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  1. #11
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    Hundested (Denmark) to Rydaholm/Furen (Sweden)

    08:00hrs this morning, and we set off from Lynӕs Havn to catch the ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg, but first we had to manoeuvre around the chicanes in the Yacht Haven village and then drive the 35 miles to Helsingor……



    As we come down to the harbour in Helsingør we see the control building for the sea and port area……



    Then up to the check in point to get the OK to continue as there is now no boarding ticket issued, but you do have a security check and passport control after checking in and before you board the ferry……



    Next we once again get into the correct lane as the ferry unloads the vehicles after just arriving from Helsingborg……



    Then a few minutes later as the light turns green from red at the side of our lane off we go to get onboard.....



    As we then set off and leave Denmark behind……



    Kronborg Castle which we keep missing to go and have a visit and see what it’s like up close!......



    Another ferry line going back and forth across the stretch of water…..



    15 minutes later and the harbour entrance is in our sights, time to head back to the car deck!......



    As we disembark we follow the road around for a Security Check as we enter Sweden while the officer we spoke to was also interested in the UK Registration Plate on ‘Flamenco Red’ as she had never seen a UK Number Plate before!......



    Past the City sign and this time we did not go through the city centre but around and onto the main Helsingborg – Stockholm E4 road.…..





    Then as we didn’t have any Swedish Currency as the exchange rate offered on the ferry from the ATM was terrible we took a short trip to a Swedish Bank and their ATM down these roads into the ‘Kommune’…..





    That’s me as I managed to use the ‘Plastic’ as the Crowbar kept bending as I stuck it in the slot! OMG!!!……



    As we made our way back to the E4 we see this very LARGE American car with its own Gas Station!! Mind you with the size of the thing I guess it doesn’t get very far before it needs a refill?......



    The ‘Grounded’ Ex Flying Restaurant! Does an excellent ‘Flying Bacon Sandwich’! Oink Oink.....



    Strange ‘Road Sign’ as a Territory Marker!…..



    Now this ‘Model’ is quite possibly the only one we will see on this trip. It’s a Moose (In wood)……



    Nice clear roads as there is not a lot of traffic up here......



    OMG!!! Then we saw that ‘white stuff’ lying along the side on the grass!……



    As it got thicker……



    Just after all was back to ‘normal’ as we spotted this nice little house…...



    As we came off the E4 and onto a side road that took us to a new place for us to spend the night……





    Keep going we have around 11 miles of ‘Country Roads’ to navigate before we get there!......







    Nearly there now!......



    As we turn left into Stellplatz Skeda Strand that is by the side of a lake.
    Facilities include Electric Hook Up (EHU), Water, Toilet and WiFi, BUT: No Showers or Chemical Toilet Dump, but they do have a place to drop your ‘grey’ water (Kitchen water)……



    While if you want you can go down to a couple of places near the side of the lake, but there is no EHU down there…..





    As we walked there a little later we could see we were being watched!......





    Hopefully a nice peaceful night before we head off tomorrow on the next stage……

  2. #12
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    Rydaholm/Furen to Askersund

    Off we went from Skeda Strand for the 155mile trip to Askersund initially along the roads alongside the lake and through the forest……



    With some nice houses as we went and before we got back on the E4 main route……





    As we went along the E4 we saw these piles of tree logs and branches that have been taken out of the forest but not sure why they have the cover over the top unless it is to stop any snow from making the wood really wet as it collects and then melts……



    Not sure if these are special ‘mushrooms’.....



    As we then come to the outskirts of Jönköping……



    We take the ring road around the city and pass this very large building on our left which is the Energy Centre……



    As we then came off the ring road to go into a branch of Lidl which is near that church in the next picture to get some groceries but the parking was rather full, with no space that we could pull into so we turned around and got back on the ring road!......



    Passing this rather large wooden ‘person’ at the side of the E4!......



    As the E4 goes north alongside a very large lake that stretches from Jönköping right up to Askersund……



    With this ruined castle on the lakeside.…..



    As we made a short stop for a comfort break and a coffee we see what looks like a LARGE ‘Potato’ in the centre of the traffic island!......



