Ängelholm was covered in 20 cm of snow when we left today, and it didn't feel good considering we were driving from Skåne to Stockholm with summer tyres. We crawled along the first snowy road to the E4 motorway.
The road from Skåne to Stockholm
We took the E4 motorway upwards. It was a real winter landscape we drove through, but the road was salted and it was plus degrees so it was good to drive. When we got higher up, the snow disappeared so that it became bare ground, around Linköping a thin layer of snow appeared again, and in the Stockholm area it disappeared again. All in all, it went well and we arrived happily without any incidents!
Getting to Stockholm
What a strange feeling to arrive in Stockholm today! We parked the motorhome in Pampas marinawhere we have our houseboat, and walked over to Hornsberg beach on Kungsholmen. When we sat down at our local Asian restaurant. Pong it felt like we were just there. Have we really been away for a whole year? It suddenly felt unreal ...
On the way back, we knocked on the door of the houseboat and had a little chat with our tenants, who seem to have enjoyed themselves very much! We got the key to the storage room, and tomorrow we are busy. First we will get a new passport for me (since it expires tomorrow and since we are going to Riga soon) and then we will unpack wet clothes from our water-damaged storage room and call the insurance company...
Ditte says:
Welcome home! And Pong with Asian food I understand felt extra good. (Available at many places in the city, nice enough...)
But sad about the water-damaged storage room. Have probably missed some there.
Good luck and I hope it works out!
22 November 2015 - 22:27
Marie says:
It's a funny thing about being away and coming home. Even if it feels like yesterday, you have a fantastic year to carry with you in memory! Sad with the storage room though, hope it works out!
22 November 2015 - 23:42
solan says:
Yes Freedom, it is strange. We lived in Los Angeles for two years...when I came back to work nothing had happened. And I quickly slipped into the work routine. But all memories stay with you forever, it seems. Positive. So will your year. As I said, we keep up with the blog even without your motorhome... now I'm curious about boating and other trips. 🙂
22 November 2015 - 23:44
stripped says:
Nice to read that you have come home safely to Stokholm. It must have been a bit of a horror to drive in this snowy weather with summer tyres, phew. We have not even thought it was nice to have to drive with winter tyres in Denmark where there has also fallen a lot of snow and it is only a small car.
23 November 2015 - 0:09
BP says:
Thank goodness you made it home in one piece.... But now I'm starting to think about it....
So that you went to Pong for food I understand after a year of "absence". I often do that in Vasaatan too where Pong is located - unfortunate name I must say;-).
But I thought after your post that you would winterise Freedom in Arboga (I think it was) and then go up by car....
So the storage unit that is water damaged is not on your boat. Another mistake on my part, but it might give you some cash;-)
You don't mention the collision with the boat, which means that your tenants are still on "boat freedom" or? When will you move back - or maybe you will exchange with the tenants and move into their apartment/house;-)?
It has been great to follow you on your journey in Europe. Have enjoyed every post and know that I will also enjoy your posts from the Pampas:-))))
23 November 2015 - 0:10
admin says:
Ditte, thank you very much! Yes, we have had water damage in the storage room (in the marina) where we keep all our stuff (clothes, kitchen equipment etc).
Marie, yes, it really is a funny feeling! But of course we have lots of memories and we will carry them with us! 🙂
Solan, interesting to hear how it was when you came back from Lis Angeles! Maybe we will also get back into routines quickly, we'll see. On the other hand, the job situation has changed a bit for us. We have to take one thing at a time... 😉.
Ontripdk, driving with summer tyres in winter conditions is not fun. Luckily it wasn't all the way, but mostly just down in Skåne...!
BP, thank you for your comment! I realise that I have been a little unclear... The tenants rent until the end of November/December. We are going to store in Arboga for the winter, but first we had to go here to mess with water-damaged storage (located in the marina under a pier, underwater), unpack some stuff that will not fit in the Lill car (would have packed it in the storage, but now we will probably have to put cartons at Peter's son for a week instead) and fix with passports for me ... Then we go to Arboga... I know, complicated 😉 The crash with the boat is not super serious, it is only slightly visible on the surface, but we have to investigate that nothing is damaged underneath etc.
23 November 2015 - 4:58
Annalena says:
Welcome home to wintry Sweden! Isn't it strange that life here at home is as usual... 😛 Sorry about the storage room and getting it as the first task. Hope it's just "ordinary" replaceable things that are destroyed and not memories... I commented on a previous post, but it disappeared, that I have read ALL posts from the beginning so I do not intend to stop reading now 🙂 I think the trip has been particularly exciting to read about but just as interesting with doctoral, food and houseboat posts! Hope all come-home missions go well and thank you for a VERY good blog <3
23 November 2015 - 9:37
s p i n d e l t j e j e n says:
How sad with water damage! =(
Pong is wonderful, love the food there 😀.
23 November 2015 - 8:48
Anki says:
Welcome home to Sweden again! Must say that it feels good that it went well all the way home, despite the winter weather....
It has been so interesting and nice to follow you on your year-long journey... thank you for sharing.
I hope that the moisture damage is fixed and that nothing important has been destroyed.
Have fun!
23 November 2015 - 9:52
Ama de casa says:
Welcome home, I guess you could say 🙂 .
I'm glad that the trip in the snow went well, but what a shame about the water damage...
A year really does go by fast, and sometimes faster than usual 🙂.
