Gallery: Scandinavia 2005

Scandinavia June / July 2005

Diary

Saturday 28 May misty / cloudy / windy, 13°C - Edinburgh to Berwick-upon-tweed

· Up @ 8:30, Liz rang her mum

· Drove to McDonalds for breakfast

· Started packing van, cleaning flat etc

· Katie came and picked up golf clubs (for free) @ 10:30

· Finished @ 1:30

· Vicki Brunton and her son Robert (Landlord) came round @ 2:00, got deposit back (£600), handed over keys etc and left @ 2:30 (van mileage 37286km)

· Drove through Leith then onto A1, south to Berwick-upon-tweed (very windy on road with hightop van), arrived @ Caravan Club site @ 4:15

· Checked in (£16 for 1 night) and set up

· Went for a walk down to local shops, had coffee in café on Spittal Promenade, then back to camp @ 6:00

· Had tea and relaxed

Sunday 29 May mainly fine / windy, 17°C - Berwick to Newcastle

· Up @ 9:00 (awake @ 5:30! With sunlight), had breakfast and packed up, left @ 10:00

· Drove onto A1 then onto B6525 (to avoid the need to travel at speed on main road) south to Wooller then on A697 to Morpeth

· Filled up with petrol (36 litres, mileage 37467km, £30)

· Drove south to Whitley Bay , then to Tynemouth , stopped for lunch @ coffee lounge

· Back to van and drove through to Royal Quays where the DFDS Seaways boats go from

· Back to Whitley Bay to campground next to St Mary’s Island , checked in and setup (£13 for 1 night, Old Hartley camp)

· Relaxed then caught bus to Newcastle Centre (3/4 hour trip) and did some shopping (bought small rug, funnel, tissues, toothpaste, and some food)

· Metro back to Whitley Bay then bus to camp @ 5:45

· Relaxed, cooked tea then out for a walk to look @ St Mary’s Island , back to van @ 9:00

Monday 30 May fine, 16°C - Newcastle to North Sea

· Up @ 9:00, had breakfast etc then relaxed

· Gave parcel which had to go to Telewest (prepaid) to woman in camp office to be dropped @ Post Office

· Packed up @ 10:30, and left

· Drove to Royal Quays outlet mall and had a wander round, had a hot chocolate and bought baguettes to takeaway for lunch

· Drove to DFDS Seaways, checked through and sat in holding area in van

· Through to dockside @ 2:00 then onto Princess of Scandinavia @ 2:45

· Found our “cabin” (large room that had been partitioned in 6 x 4 berth rooms using toilet-style partitions ie gaps at top and bottom) on Deck 2, below the vehicle decks

· Wandered around the ship and watched the sea go by, changed money £255 = 3333SEK (Swedish Kroner)

· Had tea in buffet restaurant (£39) then played the slot machines (Liz won 300 SEK (£22) for her 10SEK investment)

· Back upstairs to watch some oil rigs go by @ 11:00 (now on Swedish time), still light then bed

· Getting a bit rougher, bigger swells through the night, woke us up about 2am, then calmed again

Tuesday 31 May cloudy / showers, 12°C - North Sea - Kristiansand - Goteborg

· Up @ 8:00, up for breakfast in buffet (pre paid for )

· Docked in Kristiansand to let some people off and on @ 9:15, left again @ 10:45

· Liz went back to room for sleep

· Had lunch in Restaurant @ 1:00 (274 SEK = £20) then sat and played Monopoly

· Came into Goteborg (Gothenburg) @ 4:30, docked @ 5:00

· Drove off and onto E6 south, then turned off to go to Camping Karralund (320 for pitch + 90 for electricity (for 2 nights) = 410 SEK = £30) and validated Scandinavian Camping Card (90 SEK = £7), then had to buy adapter for hook-up lead (100 SEK = £8)

· Set up then walked to local shop @ 7:00, bought supplies (milk, 2 tins of wurst, juice and bread = £7)

· Back to camp for tea

· Back to shop after tea (milk turned out to be yoghurt!) bought milk and chocolate bar

