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J230 - Thursday, June 3: Border Norway/Finland – 5km before Sonkamuotka

74.13km  –10H34’
Altitude : 285m

The weather is gray but there is no wind on Route 93, which is leading us to Enontekio, where we will be able to do some shopping and get fuel for the vehicles, because we will only reach the small town of Munio tomorrow, 77 km from there.
At km 30, we cross Philippe, on a recumbent bicycle, pulling a small trailer.  We say “hello,” he replies “bonjour”.  He comes from the town of Saint Loup in the Tarn and Garonne Department, which he left two months ago, to the day.  He is heading for the North Cape, before starting back down and taking the ferry to Denmark and then returning to France on his bike.  He is pulling about 60 km and is equipped with a solar panel.  We ask him a few questions about the roads in Sweden and his itinerary in that country, because there are many possibilities.  He has been in Finland for 2 days and will reach Norway this evening or tomorrow.  He had beautifully, sunny weather yesterday and the day before but today as we were leaving him a few drops of rain fell and that was the beginning of a cool rain until the end of the stage, which doesn’t bother Serge too much, since he is just happy not to have wind.
For the past few days, Serge alternates running and walking.  He is testing alternate timing every 100 meters or more.  When he walks he forces himself to swing his arms forward and back, not from left to right like he normally does, because it keeps his back straight, not “twisted”.  Serge does not like walking, besides, he walks slowly and it’s an effort.  He has often told me that he tires less when he runs 6 km per hour than when he walks at the same pace.  According to him, he burns more energy walking than running at the same speed.   I think that the fact of walking is psychologically trying for Serge and it saps his morale.  However, at times, to break the monotony, it amuses Serge to make tests and it is quite clear that in general the average is better when he alternates running and walking.  Yesterday, Serge kept his mind busy by complaining about the wind and about himself.  Today he is keeping his mind occupied by changing rhythm, like a metronome going from largo to allegro.
Eliane and René have talked about grilling steaks on a wood fire but it won’t be tonight because of the bad weather.

Town : 5km avant Sonkamuotka

GPS : N 68.11’79.2° E 023.12’35.3°