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  1. #61
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    Nov 2009
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    Arctic Circle Return-2015


    Jävre Rastplats to Bureå

    Back on the road this morning after a quiet and relaxing night, as we initially headed for a place called Uttersjöbäcken Camping….

    Passing the old farmhouse as we made our way back to the E4 & South....



    Not long before we start to see a few places offering fishing facilities but this place went one step further and put up a large fish sign…..



    While a bit further down the road on the opposite side was this monument that looked like a clock but had no working parts…..



    As we then go to slow right down due to this rather wide load also going South….



    As we then got to the left hand turn to take us towards Uttersjöbäcken Camping we pass this farm with what looked like Shetland Ponies out in the fields….



    Must be the right road as we pass the road sign for the place ….



    As the road takes us through the woods and there is the village in front of us....



    As we find the campsite it is also a hotel & conference centre except there is no one around and the contact bell also produces no answer or a human being, so we turn around and head back through the woods…..





    As we passed a sign for a different campsite as we went South on the E4 we then went back North, found the sign and turned right to find Bureå Camping which although it is not supposed to open until the end of May it has new owners who were keen to get started, so we decided to stay there…..

    Reception building….



    OK so we got the whole field to ourselves while a number of cabins are occupied by men who are from Bulgaria and working in the forest planting new trees where the old ones have been taken out…..



    Walking around the campsite which is rather nice as the Sun was shining making it a nice day for a change, down by the river, we come to…..



    While you have the small bridge where you go to jump in the river after having the Sauna…..



    Someone else’s property on the opposite side of the river….



    While with all the melting snow and rain the river itself is high and flowing very fast…..



    One of four bird’s nests on the campsite all shaped the same and the one on the side of Reception has a family nesting in it…..



    Facilities Block Number 2……





    Then off into the village which is quite small for a look around….



    While the river rapids look dangerous if you slipped and fell in…..



    Then we see this which we understand collapsed when a snow laden tree fell on it…..





    While this was a slower part of the river…..



    Off into Skelleftea for a look around tomorrow and hope that this nice weather continues…..

  2. #62
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    Nov 2009
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    Arctic Circle Return-2015


    A day in Skelleftea…

    After a nice day yesterday when I am hopeful that the ‘Trailer Light Failure’ has now been fully resolved after cutting off the Volvo 13 pin Socket and replacing it with another make, we woke once again to the Pitter Patter from the Sky Watering Can on the roof of the ‘TinTent’ but still decided to head off into Skelleftea for a look around….

    As we found a car park near the town centre we then found out before we left it that it was just for all the Civil Servants who work there, so a hasty retreat was made before the Traffic Warden came as we then went off to a place nearby with no ‘problems’ attached, then as we crossed a bridge over the main E4 WOW the grass looks green!….



    Walking a bit further towards the town centre we spot the top of a church that looks a bit like a helmet from a different era over the building in front…..



    While a bit further down the road we see the full shape and the church it is on top of …..



    Then turning through 180 Degrees is this other church in a nice shade of pink….



    A bit further along and there is a statue of a BIG Cat asleep on a tree branch in a small area that has been damaged….



    While we are not sure if the next statue has got a headache or is just having a bad day! ….



    We think this is the main shopping street in the town....



    With a rather smart old style but pricey restaurant half way along…..



    The we walk through a couple of sliding doors into an ultra modern small shopping centre with 3 modes of getting up and down the 3 floors: Lift, Escalator and Stairs…..
    Needless to say it was not difficult after standing there for 10 minutes taking it all in to see which mode was not a favourite….



    As we then got to the central square….





    Then go off along the other half of the road before we head back to Flamenco Red and back to the campsite just as the Watering Can gets turned on again…..





    Back on the road again tomorrow, and hopefully no ‘Trailer Light Failure Messages’ appearing on the dashboard….

  3. #63
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    Nov 2009
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    Arctic Circle Return-2015


    Burea to Norrmjöle which was not the plan!.…

    At 07:00hrs this morning it was actually dry outside, then at 07:30hrs the Upstairs Watering Can got turned on again as we prepared to pull off and head to a new place for us called Lövånger Vandrarhem & Camping….

