The long way home - Day 3 and 4: Hunting spare parts

Day 11: A Short Day and Some Troubles

Day 11 turned out to be the shortest day of my entire trip—just 155 kilometers. After the long stretches I’d been riding, it felt almost like a break, though the day was not without its challenges. I started out in Arvidsjaur, still feeling the fatigue from the previous days. The morning air was cool, the sky overcast, and the roads were quiet, offering a nice change of pace.

As I set off, I couldn’t help but notice that my rear sprocket was starting to wear out, in addition to the issues with the front sprocket that had been troubling me. The bike wasn’t making any catastrophic noises yet, but I knew I was on borrowed time. I decided to take it easy, focusing on making it to Storuman, where I could regroup and maybe find a solution.

The most exciting part of the day was when I encountered a herd of reindeer casually blocking the road. They weren’t in any rush, just taking their time running along the road. There where a couple of cars trying to get by, but without luck, so I took it upon me to drive the hurd of reindeer to the side of the road. Even though I have seen reindeer thousands of time, since I grew up in the north, it is always a special moment to see them in the wild. Even though the are the clowns of the forest.

The more I rode, the more concerned I became about my chain and sprockets. I started making calls and checking online forums, hoping to find a shop or someone nearby who could help me out with parts. Unfortunately, nothing seemed certain, and the last thing I wanted was to get stranded in the middle of nowhere with a broken bike.

By this point, my original travel plan was well out the window. The unexpected mechanical issues had forced me to adapt on the fly, and rather than risking further breakdowns, I decided to head to Storuman, where my mom lives. Spending the night there would give me a chance to rest and figure out my next move. I pulled into her place late in the afternoon, relieved to have made it without any major incidents. We spent the evening chatting and catching up, which was a nice.

Day 12: Getting Back on Track

Day 12 began with a mission: get my bike back in working order. I left my mom’s place in Storuman and headed straight for Umeå, where I hoped to find the parts I needed. The ride was uneventful, but I was on edge the entire time, listening to every creak and rattle from the bike, worried that something might give out before I reached my destination.

When I arrived in Umeå, I immediately started hunting for a motorcycle shop that could help. After a bit of searching, I found a place that had a chain and sprocket kit in stock. It wasn’t the exact match I’d been hoping for, but it was close enough to get me back on the road. The mechanics at the shop were quick to help out, and before long, they had the new parts installed. I could feel the difference right away—the bike was running smoother, and the chain wasn’t making any of the ominous noises it had been before.

With the bike sorted out, I decided to keep moving and made my way to Bygdeå, where my dad lives. It wasn’t a long ride from Umeå, but it felt good to put some more kilometers behind me. We spent the evening catching up, and I told him all about the ups and downs of the trip so far. Being with family again after so many days on the road was a reminder of why I’d set out on this journey in the first place—to experience the freedom of the open road, but also to reconnect with the people and places that matter most to me.