Sunday 1/9 – Saturday 7/9

Sunday 1/9

It should therefore come as no surprise that I did not arise until 10:45 the next day, at which time it was sunny and nice with some clouds camped around Abiskoalperna. After lunch I took the opportunity to visit Maj-Lis and Henry – and their sizeable Alaskan malamutes – at the museum, where I was given the full slideshow treatment. This museum covers both the history of the railroad to Narvik and the defensive postures during the German occupation of Norway during WWII, and contains both interesting texts and photos. After a short walk along the canyon I returned to talk with Maj-Lis at the fireplace outside, during which a light rain started, so I soon went home.

Li'l canine

Inside the museum

The rest of the day was largely uneventful, until I noticed that there was a nice evening light outside, so I quickly made my way down to the outlook rise to better watch it. It was a short-lived affair, however, so soon I was back inside having an evening snack together with a few others, and eventually entered bed around 23:30.

Monday 2/9

The morning was a very sunny one, but clouds quickly rolled in, and so I (re-)considered how and where to go for a walk. In the end I chose another round of the nearby canyon, bringing a bit to read, and then returned up through the common room on the bottom floor; I tried the piano there for a while, but its considerable out-of-tune-ness was actually painful.

Sunny morning

Clouds over there, as usual

The cableway disappearing into the clouds

Site of an old hydroelectric plant

So green

Under the bridge

I was feeling sluggish and so mostly remained in my room, reading and writing, and didn't go back out until the evening light reappeared. This time it was more intense, and from the Rise I continued along the path until I got a superb view of the lake and the Bálggesčohkka/Váivvánčohkka massif bathed in crimson light. I stood looking at it as long as it lasted, and then returned up with a loop upon smaller paths.

This wasn't the end of the day, however, for there was an obligatory deep-cleaning session in the restaurant still to occur. This I participated in as best I could for the first hour, and then excused myself since I had the morning shift the next day and needed the sleep, going straight to bed.

Tuesday 3/9

Unfortunately I slep fitfully, and arose in a tired state at 06:00. Paula was my morning companion, and we worked well in the time allotted. Breakfast proceeded similarly well except for some trouble with the juice dispenser, which I managed to sort eventually, and the lunch was also straightforward. Outside the clouds amassed, descended, and finally gave some rain.

I rested and slumbered through the afternoon, noting the early signs of a flu setting in, and then had dinner together with Anna, Magnus and Linn. The was a weak bout of evening light, and while the clouds lifted the usual mist hung off to the northwest. Feeling tired, I went to bed already around 21:30.

Wednesday 4/9

I was still tired when I got up, and the feeling of sickness had not subsided, but I could manage. I had the split shift, and was pleased to note that it was a calm breakfast. There I met Tina and Anders with whom I had walked out to (and beyond) Kebnekaise the summer before; they had now come down from Tjäktja, and I finally made the connection where I had seen that big dog that was tied outside before.

On the (long) midday break I rested in my room, feeling rather down, while the weather improved outside, and I was somewhat refreshed in the afternoon. A meeting with all the restaurant staff took longer than expected, and I had to hurry in order to fit in both shower and dinner before the evening session commenced. My tasks were easy enough, but it did not take too long before my physical state made itself known again, and fortunately I could leave when I was supposed to.

Thursday 5/9

Thankfully I had a good night's sleep, and arose around 9. I was still far from fine, however, with the chest taking most of the beating at the moment. As it was a nice day outside and I wasn't to start until later, however, I decided to go out just the same.

It was warmer than expected, which together with my compromised respiratory facilities very soon forced a slow tempo on me. I went through the farther passage under the road/railroad and then took the first path to the right at the start of the Kårsavagge trail, which quickly brought me up to the little cabin known as Nuoljalid.

Passing Ábeskoeatnu

Nuoljalid

This belonged to the painter Karl Tirén, with a grand view over Abiskoalperna and the vale of Ábeskoeatnu, and now bears a cultural heritage mark. Right at the moment, however, it appeared to be inhabited by someone judging from things visible outside and through the windows, so I did not enter even though there appeared to be no people present. There was a small fountain outside, evidently driven by water pressure, and a short distance along the continuation of the path up through the nice, sparse forest I found the family burial site that Tirén managed to get permission for, this being inside a national park.

Nice view

This too

And of course this

Family tomb

After that I took another path from the cabin that led up to a tiny dam that served as the source for the fountain through a long pipe, but I wouldn't have wanted to take a sip from it. I sat down for a while back at Nuoljalid and admired the view, which was now clearly showing signs of autumn, and then walked back the usual route.

Ballinvággi

A sturdy lunch improved upon my condition, but as soon as work started the chest pressure returned and I did not feel well at all. Still, the evening progressed well, even though we had quite a bit to do with several large groups and a Danish school class. The larger companies were a bit late, however, and I needed to stay a while after my nominal end time in order to give the others a chance to take over properly, but I really needed to go to bed as I once again had the early shift on the morrow. I still found the time to participate in a fun game people were playing up in the personnel quarters, but when they switched to another I excused myself and went to bed around 21:30.

Friday 6/9

This night was considerably worse, and I got little in the way of quality sleep, despite the fact that I was very tired. Still, I handled the morning shift well, even though it was pretty crowded and we had our hands full, but lunch was calm. I actually felt fairly fine, but my core temperature was uncomfortably high.

Speaking of warmth, it was very pleasant outside, so after I got off I sat together with several others from the staff, until it was time for a station-wide meeting which was located on the other side of the wall. Later there was a movie afoot, and I joined up with a few others to watch it before gulping down dinner. After that I considered if, where and how to go for a longer tour on my upcoming multi-day leave, and made preparations accordingly before going to bed at 22:00.

Saturday 7/9

I slept well, but still managed to register the fact that it was a windy night, evidence of which could be seen outside. It was half clear with low clouds across Torneträsk, and there was a quick rainbow-yielding shower, but things improved throughout the morning. Breakfast was fairly well-visited, but no worries, and lunch put up no problems either.

After leaving I double-checked the weather forecast, which was still very favorable, as well as the transportational options, and proceeded to prepare a food pack and finalizing the rest of my gear. After a quick dinner I then placed a note on my door, bade Anna and Linn who happened to be in the corridor farewell, and went out to the bus stop in nice weather after 16.

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