    As we got into the village of Lövånger we see this row of cabins on short legs in the field alongside the road which was rather strange….



    While just outside the centre of the village was the church….



    On the opposite side of the road was a small noticeboard with a not very good plan of the Vandrarhem (Hostel)…..



    On the left in the next picture is the ‘Reception’ for the Vandrahem while the ‘Cabins’ on the right are where you would stay…..



    And there are a lot of ‘Cabins’…..





    As these in the next picture were not in as good condition we think that they have been abandoned and closed up....





    Looking through the window the room is plain with a table, fireplace and couch, while the bedroom is on the other side of the cabin…..



    We then made our way down to the campsite to find that while the place was very wet and spongy underfoot, the facilities block had no cooking facilities, one shower and toilet accessible via the sauna room which with several people was not really acceptable so we turned around and headed off to the next place we planned to spend some time at instead which we have stayed at before ….

    The place is called Ånäset and recognisable by the very large Cheese Slicers just outside the town at the road junction while the campsite is called Lufta Camping…..



    Got to ‘Reception’ at the campsite and found the usual note on the door to pick a place and wait for reception to open at 16:00hrs, so we did and then found no electricity was available as all the outlets were locked down, while you also needed an access card to get into the kitchen to get water which we didn’t have so we just hitched back up, pulled out and headed for the third place which was planned in for 4 days hence, heading off towards Umeå…..



    As we then get on the final stretch of road through the centre of Umeå the LCD screen on the camera used by my good lady ‘died’ and just went black …..



    45 minutes later we arrived at Norrmjöle Camping which is South East of Umeå after confirming by telephone with the owner that they were open and internet was available.

    It was also a great relief to find that after all the stopping and starting on this part that the ‘Trailer Light Failure’ problem has after 6 months of frustration and anger finally been resolved…..

    Weather forecast for tomorrow is predicted as being ‘Sunny’?
    After the last few ‘predictions’ we are taking that with a pinch of salt, but if it is correct then as well as the laundry that needs doing we will get some pictures of this place as it is rather nice….

  4. #64
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    Calgary, Alberta
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    Couldn't help but notice that some of your pictures have something blue at the top of the pictures and green on the bottom of the pictures. Isn't it supposed to be grey at the top and white at the bottom?


    Hopefully the bulb issue is sorted for sure this time. Have you done an autopsy on the connector to see what was going on?

    Have to say that the hostel cabins all in a rows remind me of an old "Carry On" movie.

  5. #65
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    Quote Originally Posted by ssicarman View Post

    1) Couldn't help but notice that some of your pictures have something blue at the top of the pictures and green on the bottom of the pictures. Isn't it supposed to be grey at the top and white at the bottom?

    2) Hopefully the bulb issue is sorted for sure this time. Have you done an autopsy on the connector to see what was going on?

    3) Have to say that the hostel cabins all in a rows remind me of an old "Carry On" movie.
    Answers in numerical order.....

    1) It was before but as we move further South we are keeping our hopes up that the blue and green will get better and more prolific. 'Fingers crossed' that it was going to happen didn't work!

    2) With the run yesterday and the fact that the 'problem' got to the point that it was there as soon as I started the engine and put my foot on the brakes then yes I think (& hope) that the issue is sorted.

    Unable to do an autopsy on the connector as Volvo get the rear of the connector filled with two types of compound, one is silicon around the wires while there is another one which is like silicon but much harder and cannot be cleanly removed to allow the center of the connector to be removed which would allow better access to the wires and sockets.

    Having said that while you cannot buy just a new Volvo 13Pin Socket , they will only sell you the complete Wiring Harness which was 833SEK ($100) , the price for a new NON Volvo 13Pin Socket was 129SEK ($15) .

  6. #66
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    Nov 2009
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    Arctic Circle Return-2015


    A day in and around Norrmjöle Camping.…

    While it started off cloudy this morning I think someone got a BIG pair of bellows out and blew them away as we had a bright blue sky by 08:30hrs which was nice to see, as we could get some decent pictures of the campsite and the surrounding area after a bit of exercise called cycling!….

    The large community building on the campsite….



    That’s us alongside the building….



    While the other permanent units are on the other side…..