· Walked to tram stop to check trams to town then back to van

· Relaxed

Wednesday 1 June fine, 15°C - Goteborg

· Up @ 8:00 (awake @ 5:00), had breakfast etc

· Left @ 9:15, drove to Pastille on E20 to storage place (Akeriaskims), had to come back later

· Drove back towards town, found Ica supermarket and did some shopping

· Posted parcel to AC’s Mum and Dad (photo negatives) and a letter (444SEK = £34)

· Bought drink, fish for dinner etc (179 SEK)

· Drove under E20 to Pastille town centre, went to library and used internet (free) then walked along main street

· Back to van then back to storage place @ 11:00, dropped of bags that we didn’t need, paid for 6 weeks storage (740 SEK = £56) then drove back to camp

· Got organised then walked to tram, and got 1:04 tram No 5 into Brunnsparken (20 SEK ea / one way = £1.50)

· Went into Nordstan shopping mall, got slice of pizza each for lunch, 50 SEK.

· Bought Vodafone sim card, for use in all Scandinavia , 95 SEK = £7.50, includes 20 SEK credit, calls cost 9.95 SEK / minute (76p)

· Drew some money out (1000 SEK = £76) then walked into town centre, past Domkyrken then down to river, back to Nordstan along canal

· Went into Nordstan, bought lamp (74 SEK = £5.70) and heater (179 SEK = £13) in Clas Ohlson, then had McDonalds milkshakes and a rest

· Walked to Central station then to canal and back round to tram stop @ Kungsportsplatsen and then back to camp @ 5:00

· Did some laundry then had tea @ 7:30 (fish and pasta)

· Out for a walk @ 9:00, round camp and past horse riding arena, then to shop for an iceblock and back

· Sun set @ 9:30

· Goteborg nice city, pretty canals etc

Thursday 2 June cloudy / showers / rain / showers, 12°C - Goteborg to Sjotorp

· Up @ 8:00, had breakfast etc, packed up and left @ 10:00

· Drove onto E20 then drove east, motorway then to single carriageway, good road

· Stopped for gas @ 11:20 (30 litres = 333 SEK = £26, 185kms)

· Turned off E20 onto 187 through to Lidkoping then out to Lacko to castle

· Back to Lidkoping (saw Elk on side of road), lunch @ Ica store @ 1:30

· Drew 500 SEK = £38

· Bought European plug box (29 SEK)

· Drove through to Mariestad on E20 then on to Sjotorp, found campground north of town on lake (Askeviksbadets Camp, 140 SEK = £11), arr 3:30

· Set up and watched the rain, went for a walk to find a phone box, none found

· Had tea @ 7:00 then sat in van, rain stopped about 9:30

Friday 3 June cloudy, 15°C - Sjotorp to Stockholm

· Up @ 8:00, had breakfast, packed up van, left camp @ 9:15

· North on 26 then onto 204 through more of the same countryside (flat rolling hills, lakes etc)

· Filled up with petrol @ Skava (28.74 litres = 300 SEK = £23, 246 kms)

· Carried on 204 then o onto E18 then to E20 through to Orebro

· Parked up @ 11:00, walked up and down the main street, looked @ Castle, pretty town

· Topped up Vodafone card (200 SEK), drew 1000 SEK

· Had coffee (34 SEK for 2)

· Back to van @ 12:15, drove back to E20 and east to Arboga, stopped @ Lidl for groceries (spent 177 SEK = £15) then had crossaints for lunch @ 12:45

· Drove into town, went to railway station then to Library (Bibliotek) to use internet

· Back in van and east on E20, through to Stockholm , arr 4:00

· Checked into camp site (Camping Bredang, 220 SEK incl elec. Per night), set up

· Booked ferry from Stockholm to Helsinki (2200 SEK = £170) for Sunday

· Relaxed, rode bikes to Bredang Centrum to have a look around, not the nicest but ok

· Had tea @ 7:00, walked down to beach and around camp

Saturday 4 June heavy rain / cloudy / misty / fine / cloudy / fine, 13°C - Stockholm

· Up @ 8:00 to pouring rain, had breakfast etc, left @ 9:30

· Walked to Bredang Metro (tunnelbana) station, bought 2 tickets to T-Centralen (40 SEK ea = £3)

