The world is beautiful in winter, isn't it? Here in the northern part of Europe, the landscape is embedded in this soft white. We live in a houseboat and many people wonder what happens in winter. Does it get cold? Does the water freeze? No, we can tell you that the water does not freeze. We live in an ice-free marina.
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ShareAn ice-free marina
Let's start with the more concrete question. Many people wonder if it freezes in our marina, but it doesn't. There are propellers that keep the water moving at all times, and this ensures that we have an ice-free harbour. You can see it in the picture. There is ice outside on Lake Mälaren, but Pampas marina is ice-free.
The fact that we have an ice-free marina is of course good for all the boats and houseboats that are here, but the ducks also like it. In recent days we have had large groups of ducks, at least ten of them, hanging out in the open waters here.
The marina seen from Hornsberg beach
We took a walk in the beautiful winter weather yesterday and went over to Hornsberg beach on Kungsholmen. From there you can see over to the houseboats in Pampas marina in Solna. There is ice on Lake Ulvsunda, but the ice looks thin.
The ducks choose the open areas where they can swim. People walk or jog along the waterfront promenade. We like this walk on Hornsberg beach!
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Åsa says:
Yes, snow is beautiful from a distance...
07 January 2016 - 9:46
Mr Steve says:
Nice to see your home neighbourhoods in winter splendour. We live in different worlds.
It is good that it is possible to "trick" the water into not freezing.
07 January 2016 - 9:01
Lennart says:
Beautiful pictures!
But we prefer high summer!
07 January 2016 - 10:38
Comsi Comsa says:
White winter is beautiful and with a little sunshine it becomes very beautiful. ☺
07 January 2016 - 10:49
Ama de casa says:
Oh how nice it looks! And of course it will be beautiful in the winter 🙂
07 January 2016 - 10:52
Marie says:
So nice! Got a little homesick actually after the nice Stockholm pictures in the post! Hope it has gone well with the insurance issues you were fighting with when you came home!
07 January 2016 - 10:55
Mr Frank Olsen says:
Hey!
Nice pictures!!! Do you feed the ends then ?
Is it possible to mark the location of the marina on a map?
I can't find it on google maps......
07 January 2016 - 12:04
Mr Frank Olsen says:
I think I found it anyway:
https://www.google.no/maps/place/Pampas+Marina/@59.3440878,18.0044216,17z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m2!3m1!1s0x465f9d83cf755801:0x964e0afb8ff6d415
07 January 2016 - 12:05
admin says:
Steve, we think it's great that you can "trick" the water, and so do the ducks 😉.
Åsa, haha, it is less cold when you see it in a picture! 😉
Lennart, summer is not bad either! 😉
Comsi Comsa, the sun is doing great! Too bad it goes down so early... 😉.
Ama de casa, I also feel less cold than when it's 1 degree plus and rainy and windy...
Marie, thank you so much for thinking about our insurance issue! We have had everything dry cleaned. About 30 garments are destroyed, but we haven't been informed about compensation yet.
Frank Olsen, we usually don't feed the ducks because then they will soon get into the houseboat... 😉 (They have been on their way before...) Good idea with a map! But yes, you found the right place!
07 January 2016 - 12:07
Shefik veliu says:
Good resolution my friends
07 January 2016 - 12:24
Bosse and Gerd says:
An interesting question - we think - is how can it be that the water does not freeze in the pipes when they (presumably?) hang in the air on their way to the shore?
Using electricity or very thick insulation or both ????
07 January 2016 - 12:27
Katta - Bucketlife says:
Oh, had not realised that you live in the Pampas! How cool, have passed by there so often and thought it would be cool to live like that! I lived on Lindhagensterrassen and in Vasastan before I moved to Norrköping, so Hornsbergs Strand and Karlbergskanalen were my "home port" and I do not know how many walks I have taken past Pampas!
You live there beautifully 🙂
07 January 2016 - 14:29
Role o Carina says:
Winter was more fun when you were younger 🙂 .
Now we prefer Summer,Mc and the Motorhome! 🙂
Take care.......Good luck.....
07 January 2016 - 14:46
German Travelblogger says:
LOVELY Pictures!
xx Lisa - German Travelblogger
07 January 2016 - 14:52
Lena says:
Yeah-but-well? ⛄️
07 January 2016 - 15:02
Annika says:
So much fun!!! I walked right on your houseboat this summer when I walked around the marina. THERE was Freedom, and I immediately thought of you! So nice!
AND thanks for the info on the ice. I have actually wondered about that. Smart solution to the ice problem.
Yes, the marina is wonderfully beautiful in winter. I can imagine that it was extra cosy at Christmas time with all the trees and lights etc.
