Jättendal - Själevad

We start the day with a hearty breakfast. Unfortunately the weather isn’t so good today, so we begin editing photos indoors. A short while later we get a message saying we can check in at the next accommodation early. We set off right away, because we have no Wi-Fi in our little house Krusa on Älvstagatan near Jättendal, and the next Airbnb looks super modern.

For the first few kilometres we drive on electric power, since we were able to charge the car overnight from the outdoor socket. At the next opportunity we fill up with petrol for the first time since we picked up the Peugeot at Arlanda Airport two days ago. That way we can start the day with a full tank and a full battery. After an hour and a half of driving in pouring rain we arrive at the next Airbnb in Själevad. On the way we pass some epic spots where we are almost forced to stop for a quick photo.

Nicolas drives most of the time, and Annina takes over towards the end of the route and drives the rest. From Jättendal in Hälsingland the road heads north through Medelpad to Ångermanland, where Själevad lies. The coast of this province includes the Höga Kusten, the High Coast. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2000 because of its land uplift after the last ice age, which was rapid and large in geological terms. Since the area became free of ice around 10,500 years ago, the land has risen by 286 metres relative to sea level, and it is still rising by 8 to 8.5 millimetres a year.

Själevad belongs to the municipality of Örnsköldsvik and lies around six kilometres west of the town centre. The parish of Själevad consists of settlements on the shores and in the valleys around the bays and lakes of the lower Moälven river, now partly densely built up and surrounded by forest. The church in Själevad, an octagonal building, was consecrated in 1880 and replaced a medieval church that stood right next to it. From the church you can look out over Själevadsfjärden and the Moälven valley.

When we pull up in front of the accommodation, we are not sure we are in the right place. From the outside it looks more like a workshop or something of the sort.

When we enter after typing the code into the electronic door lock, we find that it is huge and totally modern inside. We feel right at home from the start. The best thing is the electric sauna, which is built right into the flat and can be operated via touchscreen.

First of all we preheat the sauna and start a first load of laundry. By the time we have unpacked our luggage, the sauna is ready to use. After the sauna we edit our photos in a relaxed mood and cook dinner.

We have rice with Thai curry sauce and vegetarian kyckling (= chicken). While we eat, we watch an episode of Big Bang Theory. In the evening we edit photos again until late into the night. We start the next morning with another sauna before we drive on to Lillarmsjö.