· Caught train @ 9:50, arrived central station @ 10:10

· Walked around underground shopping area then up to street level to find bus station, where Viking Line have their office

· Paid for ferry tickets from Stockholm to Helsinki for Sunday, B-Cabin, incl van = 2262 SEK (£170)

· Walked down through central station to street where hop-on-hop-off bus stopped

· Got on but found that this was the last service today because the marathon was on in the afternoon, got ½ price fare (100 SEK ea = £7.50 ) for just a loop, no on or off

· Drove round town in rain, round the old town (Gamla Stan) and the parks etc. Got kicked off @ bridge to Gamla Stan @ 11:30, rain stopped

· Walked through Riksdaghuset (parliament) to Gamla Stan, walked up to Palace then wandered through the narrow streets

· Back to the palace to watch changing of the guard @ 12:15 to 1:00 (normal thing stomping ,shouting etc) then off to look for lunch

· Walked up Drottninggatan (pedestrianised shopping street) and to Panini shop for lunch (110 SEK = £8.50)

· Carried on up Drottninggatan (AC bought Bill Bryson book £10) to Kammarkargatan then across to Sergalgatan (drew 1000SEK =£76) and back to Sergals Torg (main new city square)

· Walked along to Kungstradgarden and watched the first marathon runners come through then had crepes in the park in a festival of some sort ( Sweden national day on Monday so a long weekend for most)

· Walked along Arsenalsgatan then through to Nybroviken harbour, then walked along Strandvagen to bridge over to Djurgarden

· Walked through to Skansen and bought tickets to go in and for railway up hill @ 4:00 (90SEK ea = £7). Skansen is a historical collection of building from Sweden and also contains a zoo

· Walked around the hill, saw elk, reindeer, bears, wolves (all living wild in Sweden !) and other zoo animals

· Sun came out while we were walking around

· Out onto main road and caught tram back to Nybroplan (25 SEK ea = £2) @ 6:00

· Walked up Ostermalmstorg station and caught T-bana back to Bredang

· Walked back to camp, arr 6:45

· Relaxed, cooked tea, walked around the camp etc.

· Stockholm very pretty city, lots of museums (not our thing), but very easy to walk around, seems to be a long of cafes etc

Sunday 5 June rain / cloudy, 12°C - Stockholm to Baltic Sea

· Up @ 9:00 to the sound of rain again

· Had breakfast, did some washing, lazed around

· Packed up and checked out @ 12:30, drove onto E4 then into town, got lost but eventually made our way to Viking Line terminal, parked @ 1:15, had some sandwiches for lunch and waited

· Joined queue @ 3:00, checked through @ 3:30, on board @ 4:00

· Went up to our cabin (inside 4 berth) then wandered around the ship “Gabriella”

· 11 decks, lots of shops etc, more like a cruise liner than a ferry

· Had a coffee @ 5:00, watched the islands go by then up top watch other boats and islands

· Had tea in BBQ restaurant (steaks) €34

· Retired to our cabin @ 10:00, relaxed then back up on deck @ 11:30 to see Mariehamn ( Aland Islands ), but got up top in time to see us pulling away, misty and foggy anyway

· Back down to bed

Monday 6 June cloudy / fine in afternoon, 16°C - Baltic Sea to Helsinki , Finland

· Up @ 7:30, got dressed then up for breakfast @ buffet restaurant (€8.50 ea), back down to pack bags then up to front of ship to watch the seas

· Watched as we entered Helsinki Harbour then down to cabin to get bags then to van

· Drove off @ 10:00 ( Finland time, UK time +2 hours)

· Got lost then found road out of town, drove east on 170 then turned off over Vuosaaria Bridge to camp ground, drew €140 then checked in (€22 for 1 night)

· Parked van then walked to Metro acrossfrom camp

· Bought 1 day ticket for us both (€8) then caught train to Central Station (20 minutes)

· Walked through town down to Fish Market then to Uspenski Cathedral, past Presidential Palace with sentries, up to Senate Sq

· Had lunch @ café (€13) @ 12:30, then walked around Senate Sq, back down to Esplanade Park then along to Mannerheimintie

