Continuation of motorhome life - Maria and Jöran's review

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Guest writers: Maria and Jöran

How we loved our Kontiki! Nice body, big bright windows, lots of light inside! The Kontiki is still our favourite. It had only one fault, a big one: the engine. An old sour diesel engine.

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Kontiki's era ends

No matter how much Jöran downshifted and chugged up the Hallansåsbacken, we didn't know if we would make it up. When even the lorries drive past UPPER, you might understand. So with sadness we decided to trade away this gem.

The Seagulls start

In May 2015 it became an Adria Coral 660 from 2004. Bigger inside but smaller windows and light. We name all our vehicles, as many others with us do.

Both of us had read a book that we really liked: The Seagull by Richard Bach. It is about a free seagull that does not listen to the flock but flies its own way. Perfect name!

(By the way emji kontiki was the first motorhome and emji stands for our initials for those who wonder: M J. )

First trip

I didn't really like driving this one because I thought it was wobbly as soon as there was the slightest wind. Fortunately, Jöran likes to drive and I like to sit next to it. Perfect distribution, everyone does what they are best at and enjoy.

This Seagull was not very reliable either. Already on the first day of the holiday it started to malfunction. Outside Värnamo there was a stop on our journey down to Skåne.

Fortunately, there was a nice parking space right by the river. The next day it was a trip to Hedin's car workshop. Jöran could borrow the garage and he had all the tools as usual. The guys at the workshop were both impressed and curious. They seemed to have a nice time down in the engine and solved it all.

Holidays in Skåne

There were then nice days along the coast of Halland and Skåne. We found a nice campsite at Skallkrokens harbour. The big test of this trip was of course Hallansåsbacken. Would it go better with this motorhome? Yes! Jöran finally got to be the one who drove the lorries and that on the 5th gear. It was Båstad, Falsterbo, Ystad, Kåseberga, Vik, Åhus, Torsö harbour and Karlshamn plus all the small places in between.

There are many laughs in the motorhome and we get to see a lot when we have the GPS set to avoid motorways. One example was when we saw a sign for a swimming area and we said: "Great! Coffee by the sea!" but end up in a car park next to a bathhouse ...

We've realised that it's fun to learn more about what we see, so we always have a "Wikipedia of the day". Something we've seen along the way that we go into depth about what it is. "Which is Sweden's smallest municipality. Who was ...? When ...?"

Trouble again

After travelling around Skåne, we were on our way home again. We would only stop at a couple of acquaintances in Ronneby when The Seagull left again.

What luck you have everything in a motorhome anyway. While we waited for the tow truck, we picked out the coffee and tea and sat outside by the roadside and had coffee. There we sat when he came.

"Do you want a cup?"

He laughed and shook his head. A little confused:

"Aren't you angry? Most people I pick up are disappointed that their holiday plans are ruined."

"No, why? It doesn't change anything? It is what it is and you have to make the best of the situation! Get on with it!"

Yes, we get disappointed and swear, but not for long. But The Seagull had a new name: FUCK YOU!

Karlskrona

So it came to pass that we had to spend a few involuntary days in the Karlskrona. There turned out to be a lot to look at so the days went by quickly anyway.

The Marine Museum was well worth a visit as was the Blekinge Museum. Plus visits to friends in Ronneby.

After the weekend, the car was repaired. It was apparently not so bad. Something with badly repaired cables from before our time ... hm ... but now all broken parts were replaced and the whole engine was checked! Just on it again! We chose to continue home, take it out so we could drive around and look at a new motorhome. Our next trip we knew would go to Italy so we thought of something smaller and more flexible. What it became you will see in the next post!

We would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a Happy New Year!

/ eMJi

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Jöran and Maria Selin

Jöran and Maria are the names behind the former blog Magnolia Magis. They sold the house and lived 3 years outside first in a motorhome then a caravan. Travelling mostly in Sweden and Europe. Today they have switched to a small cabin in the forest and a camping-equipped Land Rover Defender with which they hope for many nice trips.

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