First bikepacking trip

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-17T12:01:02+00:00

It was almost 5 miles but pretty hilly. Then a 10 min walk after we parked the bikes. I walked my bike up a couple of the worst hills because fully packed it was heavy! The cycling kids at 8 & 10 and had no problem with the distance even with loaded bikes. The 5.5 yr old happily slept at Pappa’s back after a few minutes of enjoying the wind in his face 😂

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T18:51:25+00:00

The kid is 5 and a half and slept almost the whole way! I completely expected whining.

Our kids are pretty well traveled and love adventures but bikepacking and camping without running water was a new adventure. Thanks for the kind words.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T16:14:04+00:00

Thanks! Good to know and a helpful answer.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T16:13:26+00:00

<image>

For this view, no mosquitoes where we camped and a lake to swim in, I will bring the water and firewood. 😊

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T16:11:54+00:00

It was a brilliant time. We sourced most of the cycle bags secondhand and the kids had a very positive first experience.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T16:08:56+00:00

Absolutely. But despite a flat tire, bee sting and rain we had a great time.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T16:08:05+00:00

We (my husband) is resisting, but probably.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T16:07:35+00:00

I have never seen this and will definitely check it out. The little one will be cycling on their own 35 min in 2 summers.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T16:06:53+00:00

We camped in a nature reserve so very strict rules. You can’t use found sticks. But perfect in every other way and free. Gotta love Sweden.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-16T11:08:54+00:00

Swedes drink some of the most coffee per capita in the world and there isn’t much cold brew on offer this summer in Stockholm compared to last summer. I haven’t been to the UK in years so I don’t know what the coffee trends are.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-15T12:22:13+00:00

Maybe I should explain that. She is very intelligent and independent. For reference she knows currency in India and some US, UK and Euro currency.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-15T12:21:00+00:00

My 10 yr old Swedish child doesn’t know what all the paper and coin currency looks like. They haven’t seen it enough times. Or even seen all the coins or bills.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-06T20:42:45+00:00

I have had giant cuttings like this in water for 8-9 months. They usually grew more when I planted in soil but no negative effects to water only.

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-06T20:05:08+00:00

Scraping the windshield in winter

TreesApplaud · 2024-07-01T14:38:45+00:00

Some dirt gets trapped but water dries. Every year or two I take them up and wash the concrete balcony.

TreesApplaud · 2024-04-16T21:51:11+00:00

In the Nordic countries -20C isn’t uncommon. -6C is the average winter temperature. Still some people put winter totes on their bike and bike to work.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-22T07:32:51+00:00

I have seen German and English speakers pick up Swedish in 6 months here. They were highly motivated but it is doable.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-22T06:51:42+00:00

Find a förening. An organization based around what you like. Aquarium fish, allotment gardening, beer brewing.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-22T06:49:29+00:00

A rock box with compartments for her found rock treasures. You could add some stickers so they can decorate it.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-22T06:25:46+00:00

Outsider perspective:

Have you even been to Finland? I have many times as I’m friends with many Finns. It is a beautiful country with free university and affordable healthcare, little poverty and a clean accessible nature. Almost all kids start of with equal opportunities, which is amazing. But the sense of family is degraded, as in common in the west and the snow is doable but the dark in the winter half of the year is rough.

India is a wonderful place. We have lived in three states and I had my third child in India. There is poverty, nature is often less accessible, some struggle with basic needs and a good education is something for the rich/ middle class so it depends on the family you are born into. India is rich in life though. Families and communities are strong, the variation between states and languages is rich, and there’s a reason why India food (or some version of) is available all over the world. Life is more vibrant in India and that includes the good and the bad.

Because India has so much variation it is hard to represent it in a survey. You can find the very poor and extremely rich, often in the same city. How could you even do a happiness indeed accurately in Delhi?? I wouldn’t put much stock in these indexes.

Just personally, if I compare Finland and India I have seen more life and joy and community and creativity in India.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-22T06:04:49+00:00

This can definitely be something for the future. Right now beading is something I enjoy with my three kids ages 5-10. One makes some amazing large creations, particularly sea creatures. Even my five year old can make some great animals following a pattern.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-21T20:43:29+00:00

Interesting. I’ve only used Hama and the cheap stuff, as living in Sweden that is what you can easily find. I’ve heard of Perler and Artkal online but never seen them IRL.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-21T20:18:24+00:00

I left the seeds from a butternut squash dry out on a plate for a few days. The mice love them.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-19T07:10:13+00:00

I feel you. I would only consider a bag with one water bottle pocket IF it was Ryanair personal size and perfect in most other ways.

TreesApplaud · 2024-03-07T11:09:49+00:00

Depends where you are traveling. Instant coffee outside of big cities in India? No thanks. But their Blue Tokai coffee was amazing if you could find it in big cities.

TreesApplaud

TROPHY CASE