Okay, here we go, and this is Peter talking on Fridays. After an apartment deal, we had 300,000 in the account. We had worked hard and now we were going to travel and the kids were coming with us. We booked New Zealand for all four with adventures every day for three weeks, and planned the journey from the North to the South Island with maps and in kilometres.
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ShareNow we had to agree on how to get there. Helena researched several options and suggested a campervan. I looked at her as if she were an alien and said, DO I LOOK LIKE A CAMPER?
Table of contents
2 Dream holidays
We were already up to around 130,000 kronor for everything and she thought that a motorhome for 10,000 for three weeks is really good, and otherwise it will be bed & breakfast for 30,000. I gave in and we booked for Christmas. We also wanted to take the railway through Russia, so we booked that at the same time, but then we ended up in China.
We fly from China to Thailand and the kids fly from Sweden to Thailand at the same time and we meet there, great idea. Now we can have three weeks together after the railway and fly home together, cool, we booked. Now we have booked up for SEK 270,000 and it felt just right after all the work, and these were our 2 dream trips.
Problems at school
My youngest son Billie had struggled through 2nd and 3rd grade and was not doing well. He was put in a small class with 6 children and started 4th grade. My ex couldn't cope with all this, so Helena and I took the schooling and the weeks and the ex took the weekends.
There were still a lot of problems at school. School meetings once a week, BUP and investigations and everything that goes with it. The job suffered enormously. Billie was like the sun at our house, studying happily every night and we had no idea what was wrong.
Russia
In the summer we travelled on the Trans-Mongolian Railway. We had also studied Russian in the autumn and spring and now we could read Russian letters. We had several days in Moscow, got off in Irkutsk and saw Lake Baikal, on the train again.
We got off in Mongolia and rode and slept out on the steppe, on again and got off in China. We had several days in China before we flew to Thailand and met the children from Sweden. Now it was 3 weeks on Koh Samui and a cosy holiday. Cool round trip for 6 weeks.
Adventure
For Christmas we flew to New Zealand and damn how far it was. 33 hours of travel and there was that campervan at the airport when we got there and left-hand traffic, hello and hope. Completely exhausted, we found a shop and bought food, then went to a campsite, but there was no dinner because all four fell asleep and slept for 15 hours thanks to the time change.
NOW WE ARE GOING! All days were already booked from Sweden with an adventure every day. Bungee jumping, horseback riding, swimming with dolphins, whale watching, kayaking, rafting, seeing an active volcano, rolling around in big balls from a mountain, seeing penguins, boating in glaciers and much more in Adventure Land.
Discovering motorhome life
Left-hand traffic was difficult as you went over single-lane bridges and automatically went to the right afterwards, haha. When you meet a lorry that hangs on the horn and shows the finger, you know that you are on the wrong side. This with a motorhome was really cool and to just stand in nature and live in new places, wow! Not stupid at all.
Home again and 4 changes of flight and breakfast on every damn plane. We flew back in time so there was always breakfast. During this time my oldest son Robin had met a girl and he was soooo in love for the first time in his life. Every distance we drove he wanted to sleep away the time. Something bigger was happening.
Feast
My youngest son Billie had major problems throughout 5th grade, and I continued to travel between work and school. I had no overtime jobs then and Helena and I spent a lot of time on Billie and homework in the evenings. 10 minutes of homework always became about two hours because we speculated about everything in life. My oldest son Robin turned 20 and of course we organised a party with all his friends at our home.
Hallelujah
Billie started 6th grade and everything turned around. He became a ray of joy even at school and even dared to stand on stage in performance in front of others, what happiness. At the same time we inherited some money from Helena's family. IS THIS TRUE? Of course she got the money, but the money went to us. I have never received a penny in my entire life without working hard for it, so for me it felt like winning the lottery. We knew what to do with the money. BUY A CAR!
The great journey starts here
We went through the whole market and looked at several. We settled on a one-year-old Adria and the seller wanted 480,000. We said we'll give 450,000 and we'll come the next day and buy the motorhome. We went by train to Dalarna and bought our white motorhome. Immediately, my brain started working at full speed again with, how can you make this campervan? Well, here we go again!
Next week: FREEDOM is born, school goes to hell for Billie again and more travelling. Now it's your turn to give me a yummy story!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the Here is my life part 7
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FREEDOMtravel's travel plans for autumn and winter 2023
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FREEDOMtravel road trip in Poland and southern Sweden
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Lennart says:
Life changes completely with a motorhome!