· Went into Stockmann department store, bought bulb for lamp then walked up Mannerheinintie

· Walked past Parliament House then to Finlandia Talo (Alvar Aalto’s Helsinki concert hall)

· Walked alongside lake to Olympic Park, went up tower (€2 ea) for view over the city (sun out now)

· Caught tram back to centre of town and had a coffee @ 4:00

· Went to Library(bibliotek) to check emails then back to train @ 5:00 and back to Rastila

· Bought some groceries (€20) then back to van, relaxed

· Had tea @ 7:00, out for a walk around camp @ 9:00 (saw Hare, about the size of a cocker spaniel), bed @ 11:30 (still light, didn’t realise the time!)

· Helsinki is a nice little town, nice balance of old and new, very open feeling, nice parks etc, almost Russian feeling in places

Tuesday 7 June fine / cloudy & breezy, 22°C - Helsinki to Lahti

· Up @ 8:30, had breakfast etc, packed up van and left @ 10:00

· Got petrol (50litres = €59, @ 38186kms)

· Onto ring road then onto 4 northwards, motorway all the way, to Lahti

· Turned off through town, then north to Mukkula Camping, 2km north of Lahti (€17.50 for 1 night), arr 11:30

· Parked van in pitch by lakeside, set up then cycled into town, 2km’s

· Stopped for lunch (pizza slices) at wharf on lakefront, very pretty

· Went through park past musical fountain then to Alvar Aalto’s Ristinkirkko (church), had a free guided tour then cycled back across to ski park

· Went up chair lift then up lift to top of skijump (€4 ea) for view, then back down. No desire to take up skijumping!

· Cycled down into town @ 3:00, parked bikes and did some shopping for groceries

· Drew €90 at cash machine

· Back to wharf area for icecream then back to camp @ 4:30

· Relaxed, starting to cloud over

· Tea @ 7:00, bed @ 10:30, sun has just set

Wednesday 8 June fine, 18°C - Lahti to Jyvaskyla

· Up @ 8:30, had breakfast etc, packed up van, left @ 9:30

· Drove north onto 24 then to 314 up through lakes, onto 612 then 610, very nice drive (200kms)

· Then back on main road 9, into Jyvaskyla

· Missed turnoff to camp (no sign) so stopped for lunch @ 12:30 just north of town (burgers), then did some grocery shopping

· Back to camp (Tuomiojarvi Camping, €40 for 2 nights incl power), set up in pitch beside lake (Tuomiojarvi), @ 2:00

· Relaxed for a bit then rode into town, went to Aaltoalvari swimming pool @ 3:45 (€5 ea), they had a wave pool and waterslides!!

· Back to camp @ 5:30 and sat in sun

· Had tea @ 7:30, then for a walk around the camp, back to van @ 9:00

Thursday 9 June fine / cloudy / fine, 22°C - Jyvaskyla

· Up @ 9:00, had breakfast etc

· Left @ 10:45, cycled to town and found library

· Surfed the net until 12:00 (free) then went to cash machine, drew €100

· Rode to Alvar Aalto museum south of town centre and went around, interesting but nothing special (€6 ea)

· Rode to harbour then into main street / mall

· Parked bikes (once we had found a space!) then to café for lunch (2 toasties, 2 bottles of drink and cake, €15)

· Walked around shops, got some groceries, got bike oil, back to bikes and back to camp @ 3:00

· Went to camp office and got someone to ring an electrician to come and look @ the vans’ mains (1 plug has died and the other sizzles!). Man came (Matti) @ 4:00 and rewired the plugs, all better now, only charged €15 but we gave him €20

· Relaxed and had a coffee @ 5:00

· Tea @ 7:00 (bangers (wurst) and mash) then relaxed again, went for a walk around the camp @ 8:30

Friday 10 June fine, 22°C - Jyvaskyla to Kuopio

· Up @ 8:30, had breakfast etc, packed up van and left @ 10:00

· Drove through town to find petrol station and filled up (€30 for 25litres, @ 38496kms)

· Onto road north (E63 / 9) and drove to Kuopio , arrived @ camp (Rauhalahti, €21 for 1 night) @ 12:00