    Then passing through another small village as we came onto the road number 50 we see this object at the side of the road with a model of a person trying to push it along!……



    WOW! This looks nice……



    Then it’s a bit more nice open clear road……





    Then in the distance is the town of Askersund.....



    As we pull into Askersund City Camp we get the last pitch available as we did not realise that this weekend is a holiday in Sweden!…..



    After we got set up and went and got the groceries we saw around 20 other campers roll up to be disappointed as the site was full!

    Facilities here include in the price: HOT Showers, EHU, Wi-Fi, Kitchen with full cooking facilities.
    The showers have heated floors and piped Internet Country & Western Music which makes Line Dancing in the shower something new!.....

    Tomorrow we are off to ‘explore the town’…….

  3. #13
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    I don't know if line dancing in the showers is the disturbing part or the country and western music making it something new is the disturbing part.

  4. #14
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    Quote Originally Posted by ssicarman View Post
    I don't know if line dancing in the showers is the disturbing part or the country and western music making it something new is the disturbing part.
    I wasn't 'disturbed' at all in fact I was enjoying the new experience!!

  5. #15
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    A day in Askersund

    To go ‘exploring’ you really need a map and this was ours as the town is not that large ……



    While down at the water’s edge this was the view looking towards the town……



    Then looking down the lake from the City Centre Campsite……



    After turning around on the pontoon this was the view looking back into the campsite with the church that was built in 1600 up on the little hill behind the campsite……



    We then made our way into the church grounds and saw that the main roof and spire had wooden tiles on the roof, while the semi-circular rear section of the church had a copper clad roof.....





    The old Rikstelephone Kiosk by the water now has another use……



    It’s an extension of the Library with a few free books that you can swap or help yourself to something to read!......



    The main road over the water into the town centre!......



    As we go across the bridge and take in the view ‘upriver’……



    Then looking from the lake side of the river across to the campsite…...



    As we then turn right and head down the quayside on the opposite side to the campsite!......



    We come to this metal statue of a small boat trapped in a very rough section of water! The plaque that was attached to the base was only in Swedish and the Tourist Information Office could not provide any information on it which was a shame!……



    Quayside residences……



    Again we find this very large rock mounted on a concrete base which we can make out from the plaque on the base has come from a Mine that is around 20km away. Not being able to translate any further we ask again at the Tourist Information Office (TIO) and they cannot explain anything about it!
    At this point we asked the ‘TIO’ to consider adding to their City Information booklet some details of these items and their history as they are clearly part of the history of the town……



    Nice house with a very nice view from the ‘Tower’ on its corner……



    A very old house in the town possibly the oldest with the grass roof.....



    Spring is coming albeit a bit late up here this year!…..



    Askersund Bus Station!.....



    The town used to have a railway running through it and was ‘connected’ by train to these other stations……



    This is the old railway station……



    That has now been converted into an 80’s style Café, and inside it looks superb!…….



    Complete with a ‘Juke Box’!......



    While on the ‘Menu’ is ‘Pitty Panna’ which in Sweden is like ‘Fish & Chips’ in the UK and this was delicious!.....



    Next was a visit to the brand new ‘Bibliotek’ that is also the new home of the ‘TIO’ where we spoke to the lady about the lack of information and asked her to submit it as a suggestion which she agreed to…….



    While in front of the Bibliotek is this large block of stone with a hole in the middle and if you are in the right position the small statue of the ‘Swimmer’ fits in nicely!......



    Then heading back towards the town centre……



    Past the water tower which was up on a small hill……



    Then past the school which had the year 1905 over the entrance door, while the Mobile Communications Masts were added to the roof a few years later!......



    Another church but this one had clay tiles on the roof……



    One of the houses in the older part of the town……



    While outside the Kommune building is this rather interesting piece of metalwork……



    The one ‘Factory’ in the town that used to produce soft drinks but is now a Galvanising Plant……



    The town square……



    With its fountain up at the top, and the water was running!......



    While not far away as the town is growing, then new houses are being built very close to the lakeside……



    Today started off quite cold but has warmed up although a cold wind has introduced a ‘chill factor’ while tomorrow is supposed to be better, and we have been advised of an ‘Event’ tomorrow evening that we will make our way over to have a look, but more of that tomorrow!......