18 November 2016 - 7:22
Peter Bergström says:
Lennart: It was much more than that. The inheritance-the motorhome-the blog-new friends-one year's travel-and all the air travel we do today-and maybe a new career. Money well spent. Enjoy your weekend.
18 November 2016 - 7:57
Ama de casa says:
What a busy time! But WOW what trips! What a lot of coincidences there are here in life - nice to hear what it was that woke up the camper in you 🙂 .
We never became motorhome people, we stuck to tents. Mostly because I'm so stubborn. However, we have travelled on a canal boat in England once and in France five times. Maybe it reminds you of a motorhome? A houseboat that you steer yourself up and down after calm waters 🙂.
Have a great Friday - looking forward to the next instalment!
18 November 2016 - 8:01
Dawan says:
Thank you for sharing! Haven't read the other parts but will when I have time!
18 November 2016 - 8:02
Lisa & life on the bright side says:
The investment in travelling. There really is nothing better.
18 November 2016 - 8:08
Peter Bergström says:
Ama de Casa: There are so many cool things to see and do and you always miss something. The canal boats sound really cool and I would like to do that. haha, Houseboat on the lake is probably houseboat, or what do you say?
Nice week.
Dawan: Thank you for writing and I hope you like the others too. Have a nice week.
Lisa & Life from the bright side: Hi Lisa! The fact that this investment brought us all the way here today as I sit and write to you and everyone else, is very cool. Travelling is what you remember most in life, because it leaves such an impression. Have a wonderful week Lisa.
18 November 2016 - 8:49
Eva - People in the Street says:
What amazing trips with unbeatable experiences! truly memories for life!
During this time, I went on a girls' trip to New York and fell in love with the city while finding my soul mate and true love on the other side of the railway at the football field where my daughters were playing on the same team.
Reversed my decision to let a man into my house and we decide that experiences and travelling are what we will fill our life together with (plus a new garage and bigger living room). I passed on my love of New York to Stefan and in May we will be travelling there for the eighth time.
18 November 2016 - 9:38
Goatfish says:
So Friday is here and I get to read the continuation of the novel, great! 😀
Sitting here and dropping my jaw, because life has really been a carousel, a roller coaster, for you! Not the easiest with worries about the children, but with a large portion of love, it works out in the end in most cases.
And travelling is just so WONDERFUL!
Happy Friday to you 😀 and tomorrow, I'm going to a party 😀.
18 November 2016 - 10:03
Mr Steve says:
So I'm sitting here again on Friday morning and am a little taken after reading your post. Now I also know a little more about the background to FREEDOM and more will come next Friday. Fun!
As usual, I am fascinated by how you manage everything that comes up on your journey through life.
At the moment, I can't think of any yummy stories of my own to offer back as I'm busy gobbling up whatever you offer.
Wishing you a great weekend!
18 November 2016 - 10:22
Across the board says:
What a fantastic trip and of course you look like a camper Peter! It is only the tracksuit that is missing, but it will probably soon be on the picture because you have started training again hahaha
18 November 2016 - 10:26
nils-åke says:
We were not globetrotters before the motorhome came into our lives. BUT we had a caravan and we travelled around Sweden, Norway and Finland with the children. At first we travelled with the car and rented rooms afterwards. It went well too.
Every parent has had their share of struggles with schools and children.
18 November 2016 - 10:31
Elin is travelling says:
It's so fun to read about how it all started. I'm glad you decided on the caravan option in New Zealand, otherwise this blog might not have existed. ....
18 November 2016 - 10:43
Ditte says:
Thank you for an entertaining read! And travelling is a way of life and money has not yet stopped me from travelling. Have prioritised other things if needed.
Travelling with children is something I'm very glad we did.
Among the coolest trips with them there was probably a blah road trip in the USA, California, Las Vegas, Grand Canyon and later flights to Hawaii where we jumped around. And of course a stop in N.Y. for a few days.
A road trip along the entire east coast of the USA has also been organised, with a flight from Florida to the Dominican Republic.
Motorhome life has consisted of renting a camper in the USA for a few weeks and later in New Zealand but that's all. In our youth we travelled with a tent + car in the US but then other accommodation has taken over during our trips.
I was never a camper at heart.