    Inside this building is a really nice area for relaxing when the community have a function on. The camp site manager has promised to let me have a look tomorrow as the key is in a different location…..



    While this is the Kitchen for the campsite users…..





    As the Sun continued to be kind we set off for a cycle ride around the village with the following results…..





    This little track went down to the Sea past the fishermen’s cabins …..



    While this was the view at the end of the track….



    With the views around the little harbour….







    While just behind the Fisherman’s main building are these Summer Cottages….



    Which are very nicely appointed inside, with electricity BUT no running water due to the freezing temperatures that can go down to -40C!……









    While outside just to the side of the Fishermen’s main building are wooden structures that look like goalposts…..



    Except they have nails hammered in but left sticking out, and that was for hanging the fishing nets on or the fish to dry out…..







    Beach side houses, but lived in all year around…..



    Where the River meets the Sea…..



    Looking ‘up river’…..



    Unusually shaped house….



    Large family residence…..



    As we turn left and head off down to the beach…..



    There it is…..







    Surprised to see permanent residences so close behind considering that a large number of local residents and people from the City come down here at the weekends in Summer that’s according to the campsite manager…..



    This must be the Longest Sun Bed in the World!…..





    According to the weather forecast it’s supposed to be more of this nice blue sky tomorrow so we are planning for a trip back into Umeå…..fingers crossed, while 10 minutes ago as I was putting this together we had Hailstones!

  7. #67
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    Arctic Circle Return-2015


    Norrmjöle & some time in Umeå.…

    You may recall the Community Building that the Campsite Manager didn’t have the key for but promised to let me have a look inside the following day?
    Well here are the pictures although I don’t think they do the building the justice it deserves as it looks fantastic inside!….





    While this part of the building is where when there is a function going on you can come and have a meal from the kitchen or just relax…..



    Up on the wall leading into the area for eating were some pictures of times gone by and the Fishermen who used to live here…..







    The following morning as the weather was OK we set off into Umeå to visit the Sculpture Park which seemingly is quite famous and is set in the grounds of what was once a Hospital for mentally challenged people but is now a school…..



    As you drive into the park the first thing you see is this Horse on top of a chimney which we found out ‘neighs’ every half hour in the summer as the children have stopped for the holidays….



    While entry to the park is free, what the brochures and the website don’t tell you is that you have to pay for parking your car, and while there are 44 ‘exhibits’ we didn’t think at the end of the visit it was worth the cost ….

    While we thought the following were about the best of the 44 ‘exhibits’ in the park…

    Description then ‘exhibit…..















    The next description and exhibit was from the artist who made the Iron Men that are set on the shore of Crosby Beach, Merseyside, UK and are possibly more famous than these exhibits….





    While the last one was very cleverly put together the description plate was missing, while all we know is that it was called Nostros 2008….



    Left the sculpture park and went for some lunch and as we pulled into the car park we could overhear a conversation from a Policeman who had stopped the vehicle in the next picture and was trying to determine who the driver was, while the faces were all juggling for position!!!….



    While yesterday we were ‘TinTent’ bound as the overhead watering can was once again switched on at full pressure along with a few rolls of Thunder thrown in for good measure!
    Then today the Sun came back out so off we went again into Umeå for a loom at the Bildmuseum….

    Once again free entry but car parking was payable so we parked further away for free having determined that it was OK and walked back…..



    As we went in and saw the receptionist she advised us to go up to the 6th floor as there were exhibitions on all the floors and work our way down, so off we went in this oversized lift where you went in at the front and came out on the side!!!



    While the best exhibits were the views over the city out of the windows!...





    As we came back down in less than 30 minutes and 10 of them were spent talking to a Museum Guide on the top floor as we did not rate or photograph any of the exhibits on display we spotted these full size wooden items outside which were a lot more interesting and had been made by students at the University….





    While towards the front of the Bildmuseum is this older building that is the University Library and looks like an old tram shed….



    While over on the grass alongside the river is this rather large clothes peg…



    Hey Ho, turn around and head back along the riverfront towards the city centre…

    So here are a few views from around the centre….













    Bus Terminus….



    The old with the new overlooking…..





    The bronze statue which was quite lifelike was also from the artist who made the Iron Men….











