Time for everyday life in the houseboat again! It was so much fun travelling around Sweden with our South African friends, and we are so grateful for this great friendship! But yes, now it's still a little nice to be back home in everyday life.
Tweet
Share
Share
Pin
Share
ShareTable of contents
Back home after the motorhome trip with our South African friends
The campervan trip in Sweden, together with Henri and Michelle, was amazing and will be a memory for life. It was special to experience your own country together with friends from another culture.
How did four people manage to travel in a motorhome? Unexpectedly well! Of course it felt cramped at times, but if we were to choose to do this with anyone in the world, it would be Henri and Michelle. We were all good at giving each other space, and we also had a lot of fun together!
We'll tell you more soon! There will be a post about the last part of the journey soon (from Läckö Castle to Sala silver mine) and a post about what Henri and Michelle thought of Sweden. Don't miss it!
Houseboat life - with a fix in the houseboat
Now we are alone in the houseboat again, and Henri and Michelle are in Gothenburg, where she is competing in the heptathlon in World Masters Athletics Gothenburg Championchips 2024. We wish you good luck!
So, what do we do? We live the houseboat life and everyday life, which means we wash clothes, clean, work, exercise and watch TV. Peter is in a "fixing period" and has started to fix our laundry room/boiler room. There was a new floor and a new dehumidifier. Feels very fresh and good!
Jobs and preparations for the Elmia fair
We also work, as I said, with our digital travel magazine FREEDOMtravel. This means, among other things, that we write reports, handle guest writers' reports, answer emails, discuss collaborations on sponsored articles and adverts, present statistics to partners, take care of accounting and much more.
We have also started preparing for the Elmia fair, where we are involved in organising Destination Square - a place with exhibitors, lectures, award ceremonies and other fun, all with a focus on where you want to travel with your campervan. You can already check out the exciting lecture programme - at the link above and on the Elmia website!
Last chance to vote for Destination Sweden 2024
A new feature at Elmia Husvagn Husbil 2024 is that you are involved in deciding which destination will be "Destination Sweden of the Year 2024"! Five Swedish destinations have been nominated and the readers' / fair participants' votes will decide who wins! You can vote until 20 August. When you vote, you also have the chance to win fair tickets!
The winner will be announced on Saturday 14 September at 16:00. Location: Destination Stage Rydbergsalen in the Congress Centre, Elmia Husvagn Husbil, Jönköping.
Best this week
The best thing this week? It's being home again, and at the same time being able to enjoy the nice trip to Sweden we made together with Henri and Michelle. Now we appreciate simple things, like catching up on work, resting, exercising and watching some TV. Your turn... what can you highlight as a positive from the week?
The week ahead
We haven't had much time to plan, but we'll probably be home for a while. Here at FREEDOMtravel you can expect reports from our latest trip, mixed with some guest articles. Now we take the opportunity to wish you a really nice Friday and weekend!
Did you miss the last Happy Friday? Read the We experience Sweden with new eyes
You might also like:
English (UK) 
Svenska 
Deutsch 
Suomi 
Polski
Lena - good for the soul says:
I'm glad your trip went so well! And I can imagine that they appreciated your commitment! I thought of a question for them a few days ago, but forgot about it. But maybe you know. When we went to Tanzania (mainland plus Zanzibar) we were pumped full of vaccinations. And you (read me) think that Sweden is so "clean". But, did they have to take vaccinations before travelling here?
My favourite part of the week has to be that we were able to go on a variant of a holiday trip with the motorhome. Staying at a campsite for eight nights (Årsunda Stranbad outside Sandviken). I get a change of scenery and relaxation while Andreas (who works during the day) gets a holiday in the evenings and weekends.
Have a nice Friday!
Hug Lena
16 August 2024 - 10:29
Helena says:
Hi Lena, I asked now, they didn't take any vaccines when they went here... Nice with little trip with the camper! Wish you a nice weekend!
16 August 2024 - 15:42
Lena - good for the soul says:
Thanks for asking! 🙂
Thank you, we are doing our best to squeeze out the last days!
17 August 2024 - 9:28
Monica says:
Fantastic to do a long journey and with great friends. And so fun to share experiences with more people and be able to talk about everything and enjoy together. Was really nice and memory for life. So fun to have it in mind.
And nice to come home too and the fixer has energy😊joyed it with getting so much new and nice for autumn.
Best thing this week is that I survived the dentist, drilled for an implant so the screw is in place and should heal before the tooth is put there. Was hesitant and probably did not intend to do anything but became so. And incredibly glad I did not do it at the beginning of the summer. Will take the stitches after ten days.
It's also nice that it's such a nice summer, I don't mind a little rain, it's good for the greenery.
Have a great weekend now.
16 August 2024 - 10:38
Helena says:
Glad you "survived" the dentist! That's not fun, but it's nice to get it done!
16 August 2024 - 15:43
bmlarstravellingblog says:
What a nice tour you organised for your friends, surely incredibly appreciated. At the same time, I think it is well done to live four adults in a motorhome for such a long time. We have also had friends we knew well for a week, it went well but requires a lot of consideration and that everyone is on about the same track.
We ourselves have had some cosy days in the motorhome with grandchildren at Kolmården and now we are on our way to Laikaträff in Kristinehamn over the weekend.
A dexterous one we wish you!
16 August 2024 - 11:20
Helena says:
It sounds like you are out on nice motorhome trips! Wishing you a nice weekend!
16 August 2024 - 20:15
bmlarstravellingblog says:
Oh my Je! My phone is really taking on a life of its own and in a shaking campervan it didn't get any better! Needless to say, we wish you a happy Friday and not a finger-wagging one... Breathe easy!
16 August 2024 - 22:25
Ditte says:
Welcome home!!! I understand that the trip was very successful. And a bit new to spend time and to travel with foreign friends. Have been keeping up quite well.
Best this week? Our great trip to Narvik and surroundings, travelling by train from Narvik to Luleå. And taking electricity from Luleå and surroundings was also very successful. Perfect for us with flights on the long distances, and the train to Luleå. However, quite a boring road with a lot of forest from Kiruna to Luleå.
I have previously been to Narvik and the areas north and south, but after this trip it gave even more flavour. A boat trip here would be great.
16 August 2024 - 12:31
Helena says:
What a wonderful trip you made! Narvik we have never visited ... Kiruna I (Helena) visited a long, long time ago ...
16 August 2024 - 15:45
BP says:
Looking forward to the last part of your tour in Sweden with Henri and Michelle. It's great that Michelle is participating in the Sjukamp in World Masters Athletics Gothenburg. I wonder how she trained during your trip... Hope you report how it went for her.
Good with a fixing period. It is also needed if you want "your house" in good condition. At least you chose to come back to the high summer heat.
16 August 2024 - 19:31
Helena says:
Isn't her racing impressive! She practised almost every day during our motorhome trip. She had little "obstacles" in her pack that she jumped over and she borrowed our floor mop to practice spear throwing ....! 😉
16 August 2024 - 20:16