephone communication system of the gone days. old computers, trains and trams, what not? There were small huts and homes built in different architectural styles of different cultures.
Seeing this was a different experience than that we had in this trip till this day. Since it was man made and not the nature. After we were done here, we headed back to nature again. A place called Börnhamn, where the ferries and cruises take us to the islands nearby. Drop us there for an hour or two, then pick us up back.
This is completely a different experience again from what we have done so far. The ride of a speed boat, with the rocky waves. The ride was very short till the island. Just 10 minutes. Remember it was a speed boat. Had we taken a ferry or some other boat, it could have been 20-30 min. There in the island was again a little trekking. We decided not to walk too much since we had walked a lot the day before. It was quite and calm. So quite that I could hear the ducks quaking from almost a Kilometer.
We had some bear there! yes we carried some!! And chilled at the coast hearing the waves hit the rocks of the island. The sun was shining and here and there I could see the reflection sparkling in the sea almost as if the surface of the water flashing like a metal or glass turned towards you in the sun!
After an hour there, the boat that left us there, came back to pick us up. We soon hopped in and left the place.
Upon reaching the land, we paid some 1000 Swedish Kr and left in our car to the same champing spot. We drunk some left whisky while having the dinner and talked till we could. All of a sudden, out of no where, a red fox appeared. Sniffing in the air around us, it might have got the sent of the chicken we had. We threw some bones left, it picked up and left. May be carried it to the children.
The day ended, as I couldn't leave the beach, so I spent some more time alone since it was our last day there. I couldn't believe our trip came to an end so soon. The next day, we packed up all our things, cleaned the place and checked out with a memorable picture with the owner of the place. The hearty women was nice to us all the way and wished us safe journey back.
With some unforgettable memories which we created there, we left back to our place.
Hope my story inspires you enough to take up the adventure.
Until next trip, bye bye.