· Couldn’t get van started, then it cooled and started (dodgy starter motor)

· Parked up, set up, had lunch (sandwiches) then rode into town @ 1:00

· Parked bikes in main square (Tori) and walked around market

· AC bought 2 finland (Suomi) shirts (€15 for 2) and then to Intersports and bought handlebar bag for bike (€30)

· Walked around shops, drew €90, had an icecream and sat in the sun

· Back to bikes and rode a couple of blocks east to library, surfed the net until 4:00 then rode back to camp, arr 4:45

· Sat in the sun for a while, went for a walk around the camp @ 7:00 (huge camp 250 caravan pitches + tent sites+ cabins)

· Back to van for tea (mince chilli thing) sitting in the sun @ 8:00

· Out for another walk to the adjoining hotel and back @ 9:00 then relaxed, bed @ 10:30

Saturday 11 June fine, 25°C - Kuopio to Nurmes

· Up @ 8:30, had breakfast packed the van, checked out @ 10:15

· Drove onto E63 and headed north, stopped for petrol (42 litres = €49.99, @38659kms)then onto 75 northeast

· Arrived in Nurmes @ 12:30, found camp and checked in (Hyvarila Camping, €17.50 for 1 night)

· Set up van then rode into town (4 kms)

· Bought roll with meat inside, yoghurts etc then sat by harbour on Lake Pielinen

· Rode back up and through town, lovely old timberhouses, very quiet today as it’s Saturday

· Rode back through town then to supermarket for groceries (meat, drink, bread, milk etc €20)

· Back to camp @ 3:30, relaxed

· Walked around camp, sat in sun / shade etc

· Tea @ 7:00 (curry), then more relaxing

Sunday 12 June fine / high cloud, breezy, 23°C - Nurmes to Ranua

· Up @ 8:30, had breakfast etc, packed up van and left camp @ 10:00

· Drove through town of Nurmes to 6 then north towards Kajaani then onto 899 around Kajaani

· Then onto 5, then 22, then 78@ Paltamo

· Stopped for petrol (38 litres = €47, @ 38928 kms) and lunch @ Paltamo @ 12:00

· Left @ 12:30, drove north on 78 onto 20 and into Pudasjarvi, went to camp therebut closed till 5:00 so carried on

· North on 78 to Ranua, found camp, checked in @ 3:00 and set up (14.80 for 1 night, Ranua Camping), relaxed (about 360 km’s driving today)

· Tea @ 6:30 (fish fingers and corn) then walked around camp

Monday 13 June fine, 28°C - Ranua to Rovaniemi , Finland

· Up @ 8:30, had breakfast, packed up etc, left @ 10:00

· Drove through Ranua to Ranua Zoo (€12 ea), walked around, saw brown bears, polar bear (the only one in Finland !), foxes, elk, reindeer etc. Lots of flies swarming around so didn’t hang around too much

· Back on the road @ 11:30, drove north on 78, had to stop at one stage for 3 wandering reindeer on the road

· Arrived in Rovaniemi @ 12:30, found camp (Ounaskoski Camping, €21 / night ) right beside river, opposite town

· Set up, had lunch @ café in camp (ham and cheese rolls) then relaxed, did somewashing etc

· Out for a ride @ 3:00, rode across railway / traffic bridge to Library, used internet, took photos (moreAlvar Aalto buildings)

· Drew €90 @ Otto machine

· Into the edge of town, got some groceries (meat, juice, fly spray etc) then to bargain shop across the road (Liz bought sun hat, got plugin mozzy killer, string and bucket thing for carrying dishes in)

· Rode back to town and sat in the shade

· Tea @ 7:00 (meatballs and sauce, with vanilla yoghurt and bananas after) and carried on sitting out doors

· Went to bed @ 11:30 (sun still shining, still 24 degrees, hard to sleep)

Tuesday 14 June fine / breezy, 22°C - Rovaniemi

· Up @ 9:00, had breakfast, got organised

· Left camp @ 11:00, walked over Jatkankynttila Bridge into town

· Walked around shops, AC bought film (3x36exp = €14), went to supermarket, bought biscuits and got lunch (potato and ham, hot dish €6), sat in the sun in the main shopping area and ate it