All the best to you on Freedom!!!
07 January 2016 - 15:24
BP says:
Can't help but laugh a little. Because last summer we were at Hornbergs Strand and I took some pictures at Pampas Marina, where I tried to get Freedom, but failed. Now I finally know where the houseboat is;-)
However, I must say that I prefer Hornsbergs Strand during the summer;-)
07 January 2016 - 14:41
JoY says:
Good for the birds and for you to have no ice scraping against the boat.
I remember one winter I went over to Finland and there was ice scraping against the boat, it was not easy to sleep with that sound!
You certainly live well in the Pampas.
Hugs
07 January 2016 - 16:09
admin says:
Shefik, thank you very much!
Bosse and Gerd, what a great question! 🙂 We have a heating cable with electricity running along the cable out from our boat, which we switch on during the winter months. The rest of the cables to land go under water and apparently it doesn't freeze there.
Katta - Bucketlufe, how nice that you have passed by here so much and feel at home in the area! We enjoy it very much and think we live fantastically 🙂 .
BP, it is actually a bit difficult to see our boat from the other side. It is probably best seen from the restaurant that sticks out into the water, whatever it is called. And yes, it is very nice at Hornsberg's beach in the summer! 🙂
Rolle and Carina, I probably also like summer more, but it's still a bit fascinating with the change of seasons 🙂.
German travelblogger, thank you! 🙂
Annika, what fun! I smile a little when I read 🙂 Yes it is much cosier now than e.g. in November when it is just dark and rough! How good that we could explain about the ice then, there are always some who ask about that! Good continuation!
JoY, ice can be quite loud, so it's probably good that we don't have that noise! 🙂
07 January 2016 - 16:55
Ditte says:
It is beautiful, of course! Very nice pictures both from you and from Hornsberg beach. Glad that the area has been organised now.
It's a bit like my neighbourhood and the Pampas, mostly before the marina was built. Rode here as a child and young and then it was more forest.
The canal is freezing at the moment, but that's no problem for the houseboats here. And the electricity works....
Of course I will vote for you... Of course!
07 January 2016 - 20:02
Matts Torebring says:
Is it freezing? you write. Aren't you freezing? How do you get and keep warm in the boat? Enjoy the cold.
07 January 2016 - 20:40
admin says:
Ditte, Hornsberg beach used to look very different! But it has become very nice, I think! Thank you so much for voting for us! We are so happy 🙂 I will write a post about it tomorrow as well because everyone may not see the icon (especially if you read on the iPhone or in an RSS reader).
Matts, no, we are not cold! The walls are well insulated and we have 3 glass windows. We have underfloor heating on the lower deck and in the living room. In the kitchen we have radiators. We also have an air source heat pump on the lower deck. And if this would not be enough - then we can make a fire in the stove 🙂.
07 January 2016 - 21:13
Helga says:
What an adjustment it must be for those of you who have just returned home. It is beautiful but cold. Brrrr...
07 January 2016 - 23:13
Mr Lars Permelin says:
It's nice to have some cabin heat in the houseboat as well.
08 January 2016 - 0:06
admin says:
Helga, yes, it is an adjustment! In any case, it feels good that we enjoy the houseboat! 🙂
Lars Permrlin, it absolutely does! We are warm and cosy in the boat 🙂.
08 January 2016 - 7:54
Mary of Rövarhamn says:
Wonderful pictures. Not without making me a little jealous. Once a boater always a boater - in the soul 🙂 /Linda
08 January 2016 - 21:26
admin says:
Mary af Rövarhamn, we are cosy here, and we hope you will come and visit us! 🙂
08 January 2016 - 23:58
Elisabeth says:
The boat is nicely located! Close to the centre!
11 January 2016 - 15:58
Steel city anna says:
Beautiful! Long time since I saw Stockholm in snow ...
12 January 2016 - 13:57
Inga M says:
Nice to see the marina in its winter colours! And interesting that you can prevent ice formation by having propellers running. Guess it will be needed in the coming week as well when the temperature threatens to drop significantly.
Of course, I wonder how you are doing now with the transition to home life again after travelling. How is it going with everyday life? And with work?
13 January 2016 - 6:00
admin says:
Elisabeth, we think we live well! 🙂 Nice to be close to the city!
Steel city Anna, it will be so nice when it becomes white! 🙂
No M, the propellers are probably running most of the time in winter, I think. Yes, it's interesting about the transition to everyday life. I may have to write about it again soon 😉 I lost my permanent position, but am working on a temporary project (interview study) at Karolinska Institutet. Peter has started with a carpentry job at home with a private customer.
13 January 2016 - 7:08