Graveland Saga Day 13. Just Ride 🌲

I slept early last night and woke up naturally around 7 AM, feeling completely recharged. After packing up camp, brushing a couple of ticks off the tent, and washing up, I rolled out into another beautiful day.

The first thing I noticed after leaving the shade of yesterday's forest was the heat. The sun was already strong, and by the afternoon it reached around 25–26°C. But somehow, it never felt like a battle.

Today's ride gave me plenty of time to think.

A few times I caught myself wondering whether I should take another gravel detour. But then I looked around. Quiet roads. Almost no traffic. Endless forests. Rolling hills. Beautiful scenery.

And I realized something.

If I were riding through the very same forests on gravel instead of smooth asphalt, would the experience really be any better?

Maybe not.

I still love gravel roads, but I've learned to appreciate peaceful asphalt just as much. In the end, it's not really about the surface anymore. It's about where the road takes me and how it makes me feel.

Around 88 kilometers in, I reached Lake Mien. I had marked a picnic area on the map, but it meant riding another five kilometers. Instead, I simply turned onto an unmarked forest road with no signs, no bins, no indication that anyone was there.

It turned out to be exactly what I was looking for.

A beautiful dry forest with tall trees, the lake quietly washing against the shore, and enough shade to escape the afternoon heat. I went for a long swim in the cold water, washed my clothes, serviced the bike, had dinner, and wandered along a quiet red-marked hiking trail where I met only one man walking his dog.

By five in the afternoon, camp was already set.

Right now, life feels wonderfully simple.

Sleep. Eat. Pedal. Enjoy. Repeat.

And honestly... that's all I need now.

96 Training Load
-- from COROS