  6. #16
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    Askersund the ‘Gathering’

    Today, specifically this evening saw a ‘gathering’ of some old and not so old cars along with some very old and not so old motorcycles……

    As this ‘Modified’ car came down the street…….



    We then looked twice as it went passed and remembered ‘The Flintstones’!……



    While this ‘Biker’ likes to collect Moose, of the cuddly type!......



    Then we spotted ‘Daddy’ even though we told him not to bother coming in his ‘Supercharged Roller’!……



    As the very colourful motorcycles started to arrive.....



    Then this Bike and Sidecar arrived!……



    It is Russian and came from the Ural Mountains, but clearly needs a bit more restoration work……



    While a little further along was another Russian, exactly the same as the other one in its original colours, but the owner told us that after each trip he has to carry out ‘maintenance’ otherwise it will not run next time!......



    Interestingly on both the Russian machines that ‘lever’ in the centre of the next picture allows you to engage a gear that allows you to Reverse!......



    ‘Bandaged’ exhaust pipes to stop you burning your clothes and skin!……



    One of the American ‘cruising’ cars.…..



    6 YEARS old and looked like new!......



    3 Years old and now costs 500,000SEK (£43,505)!……



    They look nice all lined up!……



    Then there was the other row……



    Another ‘street cruiser’……



    A Triumph Rocket III motorcycle……



    This is where it was made!…..



    The front view, a ‘Mean Machine’ but then I’m biased (Sorry!)……



    Now this ‘street cruiser’ was something else!......





    So if you can’t keep your balance on 2 wheels you get 3, simple really!......



    As the ‘Gathering’ grew, the spaces filled up……





    Then we spotted possibly the oldest motorcycle at the event! Made in 1938 in Belgium and called ‘Salolea’ it was bought by the present owners father and has been totally reliable in its 79 years of being on the road!......





    With a couple of final pictures of ‘The Gathering’……





    Back on the road tomorrow heading further North while up there the cold weather is still hanging around……

  7. #17
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    Askersund to Vikarby

    Back on the road for the 180 mile trip to Vikarby and the ‘Batt Club Campsite’……

    As we get back on the road number 50 we very soon run into the roadworks as they are widening the road due to the build up of Truck useage……



    Very handy to have the rocks alongside the road that is being widened so you can extract and crush them to make the ‘metalling’ for the new road base!……





    We thought for a minute that the boat coming towards us had taken a wrong turn as all we could see was the upper deck as it came up the hill towards us!……



    OK, so who shut the gate behind us?.....









    Oops! Somebody lost control of their 4 wheels, presumably when the snow and ice were down, but as the vehicle has been ‘taped up’ then the Swedish Polis are aware that it is there......



    A slim water wheel!……





    Can’t miss the sign for this railway museum!......



    A monument (In Wood) to the Miners and Quarrymen as this area had a number of Iron Ore and Silver Mines in!……



    Just coming into……





    With the Dalarna Horse on the central reservation as we pass through the town centre……





    We think this was an iron sculpture of a snake!…..



    Quick stop for a coffee in a small café at the side of a Rastplats…..



    While the inside of the café was adorned with very colourful prints all of which were for sale!......









    Large shopping mall a bit further up the road……



    While a strange metal sculpture was in the centre of this traffic island……



    As we then carried on and came to the town of Falun, which has a very large Coppermine in the centre that we visited on our last trip up here……



    The Falun Gruva Ram……



    The mounds of earth are what has come out of the coppermine……



    As we head initially towards the town centre……



    But then head off onto a different road and make our way to……



    With the town on our right, the railway and lake on our left……



    While shortly after we arrived at Vikarby Batt Club Campsite……



    With some very nice scenery around……



    As a local ‘Hot Rod’ also came for a look around!......



    Then on the site a bit lower down we see this concrete marker that shows the height of the water in the lake in certain years……

    The top marker is 1860 while the lake has dropped in the depth and the last recording was 1985.
    Clearly the lake is now much lower than the 1985 level and seems to be drying up!......



