It was always a dream of mine to head to Scandinavia to hike, camp, be in this magnificent nature and embrace a long distance trip again. While I was planning and going over some of the logistics, I realised more and more that in my current financial situation I would not be able to go such a long distance while carrying all my gear, get the necessary food and support Sierra the way she deserves. The idea of heading to Norway seemed far-fetched when I was going over the ferry prices back or contemplating what to do in an emergency. No matter what I was thinking of, it would all cost money to be on the go for a few months. I also just got a job I could work from home and that started paying enough to live without worrying every day. I did not want to quit it for extra time off, but also knew I could not take months off at a time. The limit for a holiday is just about 30 days a year.
For a good while, I thought my dream of heading over to Norway or Sweden was not going to work for the next few weeks. But then I stumbled upon an account on Instagram of a guy who went bikepacking with his dog. He occasionally used an open trailer and other times he had a crate attached to the back where his dog would jump in and out from.
Slowly, the idea crept into my head of heading to Scandinavia for a few weeks on a bike with Sierra.
I started looking into all different kinds of ways to take Sierra with me. A crate in the back was no option, as this seemed too advanced. An open trailer in the back seemed like the most stable option, but I was worried about the lack of protection from not only the elements but also other cars. Sierra does not like people and animals getting too close, she is also quite reactive, so I really wanted her to have a safe space and a place where she is protected.
We started with an old second hand trailer, but quickly realised that this would not be the one to take with us. We eventually decided to use a Croozer Trailer. I did save a lot for this over a long period of time, and also asked if they had a discount for me to support our travels. They kindly agreed and helped us save some money on that front. I was really appreciative because of all the benefits this trailer has (we will get into our gear at a later point). What we also love it that it has a cabrio option. Sierra is safe and secure and yet can look out the front and the top.
Now what we need to do is train and go on a lot of practise rides. I want Sierra to be as comfortable as possible in the trailer and around the bike. It is way less of a nightmare for me knowing that she is used to it and maybe even one day feel secure enough to really find some rest in it. Currently, she is still a bit stressed. But I am doing everything I can to help her.
Follow along as we prepare for an adventure of a lifetime.
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