18 November 2016 - 10:47
Peter Bergström says:
Eva-People in the street: I'm glad you went back on your decision. You also got a bigger house, so Stefan was a good investment, haha. Sharing travel experiences is just too wonderful, and mixing it with travelling with kids and sometimes yourself is very charming. Thanks for letting me hear a bit about you Eva. Have a nice weekend with the family.
Geddfish: Hi Gerd! Sometimes it has perhaps been a little too up and down, but I have contributed to it myself as well. I will always get into everything, phew and redo everything I see, haha. Hope you get such a very nice party in the November darkness. IT IS NEEDED! Nice weekend.
Steve: Haha, I take it and thank you for liking what I write. The investment on the motorhome has paid off a hundred times over, and I'm writing with you here today, and only that:-). Have a nice weekend Steve and say hello to your wife.
Across: Haha so true! Now we're training every day again and it's perfect for the winter months. I had no connection to the camping life before New Zealand so it was a real crash. Have a good week and say hello to your half.
Nils-Åke: Of course, everyone has had their duels with the children more or less. Travelling around with a caravan has not been my thing, but it must have been wonderful fun for the children. We had a summer cottage in the archipelago and we went there every hour that was left. So we can call it almost camping, haha. Nice weekend Nisse.
Elin Reser: Hi Elin! Firstly, I want to say thank you for reading and writing. I appreciate it:-). What would we have done without these decisions? Poorer lives, yes! Have a great week and take care of yourself.
Ditte: Thank you for the entertaining reading and it is as usual absolutely fantastic. I don't really know what I am in my soul, by the way, a seeker. today I can search together with someone who loves it too and it is much more fun. I think I see all ways of travelling with different means of transport as variation. Who wants to eat macaroni every day? We would never have been able to do our trip around Europe today without the motorhome and make it financially, so it's worth its weight in gold. Have a great week and take care of yourself.
18 November 2016 - 11:24
Fantasy Dining says:
You've certainly had a lot of time on your hands!
18 November 2016 - 11:52
Emma, sun like sun? says:
You seem to have energy for a whole bunch of people, think you stole mine! 🙂
What a lot you have been through, I keep thinking. And I haven't done anything, I think over and over again.
But then I stop and think about everything that I have actually done, that I have gone through and yes, I have probably filled the time with life. Maybe not all the time, but breaks are good too.
18 November 2016 - 14:03
Peter Bergström says:
Fantasy Dining: There has been a lot of travelling over the years and a lot thanks to the blog, so we thank you. By the way, welcome to Nordic Nomads and have a cosy weekend.
Emma, sun as sun: I still have so much energy and I want so much. Now it's mostly fighting my way into the market via the internet, and it's a different way of working than what I'm used to. I also think you've done a lot, but you forget a lot of things. I've brought some of it out now as I write and it's been great fun. Have a nice weekend Emma.
18 November 2016 - 14:13
Anna says:
You get so hungry to test the motorhome life :). We have been in it a few times so we will see, it may be one day .... 🙂
18 November 2016 - 15:05
Marianne - Glimpses of the world says:
So fun to hear about how the campervan life started! Glad you were persuaded to try camping in New Zealand, then?
18 November 2016 - 16:06
Anette Åhnbrink says:
Lovely to read about your travels, needed today, when will the s t-weather disappear? As I said, we started seriously with a motorhome in 2004, when we bought a brand new large alcove car, wonderful times! And of course the first long trip went to Greece! But we cheated a bit, it had to be a ferry from Ancona, and then we drove around like crazy! Was over to Zakynthos, how we now could drive with that car there? The funny, or sad one should perhaps say, had a new camera, nothing remarkable, but when we got home and the pictures were downloaded on the computer, there was some little son who pushed away the whole album ....
Fortunately, I always write a diary, but I know that I took fantastic pictures on Zakynthos, and I realise that it still bothers me today! We have since been on the way there again, but there is so much you want to see, so a few years later we were close, had travelled by ferry from Lefkas to Kefalonia, and once there we were in the choice and anguish, but it was a ferry to the mainland because it started to burn on Kefalonia, and we had been there on Zakynthos, so no more island!
I understand that the time with the younger son has been hard, I know myself how it is with meetings, meetings, meetings and constantly trying to get everyone to pull in the same direction, it's not easy, today, soon it's Friday fun, I'm sitting here myself, and know, that they can manage all three, even if the mother's wallet would have to be a little bigger ...
