With spring arriving, it’s finally time to really start exploring our new neighborhood. And it really hasn’t disappointed me this far.
We moved in as snow still covered the ground in February. I had to wait a few weeks for it to be viable to bring the ExoQuad here. But when I finally did, this really started to feel like a new beginning. And I started exploring the trails and dirt roads that surrounds us.
Our new house is at around 275 m above sea level. Or at least that’s what may phone is telling me. Meaning that snow covered the forest trails for the first 6-7 weeks after we moved in. And during that period I kept waiting for this one trail to get just a bit more rideable. I would ride the dirt road to the entrance of the trail several times a week just to check it out, and a few days ago I deemed it bare enough to try it out.
Now before anyone asks; yes the ExoQuad can ride on snow. But it doesn’t feel safe to ride alone in rotten snow on top of what I know to be deep mud at best. But enough about the ExoQuads capabilities, let’s get back to the exploring of the new neighborhood.
The trail has a sign by the entry stating that it will take you to “Gåsbuvegen”, a road that will take you all the way to Hedmarksvidda. Hedmarksvidda is not dramatic, alpine or with impressive landscape traits in any way to be honest. But it’s quite vast, and offers so many opportunities for daily adventures big and small. The forests seem kind of endless, there’s a lot of wildlife and having that area accessible right from my own doorstep makes me excited to say the least.
I followed the trail not knowing what to expect, except for mud. You see our new neighborhood has a lot of horses and stables. And a lot of eager trail riders. And horses are heavy animals, so trails can get a bit muddy where they roam.
After a few gnarly spots where I almost got stuck in the soup of mud and rotten snow, I arrived at this open area of the forest. Now I’m not easily impressed by views, and this particular view was nothing to write home about compared to others I have witnessed. However it felt amazing nonetheless, because this view is accessible from my house. It’s the view of my new neighborhood. And I couldn’t help but smile. Imagine having access to nature in this way again. I instantly felt very rich and grateful.
Shortly after I had to turn around as I hit another mud and rotten snow soup that I didn’t want to get stuck in. Knowing that it will dry up in just a few weeks time. And that I can return whenever I want to complete the trail. Because this is my new backyard, my new neighborhood.
All the best,
Tonje
