So, we left you with the Boys (and Girl) leaving and Dave and Alex arriving. This also coincided with the end of the summer season in Sweden. At the beginning of the third week in August, everyone is back at work and the schools are back. All of the seasonal holiday businesses and many of the marinas shut (or open for only an hour or so during the day ). It is like a big switch has been pulled. It is most un nerving. We are sitting in the marina and all of the boats around us are been packed up for winter. What do they know that we don’t? Does it start to snow next week?
Dave trying out my patented sunglass hat combo after Alex stood on the glasses . Note the subtle use of ducktape. He eventually resorted to gluing the legs back on. No style , that’s his problemJust liked this little summer house, who wouldn’t want a lighthouse at the end of their garden?Doing the Orange walk (never saw a wee guy dressed in his orange PJs playing a tin whistle the whole way round. A bit disappointed)Just some nice coloursMany of the little islands have a number of boat houses on themI want (actually need) oneOf course no summer house is complete without your own smoke houseJenny modelling this years pastel shadesThe old Pilot house that you can rent for a fiver a night. Wood for stove provided and outside cludgy on the other side of the rockMany of the islands have sloe’s growing on them ( more foraging…..)It never ceases to amaze me that these buildings last for hundreds of years in this environmentDave and Alex try the KayakBack before the rain
Early start….for some of the crew, the rest slept off their jet lag and woke for brunch.Not sure what this helicopter was doing. It came in and landed on an island as we went past , then took off again a minute laterAlex tries the “Princes” seat. Not looking too happy Alex. Maybe that is because he had just dropped a nice pair of Oakleys overboardAlex takes the wheel, while Jenny relaxes ( not sure that this is in the book of relaxing positions)
OK Dave, all you need to do is put this end of the rope through that eye on the buoy over there and bring it back.After 5 mins …….. Dave , why are you sitting on the wet floor of the dinghy?After 8 mins – Dave, what garment are you attempting to knit? ( and you have still not got back on the seat)After 10 mins Dave is looking very pleased with progress ( we did eventually get it and him back on the boat….) Sorry Dave, but the pictures are too good to waste
After Dave showed his prowess with rope work, we tested Alex on his Brompton assembly skills. Needless to say he did not fall off anything, did not attempt to wear the item he was working with and actually finished the job in a sensible time. ( Dave take note!)
On the way south we visited Oland one of the large islands on the way south). There is a nice little town called Borgholm which has a very large castle, well worth a visit. Unfortunately for the previous owners, that is exactly what a lot of people thought. Hmm, that castle looks rather imposing, I think we need to attack it. As far as I can gather it was fairly well destroyed a couple of times since it was initially constructed in the 13th Century. The Swedes and the Danes liked a good rammy, and then the Germans never wanted to miss out on a scrap and it would appear that this was the venue. Finally it lost its roof in a fire when been used as a print works.
There were some cattle grazing on the way into the Castle and Jenny spotted this sign. It would appear that they were encouraging me to go foraging for one of their cows. I could see an episode of Top Gear in my mind, but was not sure that one would fit across the handle bars of the Brompton.No shortage of windowsTo stop the walls eroding any further they have capped them off with lead.A collection of hooves. Guess there were a lot of horse statues in the castle and this is all that was left.Dave and AlexI am sure we could fit this in the living roomIt is a massive construction. Hard to believe that after 3 days of bombardment the walls were breachedCashing in on the Wedding Venue optionHad a good view over the surrounding countrysideSome interesting ceiling decorationsI think someone has been watching too much Game of Thrones
The other cool thing about Borgholm was the marina. For £20 a night you had all the usual facilities, plus a 25m pool and a sauna!
We then moved down the coast to Kalmar. The old town is rather beautiful. Definitely wort a visit so we stayed a couple of days. In essence the old town is an island with a fortified wall round it (although the wall has largely disappeared). Has a stunning castle. Clearly better defended than the last one. 22 sieges and the castle never fell.
The marina entrance has a touch of Hollywood about it.Not sure what was going on , but the place was full of Liverpool fans. They were playing Arsenal. I wondered if I shouted ” come on the Gunners ” they would understand. But figured best not tryThis is what I call an outdoor poolThe Cathedral – looks baroque and would be equally at home in Spain. Unfortunately we could not get in to look .The castle.
Note the canon balls till in the towerThe brick work is painted on. I think it always has been. Clearly some touch up work gone on here.View of the Castle from the sea.
Found a great shop where you can buy everything from a door mat to ukulele. Brilliant shop, it’s like the centre isle of Lidl on every isle
Oh and remember the foraging for Blueberry’s. Now under the floor for 6 months…
A month ago we figured we needed to get a car sorted for when we come back in the winter for a few months. So being the totally impractical types ( and with the help of our friends Antony and Sue) we have ended up with this.
So when we stop for the winter , we don’t actually have to stop…….
Mazda Bongo. A very very small camper van
Jenny asked Antony to send some pics of the interior. What are you hinting at here ? Am I likely to need the Jack and jump leads….?????
We are currently sitting in a Marina in the south of Sweden while 5 days of strong winds blow over us , then off towards Denmark then South to Germany.
Feath 