23 November 2015 - 10:03
Frankie & Co says:
Welcome home and congratulations on a wonderful year of adventure on the road - which we have also enjoyed!
I think Mrs Fortuna will help you solve the problems easily and quickly so that you can soon land quietly in your stationary accommodation on the beautiful Duck / Freedom II - and stay with all the impressions you have gathered as Eurotrotters.
?
23 November 2015 - 10:05
Mr Steve says:
I'm so glad you're happily back home. And you immediately got something to "sink your teeth into". Already planning for the next trip as well. I hope that everything works out for you so that you can also enjoy your return home. It must be a very special feeling to come home after a whole year of travelling.
It has been great fun and instructive to "follow" your journey.
23 November 2015 - 9:17
admin says:
Spider girl, the water damage is sad, but you just have to bite the bullet...
Steve, it's so nice that you "joined" us! It IS a special feeling to come back! A bit of a hassle in the beginning, but we're used to everything not being just a shrimp sandwich 😉.
Annalena, thank you so much for your lovely comment! It really warms to hear that you've been following us for so long and like our blog! 🙂 Your previous comment did not disappear, but I had to approve it first and therefore it took a little while before it was published. It is mainly clothes that have been destroyed, we think, will take a closer look at it today.
Anki, thank you so much! Funny that you followed the trip! It is clothes that have been destroyed the most, a lot of winter clothes and things we bought abroad. Not fun, but that's what happens.
Ama de casa, how time flies! The water damage is unfortunate, but we will deal with it today and get a handle on the situation.
Frankie & Co, thank you and fun that you "followed" on the trip! We may move into the boat 1 Dec, until then it will be a little spin here and there 😉.
23 November 2015 - 10:27
Marina says:
I'm glad you got home on time! And certainly a year goes fast. The thing about coming back home is otherwise a bit strange, for myself it does not matter which "home" I come to or how long I have been away, it is always as if I have never been away from there anyway. Fortunately, you have the trip so well documented, and the memories of your wonderful year are always there!
23 November 2015 - 11:08
Lots of other stuff and some concrete says:
Welcome home!
Typical that there should be snow in Skåne right now. Still, it's nice that we haven't had it up here.
Now I look forward to seeing some houseboat pictures eventually.
Agneta
23 November 2015 - 11:17
Mrs Anne-Marie says:
Welcome back home!
How lucky that it went well despite the big snowstorm. Read about a lot of snow in Denmark.
It must be quite an adjustment to become 'settled' again after such a long period of travelling.
No, how sad about the water damage. And the collision with the boat doesn't sound very good - fortunately it was only a minor injury.
Well, you're off to Riga again. You are today's gypsies perhaps. 😉
It's great that you have so much going on with the blog. Congratulations!
23 November 2015 - 11:38
Role o Carina says:
Welcome home to the cold then, luckily the journey went well in the storm!
All the best for the future......
23 November 2015 - 11:39
admin says:
Marina, you certainly have experience of coming home to different places after long periods of time! Funny how it feels like you haven't been away! 😉
Agneta, houseboat pictures will of course come soon! 🙂 The tenants stay for the month, then we move in!
Anne-Marie, yes, it feels like a change to become a resident! It feels nice that it is at least a boat that moves and where we have nature close - it does not feel so closed! 🙂 And then we are a bit nomadic, have a hard time sitting still 😉.
Rolle and Carina, thank you so much!
23 November 2015 - 13:02
Annika says:
Pong, right next door is where I stay when I'm at home. My sister and brother-in-law live there.
AND now you are home...
I realise that it must feel strange. Very strange indeed.
Hope it feels good, and that you will land nicely in the Swedish soil...or water... 😉.
The year has gone by really fast, I think. Would you like to do it again?
Welcome home!
23 November 2015 - 16:27
Lennart says:
So good that the last bit went smoothly too!
23 November 2015 - 20:55
Matts Torebring says:
Actually, you have made an almost unbeatable journey. How many people would be able to do the journey you made in a motorhome? I wouldn't be afraid to do it, except for summer tyres in winter conditions. However, my dear Birgitta is probably not as adventurous as me. Also, I think our motorhome is a bit big for all your choices. It has been fun travelling with you, even if I have not commented so often.
Thank you for a nice and well organised travel report, without tiring posts. Welcome home!
23 November 2015 - 21:21
admin says:
Annika, I know that your sister lives nearby, now I understand even better how close it is! If we would like to do it again? Not exactly the same trip, but maybe something similar, for example in Eastern Europe! 🙂
Lennart, it's good that it went well, we were a bit worried for a while 😉.
Matts, thank you! It is so nice that you "followed along"! Some roads we have travelled have not been possible with a larger car, but in most places you can make other choices. In Corsica, for example, you can choose a larger road further in instead of the steep adventurous one closest to the sea. Glad to hear that you liked our travel reports! 🙂
23 November 2015 - 23:00
Casa Annika says:
Sorry about the water damage!
Coming home after such a long time... How well you describe it! Imagine that you were actually here in Seville and visited! What a journey you have been on!
24 November 2015 - 5:27
admin says:
Casa Annika, it was so much fun to come home to you and also get some guidance in Seville! In retrospect, it feels like all the meetings and people we met are among the best memories and experiences from the whole trip. Thanks again! 🙂
24 November 2015 - 9:36
Deciree says:
But so sad to start by fixing water damage ... you could definitely have avoided that, I think. Hugs
25 November 2015 - 19:56