EU Part 6 Finland to Denmark
Sunday, 14 April 2019 7:11 am
Just a great day out zapping around the Helsinki harbour and islands with C-Trek and our friend Jukka.
Jukka purchased some wheels for his Iveco 4x4 some years back and we have kept in touch ever since.
Past the Krepost Sveaborg, an Imperial Russian fortification built to protect Helsinki and further south the major Russian town of St Petersburg.
Started by Peter the Great around the mid 1850’s .
It was used both in the first and second WW.
Old navy dock yards.
Some tourists outside the Helsinki Cathedral.
These Finns are crazy - swimming in Zero degrees then run to the sauna !
Ships, ship yards, ice breakers and cruise ships.
Then what does a good Mate do at the end of the day - Wash down you truck. Thanks Jukka
Now it glows in the dark !
Want something exciting to do in Helsinki that is not the normal tourist thing:
High speed Rib boat tours
Ice diving
and other crazy stuff
After enjoying an Indian dinner together, we camped up at the same place as the previous night
Saturday 13th April 2019:
At some crazy morning hour a vehicle parked beside us and played music at super high volume. The vehicle had to run to keep the speakers running. Such was the sound our truck vibrated.
Eventually we fell asleep and surprise woke up at 9am !!!!
Wandered like tourists around the Helsinki streets.
Visited that Russian orthodox Church
Quite impressing inside ...
Met up with Jukka and he showed us around the land side of Helsinki.
Coffied out at this popular ‘Regatta’ coffee shop
Our Helsinki mate Jukka at the Sibilius Monument, Finlands greatest composer. ( Sibilius that is )
End of another great day.
Camp E83: Same place - Picnic area beside lake, and only 1 km from the centre of Helsinki
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 14 metres
Temp: +5 *C
Today 0 Kms
EU Total : 5,909 Kms
WE HAVE LIQUID WATER IN OUR TANKS !
Sunday 14th April 2019:
Drive towards Turku.
Camp E84: Great camp in a car park near a lake and sandy beach. No swimming for us with ice still on the water. Last of the seasons snow.
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 49 metres
Temp: +10.3 *C
Today 225 Kms
EU Total : 6,134 Kms
Also made ferry booking from Turku to Stockholm. Has to be overnight as it is a 10 1/2 hour trip. So leave tomorrow evening.
Monday 14th April 2019:
Today a visit to the Wallas factory.
Wallas produce the Diesel Cooktops and air heaters for our Global Xplorer, so it was an great learning experience of their range of products, manufacturing, testing and future development.
We had a couple of hours to fill in before our departure at 9pm on the Viking ship from Turku to Stockholm, so we explored the waterfront.
This is the Sigyn, built in 1887, and it the last remaining wooden barque used for cross ocean trade.
It was also the last of the sailing ships as at this time steam was the new player in the shipping game.
Waiting to board the Viking Grace.
Quite a magnificent ship, everything from saunas to transporting around 50 semitrailers and hundreds of cars.... and one Aussie camper.
Stockholm.
Sweden. Arrived 6.30am
What do you think of
-
1. ABBA
-
2. ViIKINGS
-
3. IKEA
Ok lets go do that...
Around 3-4 hours at the ABBA museum.
Shhh..actually enjoyed that.
Then around the corner the Viking museum.
Met one of them, ugly fellow !
Camp E85: Sunset over Lake Vattern, Swedens 2nd largest lake.
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 112 metres
Temp: +9.6 *C
Today & Yesterday 439 Kms
EU Total : 6,573 Kms
IKEA. That’s tomorrow !
Wednesday 17th April 2019:
A world record in the making:
Driving 219040kms to an Ikea store, well actually the Ikea museum.
Spent 3 hours here, learning how the founder started the business.
At 5 he was selling matches, at 10 he bicycled the neighbourhood selling fish, pens and Christmas cards. At 17 he starter the furniture business IKEA.
WE even made the catalogue !
1950 style showroom.
Same room by room layout you see today in over 330 stores in 41 countries
Camp E86: Lakeside Camp
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 113metres
Temp: +17.3 *C
Today 232 Kms
EU Total : 6,805 Kms
Thursday 18th April 2019:
Easter is approaching and in Sweden they do something quite unique.
Outside and inside houses the bare birch twigs are decorated with brightly coloured feathers and streamers.
The tradition dates back to the early 19th century and is designed to encourage new foliage as the season changes into spring.
Another tradition is the children dress up as witches and go knocking on doors.
With the gift of a personally made drawing they receive sweets in return.
In southern Sweden is a stylised boat shaped arrangement of stones.
It is actually a calendar, not dis-similar to Stone Henge.
The arrangement tells exactly the summer and winter solstices and the movements in between.
Just an interesting photograph of stones and water.
Camp E87: Seaside Camp with white swans.
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 7 metres
Temp: +12. *C
Today 223 Kms
EU Total : 7,029 Km
Friday 19th April 2019:
Across the 8km long Oresund Bridge and under sea tunnel from Sweden to Denmark .
Copenhagen
4 hours and about 8kms of walking, we covered the most impressive sites.
Including having the most decadent chocolate drink !
Now well up the Danish peninsula on the way to the port of loading to Iceland.
Camp E88: Road side truck stop
Cost: Nil
Altitude: 48 metres
Temp: +18. *C
Today 380 Kms
EU Total : 7,409 Km