Have a nice weekend, next week we will be in your neighbourhood! Be well both of you/Anette
18 November 2016 - 16:18
Role o Carina says:
What a wonderful journey you have made through life, quite rightly done by you!
And motorhome life is just sooo lovely!
We are soon on our 4th since 2005 🙂 🙂 .
Have a good time and travel on through life...Happy Holidays....
18 November 2016 - 17:17
BP says:
No, you do not look / looked like a camper and will probably never do it either; -) Not Helena either for that matter. That's what separates you from the usual "motorhome people", where most are pansies.
You have experienced an incredible amount and seized the opportunity when it came along and didn't wait for "then". Absolutely right! Imagine how many doors it has opened for you and for us readers too.
Oh Billie seems to resent her dad a bit. If I remember correctly, you weren't the world's best (school) child either;-) But even for Billie it has probably worked out.
The tastiest thing I can think of for the same time you were doing your dream trips - and it's not even remotely exciting in comparison - is that I got my dream job as a graphic designer after a few years of unemployment. Layouting three specialised magazines and books was the best job I ever had. Then again, I've only had fun jobs.
Great pictures by the way! The photo of the railway station in Siberia is incredibly cool!
18 November 2016 - 17:30
Peter Bergström says:
Anna: I think you should rent privately first and it has become quite cheap. Take it towards the summer and experience 2-3 weeks, and feel the feeling. Have a nice weekend Anna.
Hi Marianne - Glimpse of the World: Travelling started the blog when we got a glimpse of the world. The goddess of fate wanted this so we just follow along:-). Have a nice week.
Anette Åhnbrink: Thank you Anette for a great story! I have lost a lot of photos over the years that have been on my previous computers. I have had to ask family and friends for some photos in the past that I have taken in Macro. You have made wonderful trips with the motorhome and you use it very often. I understand you because it is my home in FREEDOM. We don't want to go to the same place again so our 6 weeks around central Europe this spring will be exciting. Have a great week and let me know when you are around next week. Say hello to the old man too.
Rolle & Carina: We have previously chosen to fly over Christmas/New Year to see the Asian countries and it has been exciting in the winter. We find it difficult to replace the motorhome. It is a brand today, but it will be re-clothed and the design is ready. It is a security to know your car too and we feel at home in it. Have a good weekend.
Hi BP and a big thank you: I had a look at your site last week and it must still be selling today, one hundred per cent. The pictures are cool and a lot of future in so it's just to run again. We had the chance to keep that apartment that we sold and make a big apartment of 120 km. It would have been one of the larger ones in old Sundbyberg in that case, but then we would have done like many others and postponed our trips. If you start with that, you will never get away and will never experience anything. So yes, we take the chances when they come. Have a nice rainy weekend BP:-).
18 November 2016 - 18:34
Ama de casa says:
Hmm... A houseboat on the lake is probably a houseboat in all situations. But if it moves around, it might remind you of a motorhome? Or possibly a caravan... 😀.
Have a great Friday night there in the house... ugh. Have a great Friday night, quite simply 🙂.
18 November 2016 - 19:19
Matts Torebring says:
Your Helena and the motorhome must be some of the best things that have happened to you and that you have experienced.
18 November 2016 - 19:39
Steel city anna says:
Wow, what journeys! Fun to have made such long trips. And fun for me to read and follow along, because I think that a small train ride to the nearest city as a day trip is a fully sufficient adventure 🙂 but now I've got to see some other things anyway 🙂.
18 November 2016 - 22:40
Ruth in Virginia says:
Adventure, adventure. I have usually been alone.
My first and biggest 'dare to do' was
to cross the Atlantic ("without wiping my tears with my mitten",
as Petter Jönsson did) to Worcester, Massachusetts,
where my sponsor lived. Had no job and only 80
dollars. Got a job as a driver and companion to an elderly lady.
Had my own little Studebaker and my own cottage. Dream job.
Accompanied the couple to Florida, where I responded to an advert for a job.
worked as a secretary at a country club outside Chicago. Got
work without any problems. A fun summer, with many of the employees being
college kids. When the club closed in October, I decided to head out to the west coast before returning to Sweden. I had saved some money, as I had room and board at the club. -
In those days, you could drive used cars from the area.
where the cars were manufactured for western destinations. Answered an advert and got a car to Salt Lake City. Got punk ice out in the cornfields of Iowa, and in Nebraska the block froze, but otherwise it went well. 🙂
Stayed in SLC for a while and had a great time after meeting several college kids from Iran. Had worked for Irano-Swedish in Sthlm,
so I knew a lot about their country, which was unusual.
