How is it among the houseboats in Pampas marina in the middle of winter? Just yesterday I (Helena) was asked if it is cold to live in a houseboat, but we are not the least bit cold. I freeze a lot at work during the day and every day it is nice to come home to our warm cosy boat! It's also really nice now that it's white and wintry all around.
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Among the houseboats in the Pampas marina
Welcome to peek into our "street" here on the blog! We live on D-bridge here in Pampas marina in Solna, together with a bunch of other houseboats and especially "aquavillas". Aquavillas are a kind of floating villas that have been built by Aquavilla AB, a subsidiary of Pampas marina.
In addition to aquavillas, there are a number of other houseboats of various models, such as ours. Right now it's winter and snow, but Pampas marina is careful to plough and sand our docks, so it's fine to stay here even at this time of year.
Ice on Lake Ulvsunda
The ice is on Lake Ulvsunda right now and we can look out onto it between the aqua villas. On the other side of the ice-covered lake we see Hornsberg beach on Kungsholmen in Stockholm.
Ice-free in the marina
However, when we look inside the marina there is no ice, so what is the reason? Well, the marina has put propellers in the water to keep the marina ice-free. Staying ice-free is better for the boats, and it also happens to make the ducks love this place.
Lively bird life in the marina
In winter, our ice-free marina is full of ducks and on some days you can see twenty at once. After a while, they often want to split into pairs, and if they go evenly upwards, things are calm and peaceful. However, if it ends up being two males and a female... then you can expect a fight!
Right now, the ducks are feeling springtime and we have a pair that display their little act in front of our kitchen window every morning. It starts with both throwing their heads a few times, then he does his thing (we're not talking about many seconds here) and then he swims a lap of honour.
Another bird-related thing that happened this week is that one half of the swan pair was taken away in an ambulance. He (she?) had broken his (her?) leg and the animal carers were here and picked up by animal ambulance. The other half of the pair has been swimming around here alone for the last few days. We wish the injured swan a speedy recovery!
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Mr Nils-Åke Hansson says:
Stockholm in winter splendour. But isn't it a bit slippery on the bridges to and from the houseboats.
Here at home in the Helsingborg area we have a brilliant sunny morning. Went up to the shopping centre car park this morning to get the sun right on me.
More like ours here!
24 February 2018 - 8:12
Helena says:
Wonderful that you have sun today! We have that too 🙂 Pampas ploughs and sands on the piers, so it is not slippery 😉.
24 February 2018 - 10:30
Emma says:
What fantastic pictures? what kind of camera do you use? Hugs
24 February 2018 - 10:02
Helena says:
Thanks, glad you like the photos Emma! I use the Nikon D5200.
24 February 2018 - 10:30
Matts Torebring says:
If you have a sauna in your houseboat, you can easily take a dip in the ice-free water afterwards. In 2009 we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary at Små Dalarö Gård. Then the ice was thick, but even there was a propeller in the water, outside the sauna bridge. It was so kaaaall, but I felt like a completely new person afterwards. Try it when you are so close to a winter dip.
24 February 2018 - 12:34
Helena says:
Hehe, yes technically they would work great with a winter dip here. However, I am not so keen .... 😉 However, have heard of others here who have bathed some New Year's Eve! Although there is no sauna ...
24 February 2018 - 17:37
Seija Viiitamäki-Carlsson says:
Lovely day report. We, Kjell and I have friends opposite you on Kungsholm beach. We watch you from their balcony and this summer they have a small boat in the marina. Hope we can see you sometime in the marina, not just at the Motorhome Show..Thanks again for being so active?
24 February 2018 - 13:46
Helena says:
But what fun that you have friends opposite! Then maybe we can meet sometime in spring/summer if you come by the marina!?
24 February 2018 - 17:38
Liniz Travel says:
So it looks really cosy 🙂 nice weekend hugs
24 February 2018 - 13:55
Helena says:
We are cosy here! You can come by some day, maybe when it feels even more spring in the air! 🙂
24 February 2018 - 17:39
Mr Steve says:
It's a lovely home environment you have. Isn't it great to have wildlife around? Have a nice weekend!
24 February 2018 - 15:23
Helena says:
We like the wildlife! 🙂
24 February 2018 - 17:39
Britt-Marie Lundgren says:
What a wonderful local environment you have! On a day like today it is so beautiful outside and we have really used it to "test drive" a new camera body and lens at Lake Hornborga. No cranes yet and for their own sake it's probably good if it takes a few more months....
24 February 2018 - 15:57
Helena says:
Hope there were some good pictures, even if the cranes were not there yet! 🙂
24 February 2018 - 17:40
BP says:
Lovely pictures from your "neighbourhood". Pampas Marina is really well maintained and it looks as inviting now as during the summer. Fun with a little spring love around the corner, I mean the hull;-)
24 February 2018 - 18:18
Laila MA - Around the Equator says:
Great pictures and how wonderful you live 🙂
25 February 2018 - 9:04
Lena - good for the soul says:
Wonderful pictures from a wonderful living environment!
Hug Lena
25 February 2018 - 14:36
Steel city anna says:
Looks really nice. Beautiful light. And nice that you have warm on the boat 🙂 .
01 March 2018 - 21:48