· Walked down to river and looked @ Arktikum Museum from outside then walked back to camp 2:30

· Sat in the sun, out for a bike ride to the swimming pool @ 4:00, drew €60, back to camp @ 5:30

· Relaxed

· Tea @ 7:30 (wurst and peas)

· Out for a walk around the camp @ 9:00

Wednesday 15 June cloudy / fine, 16°C - Rovaniemi to Sirkka , Finland

· Up @ 8:30, packed up and on the road @ 10:00

· Stopped for petrol and groceries (€30 of petrol = 24 litres, 1.239 €/litre, @ 39250 kms, automatic pumps where you put money in first then pump gas so you can’t fill the tank and our card don’t work!), drew €90

· Drove out to Santa’s Village on Arctic Circle , looked in shops etc. Liz sent 3 postcards, AC bought Christmas tree decoration for Mum and Dad (€4.50)

· Drove to Rovaniemi Airport , very quiet, then back to Roveniemi

· Onto 78 north @ 11:30

· Stopped for more groceries then pulled into parking area for lunch (sandwiches) @ 12:30

· Got to Kittila @ 2:00, stopped for more petrol (46 litres = €57.14 (1.239€/litre) @ 39430kms), paid on visa

· Drove on to Sirkka, went to info centre and got spot at “camp”, part of a hotel / motel, parked behind one of their buildings and plugged into car socket (they have electrical points in Scandinavia for cars to plug into overnight in winter to stop freezing) (€20 per night for 2 nights)

· Went for a walk around town, then to Levintunturi Hotel for hot chocolate, Liz bought magazine in Spar then back to van

· Rode bikes to Gondola station (2.5 kms) @ 5:00, got lost on the way, up gondola @ 5:40 (€6 ea) (last one is 6:00), took photos then down again, back to town on main road this time

· Had tea @ 7:00 (cordon bleu chicken and pesto), then out for a walk to get summer versions of some of the photos we took in 2003 in winter

· Back to van @ 8:30 then to Sirkantahti Hotel to hve hot chocolate and surf net (1hr wifi = €8), got kicked out of hotel reception and bar @ 10:00!

· Back to van, bed @ 11:00

Thursday 16 June fine / cloudy, 14°C - Sirkka , Finland

· Up @ 9:30, had breakfast etc, decided to have a lazy day

· Went for a walk down to the bottom of the ski runs,AC went up the toboggan run (€4)

· Went to the Spar and bought groceries then back to the van for scrambledeggsfor lunch

· Lazed around, drew €90, then down to the Levitunturi Hotel @ 3:00 and played on the gaming machines, then back to the van

· Relaxed some more

· Tea @ 7:00 (sweet and sour chicken and noodles)

· Back down to the Levitunturi for a look around @ 9:00, then back to the van

Friday 17June fine / late shower, 24°C - Sirkka to Hetta / Enontekio

· Up @ 9:30, packed up van, had breakfast, left @ 10:30

· Drove around Levi Fell, then onto main road 79 @ Sirkka and north to Muonio, then onto 21 along Swedish border (had to brake for a reindeer who wanted to run across the road, but changed his mind), then turned onto 956 to Hetta (also known as Enontekio), arr 12:30

· Found camp (Hetan Lomakyla, €18 for 1 night) and set up

· Walked to town (about 1 km), bought some groceries then back to van for lunch @ 2:00

· Relaxed for the afternoon, sat in sun etc

· Had tea @ 7:00 (chicken and pesto) then out for a walk around the camp and along the road a bit

· Shower of rain @ 10:00 (first rain since arriving in Finland 12 days ago), thunder in the distance, but sun still shining

· Coffee provided by neighbouring Finn’s, he borrowed a shaver cord to recharge his

Saturday 18 June heavy showers / fine / cloudy, 18°C - Hetta , Finland to Langefjorden , Norway

· Up @ 8:00, had breakfast, packed up the van and left @ 9:30

· Got petrol before border (€20 for 15.5 litres)

· Drove onto 93 north to Norway border (into Norway @10:00), no border controls, just a building and a sign (switched to Norway / Euro time) (12 NOK = £1)