From SLC, I got a Cadillac to deliver to the
a car company in Las Vegas. Las Vegas at the time - 1952 - consisted of ONE big...
hotels and bars with swinging doors ala Wild West along the street,
now called The Strip. I really felt like a country bumpkin when...
I was walking down the street with my old suitcase. Wanted to leave as soon as possible. Went to the bus station, washed and changed my clothes; took the first bus to Los Angeles, where I landed at 3am. A bus-
station at that time is not something to get excited about. Old men slept on
benches; it was foggy or smoggy. Fortunately, there was a bus
to San Francisco in a few hours, and I was the first to board.
San Francisco was going to be my last 'stop' on the return journey but
it became something completely different.
Enough for this time.
18 November 2016 - 22:59
LinizTravel says:
What a "journey with life" and how much you travelled!!! Great to read about
All adventures I hope billie is doing well!!! Hugs
18 November 2016 - 23:57
BP says:
Answer: Soooooo glad you checked out my "art page" from the past. There were many reasons why I closed it down in 2009. But the main reason was that computer components were not as "attractive" for computer art anymore. No good old-fashioned "gold processors" as found in desktop computers. Just components in the wrong colour and not suitable - because laptops had taken over more and more. No fun in there, I can tell you... No muscles anymore either.
Another reason was that my frame supplier closed down/retired at 72! He imported frames directly from Italy and Spain - no Gallerix frames so to speak. In my eyes, my paintings should be 50/50 - content and frame should form a work of art together, which they did.
So the other day I decided to throw away the few leftovers I had. It stung a bit. But everything has its time according to me. The husband does not agree;-)
PS. What an absolutely wonderful comment by Ruth on your post. That girl has really been through a lot, a lot of things. And at a time when neither you nor I were even born. WOW I just say. I think she should write a book. What an amazing woman! DS.
19 November 2016 - 0:02
Peter Bergström says:
Ama de Casa: Haha, you are too nice. I think we need to run into each other sometime and talk about houses, haha.
Matts Torebring: I can say that I don't need to apply anymore. Now I have an equal and we walk the same path and we apply together for everything fun in life. Have a nice weekend Matts.
Steel city Anna. Thank you Anna and we will come up with much more because we always end up in adventures. I'm glad you like what I write. Have a nice weekend.
19 November 2016 - 1:20
Peter Bergström says:
Ruth in Virginia. I'm so glad I started this series and read about your and Ditte Acker's life and I just say WOW!!!! What a wonderful thing to hear and it feels like you enjoy telling the story, and I am a very good listener. You know that I am an inquisitive character. What you tell is a completely different world and absolutely incredible to put yourself in and I love it! Thank you for sharing with me and several others here. I am waiting for next Friday so take care of yourself Ruth. Peter
BP: What to say? I am speechless and happy to get her stories. You still have your pictures and you never know how they will be used. I think they are cool and I haven't seen this kind of art before, me like. Have a nice weekend. Now it's half past two in the morning and it's so windy and I'm going to sleep for a while.
19 November 2016 - 2:29
åsa in åsele says:
Really THANK YOU for sharing your interesting life.
A big THANK YOU to Ruth in Virginia, a lovely woman who has been through a lot in her life, very interesting, I am glad she is sharing her story.
I've always found the Transmongolian railway exciting.
Russia is a completely different country from Sweden in terms of everything from past to present, culture and everyday life.
Australia is a country I've wanted to visit... but it's a long way off 😉.
19 November 2016 - 14:56
Peter Bergström says:
Åsa in Åsele: Thank you Åsa! There are so many countries we want to see in our short life and we have to prioritise. If you ever get the opportunity to go somewhere, write to us and you will get lots of recommendations on what is good. Have a great week.
20 November 2016 - 10:03
Anna, Travel on a Cloud says:
Wonderful to read! What trips you have made and how perfect with the unexpected income that could go to the motorhome. Just as fun to read every time about how this (infinite?) energy you always channeled on something new. Hope and believe of course that it worked out for Billie in the end!
20 November 2016 - 14:24
Marina says:
Fantastically wonderful trips!!! Nice to find out how it happened when you became a "camper", sometimes the coincidences are fantastic!
21 November 2016 - 4:08