After yesterday’s chaotic and emotional launch, Day 2 kept the same tempo: slow, sweaty, and brutally beautiful.

I started from Jåsund, still buried deep in what I call the Southern Jungle — a thick, tangled mess of forest, thorn bushes, and uneven terrain that’s barely walkable, let alone runnable. Once again, the sun was out in full force. Well over 30°C, no shade, no wind. The kind of heat that cooks your brain and melts your motivation.

The trail (or lack of it) was as rough as ever. On both Day 1 and Day 2 combined, I only managed around 40 km, mostly because of social media editing, very late starts, and of course, the completely brutal terrain. Sometimes it took over 30 minutes just to move one kilometer. It’s a game of bushwhacking, steep climbs, and pushing through vegetation so thick it fights you back.

But this is part of the plan. I knew these first days would be slow and painful. I’m trying to not only move forward, but also find a better, cleaner, and more beautiful route for the future Norge på langs trail — something that avoids the boring gravel and embraces the wild. And that takes time.

Today’s highlight was definitely the Lyngdal bypass.

To keep the route 100% off asphalt, I had to go straight through the river system that cuts through the valley. Wading, splashing, and even swimming under bridges — it was the only way to stay true to the no-asphalt rule. And somehow, I managed to pull it off. Not a single meter of road. Just cold water and willpower.

By the time I reached Lyngdal, I was completely destroyed — sunburned, scratched, and soaked in sweat… but happy. Another wild, successful day.

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From Stina:

While Petr was out doing battle with bushes and rivers, I was focused on keeping us supported. I stayed in touch by checking InReach updates, tracked his progress, and waited in Lyngdal, where we had our first proper regroup of the day.

When we finally met, he looked exactly like someone who had just crawled through thorns and swum across rivers for hours in the heat. But he was still smiling — in that stubborn way only he does when he's completely fried.

After food, water, and a short rest, we called it a day.

Petr’s ankles were starting to complain, and it had already been a long day. We needed to recharge — because tomorrow, the terrain begins to change. We leave the bush behind and enter the mountain ridge system. Things are about to get higher, colder, and hopefully a little faster.

We're one step closer to the north. Slowly but surely.