    Little building at the end of the jetty, but as it was behind a locked gate we could not tell if it was another Sauna……



    But it looked more like a place to get changed into your swimsuit!......



    In the evening or during the day you could sit inside this shelter with a nice fire lit in the concrete ‘grate’ in front and if you caught any you could grill your fish!......



    The view from the window of the ‘TinTent’……



    Then as the lake became very calm we got this rather nice reflection of the shoreline on the water……



    Off for a look around Rättvik tomorrow and to get my glasses repaired!......

  8. #18
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    A day around Rättvik

    Speaking with one of the people on the campsite here in Vikarby he told us of a place to visit which is a waterfall that via a trail in the forest you can walk around going to the top and then down to the bottom. So as it is not far from the town of Rättvik which is close to the campsite so as we wanted to have a trip there for some groceries we combined both as well as finding the opticians to get my glasses repaired!......

    The opticians didn’t open till 10:00 in the town so we carried on to the parking area for the waterfall, complete with some left over snow and ice which is slowly melting!…..



    The information plaque was next to have a read as there was a small section that was in English while the waterfall is called Styggforsen……



    Being this early in the season the Reception & Information building was not open but we did find on the way back that they had toilet facilities at the side of the building with everything you needed while the room was also HEATED! It was also able to accommodate physically challenged people!



    Then it was time to get on the trail to the waterfall!……



    As we pass this small pond which was still partly frozen over but reflecting the trees in the unfrozen part!......



    One of the ‘outlets’ for the pond with a large lump of ice under the water chute……



    The river that feeds the waterfall looking upstream through the forest……



    Then as we move along the safety fence we see the top of the waterfall……





    While on the other side of the waterfall are the steps going down to the bottom……



    So off we go down……



    But a bit of care was needed as there was still ice and snow on some of the steps!......



    Following the trail, the river and the safety barrier we could see a rock face up ahead while a lot of trees had fallen down from the winter so the view was not that good……



    While looking back at what we hoped were good viewing spots to the waterfall, they were rather obscured……



    Then finishing the ‘steps’ with the ice in front it was both hands on the safety barrier and propel yourself along on the ice!.....



    Get past that then with both feet firmly on the ground we could take a look back upstream……



    Bit further along and we find a small map showing the terrain & rock formations in the area, while the Red DOT is ‘where you are now’……



    I managed to work out 2 of the types of rock: Granite and Sandstone!......



    While the next picture is of that rock face we saw as we came down the river and is related to the number 3 on the previous picture!.....



    As we then start to make our way back up towards the car park we spot this small hut in the forest!......



    A bit closer and we see the word SKVALTKVARN over the door which was held closed with a hook……



    Open the door to have a look inside as we thought it was a hut for sheltering in, and found a pair of grinding wheels with a feed hopper on top!……..



    While you can just see a couple of the ‘vanes’ on the drive shaft that turns those grinding wheels up above as it is a small milling house……



    As we came out and moved to the right, we could then see the water chute that provided the power to turn the vanes and run the mill! The water was provided from the small pond but the sluice gate allowing the water to flow down was closed……



    Back past the small pond with the nice mirror reflection……



    As we then see a few possible ‘Christmas Trees’ for this December!……



    Time to head back into Rättvik, where the first stop was the optician who very kindly repaired my glasses so I can see even better when writing this travel blog, however the next place came unstuck as it didn’t open till 12:00 and that was the Tourist Office, which is this building by the railway station!……



    While on the opposite side of the road is the Town Hall with a Dalarna Horse (in Grey) outside……



    So off we went for a walk around the town with the following pictures……





    3 Fiddle Players and 3 Lady Dancers, but interestingly they do not look Swedish!……





    Town Centre Main Street……





    Then we see this ‘Longboat'……







    I hope you can read the text in the next picture as the story is quite interesting……



    Back on the road tomorrow to a place called Harkmon, just hope this nice weather continues……

  9. #19
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    Vikarby to Lits

    Well before we can get off the campsite at Vikarby Batt Club we have to cross the railway line which runs behind the campsite!……

    So it was a short wait while the ‘Log Train’ albeit empty, went through and we were back on the road to Lits……





    New road surface on the right hand side, so we had to stay left which was back on the right side for us, but it didn’t last!.....



