Holiday in Sweden at last
Holiday in Sweden at last!
So we are off to Sweden again. We delayed this trip a number of times due Covid and other events but now we are off. It is 3 August 2022 and we are driving to North Shields to catch the Amsterdam ferry. We were slightly early so had time to watch, from the top of the ferry, latecomers clearing passport control and Customs before boarding. Also seeing the dockworkers loading the big trailers etc. 15 minutes before sailing I spotted a car dashing to the passport control. However they had closed as had Customs, so the poor people missed this sailing! Hope their travel was not critical.
The ferry was far from full so there was no mad rush to the restaurants. The North Sea was very calm so it gave us a good night's sleep. Clearing the passport control and Customs in Ijmuiden the following morning took nearly one hour but then we were off. We had decided to go the northern route through Netherlands, i.e. via the Dyke keeping the North Sea out. Very soon we realised that we were lost so we stopped to ask the way. It turned out that it was an indoor ski slope! It was very impressive and they were able to guide us on the right road. Once at the Dyke we were disappointed as there was lots of road works and the sightseeing platform halfway across was closed. I have borrowed this photo from a Dutch website about their dykes. The North Sea is to the right on this photo. The dyke is 30km long.
However, the rest of the drive to our hotel just outside Lubeck was uneventful. With the help of Google Directions we had no problem finding the hotel. We had supper in an Italian restaurant next door. The room was basic but ok however the breakfast next morning was very good indeed. The garden was somewhat neglected and a statue of a Greek Goddess had been allowed to fall off its plinth and was hiding in the bushes!
On the way to Puttgarden we filled up with diesel as the price was good. After a small lunch on the ferry Fi drove through Denmark, as usual. This time we crossed to Sweden via the bridge. We were soon in Markaryd so shopped food at Gransbygden. We had left UK without the keys to our house, unintentionally, but relied on the spare set we always have hidden near the house. However first we borrowed the gate key from Christer so that we did not have to first walk the last bit to get our own and then return to the gate.
The house looked good but the grass areas were a mess due to the wild boars' visit. There were no problems inside. We knew that the guttering by the veranda had fallen down due to the snow/ice.
The following morning we met Meike and Olaf who were on their last few days in Korsveka.
The next day we then drove to Falkenberg where we had arranged to meet Bjorn to collect the strimmer and lawn mover he kindly lent us. As it turned out he did not want them back as he had switched to battery driven machinery. The three of us had lunch at Bjornhult Golfclub. Trying to pay for the lunch my Swedish credit card would not accept the charge - turned out I had not transferred fund into it!! - so my UK card it was.
Over the next few days we worked hard in the garden trying to minimize the wild boars' work. We hired a man with his tractor who endeavoured to flatten the area,which he managed to some extent.
The weather was really lovely and hot most of the time. So hot we could only work outdoor for short spells.
Towards the end of our stay we did have some rain. Kronblom was happy because he had been waiting for weeks but now suddenly his hat was more than filled!
As a break we drove one day to Graddhyllan (near Markaryd) for lunch. It is a mix between a cafe and a restaurant being situated away from any built-up area. Eating outdoors you have a lovely view over the river Lagan.
Generally tidying the house and trying to get rid of surplus items we approached Tore, who runs a 'loppis' nearby, with about twenty items, but there was no interest. Visiting Tulipa in Knared, where have bought rugs etc previously, and showing her photos of the items she bought two for 50kr. In addition to her flower/giftshop she also runs a secondhand shop. And Per-tec, the ironmonger, bought our two bicycles, netting us 500kr. So a few items we did not have to dispose of ourselves.
One Saturday we visited Margit and Tore in Bastad and had a lovely lunch followed by coffee and cake in their garden. Tore was now more or less recovered from his serious illness in February. His doctor advised no flight but he ignored that.
The following week Anders and Kerstin and Bjorn as well came to us and we had a really good time. For tea Fi had baked this delicious cake.
Bjorn, Anders and I went for walk along Krokan near Knared. Near the Mill some people actually swam in the cold river. We were satisfied just watching the wear. Bjorn stayed the night and drove home after lunch the following day. Anders gave us one of his lovely paintings,
As far as socializing is concerned that was it apart from a very nice afternoon with Christer and Irene and their small dog, Wilda, in their house.
Driving to Knared early one morning I stopped at a lake just outside the town. Abborrsjön it is called. The mist had not cleared and there was no wind.
Sorry, forgot, we had lunch in Halmstad with Anders Range and strolled in the city centre for a while. Came across several voting hubs, for the various political parties, in the main square, as it was election time.
The time passed very quickly and it was time to return to the UK. We booked a hotel south of Hamburg. Setting off we first had to go to the tip in Laholm to get rid of some rubbish. We are now almost 'members' there as we frequently went there. We even hired a trailer which we filled up easily. A lot from clearing out the cellar. They gave us a card which you scan as you enter the site.
On the way we also visited an estate agent in Laholm for some paperwork. After that the drive went well. Slight delay in Rodbyhavn waiting to board the ferry for Puttgarden. It was somewhat difficult, even with Google Directions, to find the right junction off the motorway in the dark, but we managed. The hotel turned out to be a kind of pub with rooms to let. The room was vast but also nice and clean. Had a good breakfast and set off for Ijmuiden.
Heavy fog and rain did not bode well but luckily for us the weather improved and once in Ijmuiden we had a very nice late lunch/early supper outdoors before boarding the ferry. Again, lucky with the sea so the crossing was very smooth. The Customs just waved us on, not interested, so no worries there.
Once back home we had breakfast with William who had bought provisions. And that is it.
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