    While this structure went out over the river it wasn’t a ‘diving board’ but it did move up and down quite a bit…..

    Pity the floor was not made of very thick clear Perspex so you could see the river under your feet!!





    Oh for a nice ‘warm bath’ but sadly the building no longer offers that service…



    Depending on the weather we will either be back on the road tomorrow or staying here for another 24 hours…..

  8. #68
    Join Date
    May 2012
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    Calgary, Alberta
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    Nice pictures, blue sky, green grass and flowers. Things are looking up.

  9. #69
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    Nov 2009
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    Quote Originally Posted by ssicarman View Post
    Nice pictures, blue sky, green grass and flowers. Things are looking up.
    No Internet for the last 3 days while the connection I now have is slower than Dial Up, but I understand that some refurbishment is being carried out on the campsite we are currently on and the Router has been put on the floor instead of being high up in the building!

    Hey Ho another day in paradise!

    So the next few updates are going to take a bit of time to upload.......

    Sorry!

  10. #70
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    Arctic Circle Return-2015


    Norrmjöle to Örnsköldsvik.…

    Nice rain shower this morning just before we left and got back on the road towards Örnsköldsvik.

    While as it was a relatively short trip we found our spot quite easily and it wasn’t long before we were set up at the edge of the Sea….



    In an ‘Aires’ in which at this one according to the signs on the way in, you can stay for up to 24 hours, as we turned through 180 degrees and spotted this ‘Camper’ parked up and the view on a murky day across to the city centre…



    While directly in front of us is the Ice Hockey Stadium…..



    Then on the far side of town we spot the Ski Jump!…..



    So we set off for a trip into the town and came firstly to a rather nice little park with a very large Eagle sat in the middle of a water fountain…..



    With some Daffodils & Tulips at the top of the steps…..





    Metal sculptures at the front of an outdoor stage…..



    The ‘Castle’ topped building was a Bank while the clock was on time with a couple of carvings on the column….



    While in the square in front of the Bank is this sculpture of a Horse & Man who appears to have fallen off something but we are not sure what!..…



    “How much is that Doggy in the window?”



    View up one of the main shopping streets while we were just about to meet ‘Gunner’ who is in the red hat and had a fabulous personality even though he was mentally challenged with Down’s Syndrome, it was really interesting to walk for a few minutes with him and have a conversation in English, while his pronunciation was a credit to him, and a real pleasure to meet and talk with him.



    OK, next up was this ‘Colourful’ block of flats who have a bird’s eye view of the Ski Jump!.....





    While just a bit further along the road was a Café where we stopped for a ‘Luvverly’ cup of coffee (Well it was actually two cups as you get a refill included in the price!) along with a very nice Almond & Blueberry Muffin!
    Unfortunately we came on the wrong day to sample their ‘Home Cooking’ on a Lunchtime Main Course which they put on 3 times a week for members of their ‘Club’ but the general public are also allowed to come and buy as ordinary customers….



    While to greet you on the counter is this rather intriguing coffee cup & saucer and the Beans!....



    As we just got inside the Café before the rain started we took our time until it stopped, came back out, turned left and started to make our way back to the sea passed this old building….



    We then spotted the Tourist Office on the other side of the road which also has the Bibliotek inside…..



    While at the bottom of the hill on the corner is one of the Grand Hotels in the town…..



    Then down at the sea front….



    These 2 dockside cranes are in place as there is still a Cement producing facility close to the dockside…..





    As we get past the cranes we see some pictures taken from years past which show the town in previous times…..











    As we then get to the end and look back we see some more ‘Campers’ in this car park, but here you have to pay to park!…..



    As we get back to where we are parked up we decide as it’s still dry to head off around the other side of the bay…..





    Into more of an Industrial area, and spot this machine that looks a bit like to Hagglund Tracked Vehicle we saw earlier on our trip….



    View back towards the town…..



    As we then find…..





    Just on 23:00hrs I looked out through the window of the ‘TinTent’ and while I saw the Concrete Silo lit up in a ‘blue glow’ I also noticed the low clouds moving in……



    While the following morning the low cloud had moved even lower, as we were about to get back on the road….



    Next stop Honoberget and the Högakustenbron…..

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