    As we got to the front of the line we found that this was the vehicle that had escorted the line of traffic through the roadworks!……







    A ‘Log Lorry’ as opposed to the Train……



    Then as we climb higher we see fields of……



    And lakes that are still FROZEN over!......



    While the road is nice and clear again!……



    Rest area but all closed up, so no chance of a coffee and a break!......



    Some of these logs were possibly used to fill that lorry!......



    While we see another frozen lake, and on this one we can see the Ski Doo lines!……









    Strange sculpture for a town marker……









    More open road, which is so much nicer than the congestion of the UK!......



    Well we had to find one as we rolled along…..A ‘Half Frozen Lake’!......



















    Well the highest ‘Mountains’ in Sweden still have quite a lot of Snow on them!……



    A ‘Teardrop’ ‘TinTent’!……



    As we then roll into……



    Not sure what they call these as we roll into the town and search for a Garage after running very low on fuel as garages are few and far between unless you are in a town!......



    Out of Östersund and the last few miles to Lits Camping & Stugby!......



    As we get onto the campsite and get set up, as we are the only ones here, except for the staff at the campsite!……



    Anyone fancy a TiPi with a night time temperature of around -5C? Blankets and Thermal 'Undies' are optional!......



    Shopping, Laundry and maybe a Forest Walk tomorrow!......

  10. #20
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    Overland to Scandinavia and more!
    Spring 2017


    A Forest Trail Walk at Lit Camping & Stugby

    A quick trip into Östersund for some groceries from Lidl then it was back to the campsite to finish off the 5 loads of washing before lunchtime which the campsite was allowing us to do for free as it was in their eyes ‘Low Season’!
    While the guy at the next campsite we were going to but have now changed our minds wanted 60SEK a load that would have cost £26.30, for the 5 loads, as well as £20.60/Night for the camping pitch!......

    Then after lunch we set off on a 19Km (12 Miles) Forest Walk along a pre-defined trail as we followed the Orange/Brown line on the map below which was matched by wooden signs and trees that had been painted with an Orange/Brown Spot……





    Passing the old wooden railway bridge!......



    Nice new house with a view directly over the river!……



    Farmstead, while the Barn nearest the road had a date of 1805 engraved in the wood!......



    One of the ‘markers’……



    So far so good!……



    This is also a winter ski-doo trail so some snow/ice is still around after being compressed by the ski-doos!……



    In the centre of the picture is a quite small blue butterfly while the sunshine lightened it up a bit!......



    A very LARGE Ant Hill and there were a few of these as we went along the track, so you didn’t hang around too long otherwise your feet were covered in ants!……



    The top of the hill was literally covered in ants!……



    Looked like the Fir Trees are growing Beards!......



    After about 45minutes hour we came to the first ‘Rastplatz’……



    Spring has arrived!……





    Mother Nature’s way of reclaiming a tree stump!……









    Up and down alongside the river in places we continue to go!......





    Some more of Mother Nature’s reclaiming which looked like little Trolls with green hats on!……..



    CRACK! Then it fell down……



    Another water channel meandering through the forest on its way to the river……



    Some of them with lumps of ice still there……



    This was a bit tricky and we nearly slid down on our backsides!……



    As we got to the wooden bridge and looked up the stream……



    While we looked back up where we had just come down. Thankfully we did not go back this way!……



    The next ‘Rastplatz’ with a refreshment café but it was as we expected closed……



    It might have been cut down or fallen over but the Fungus was still growing from the trunk……



    Then as we got closer to the side of the river we could see the section called ‘The Gorge’……







    Then a bit further along and we see the Hydro Power Station which if you listened carefully you could hear humming away as the water passing under the building drove the electricity generating equipment……



    Colours looked nice but I doubt if it was edible……



    Then we made our way over to the road for the long walk back to the campsite and were worn out by the time we got back!......



    While finally we got to see a Dog Training Class that took place on the ground at the rear of the ‘TinTent’……



    Back on the road tomorrow while the forecast is for some very COLD nights to look forward to!……

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