Gidday all,

Latvia, what can I say, a bit depressing in some parts, their cities and towns could do with a makeover, very concrete and colourless. The people seem stand offish, won’t wave back or it could be just us. Nice countryside though, took a larger road but had roadwork for about 60k so was a bit slow.

 The temps been in the 30s for about a week, thought we would escape summer temps like that but no.

 

                  

 

   

 

 

 

    

 

                                                           old border crossing at Latvia

                                                         on the edge of the Baltic sea

                                                                      map update

                                                        old campground in Latvia

                                                             another abandoned mansion

                                                                  great stonework

                                                             toilets are basic in Latvia

                                                            restoration in progress

Great old cart

Gidday all,

Down through the middle of Finland all the way to Helsinki, where we looked into ferrying across to Estonia. The one leaving that afternoon had no car spaces left so we booked on for the next morning. Also booked a room, only two and half hour journey but much more comfortable, and only 20 euro more. Then went looking for a place to camp for the night, not easy in Helsinki city. Found a non metered car park near the ferry terminal so parked there and watched the harbour and boats pass by.

So now half way through Estonia and heading to Latvia, then Lithuania ,Poland, Czech or Slovakia then Austria and Switzerland maybe, things may change as they often do. Look thing is, who t f knows where we are because we don’t even know what day it is.

                                                                         route update

                                                            waiting to board in Helsinki

                                                         just off the road Estonia

                                                           nest with a view Estonia

                                                                  wonderful old churches

                                                              decaying mansions

                                                             complete with ghosts

                                                             buildings in Estonian city

                                                                          typical house

 

 

Estonia, full of desolate, decaying 17^th century mansions and Russian like industrial buildings, very interesting.

 

       

        

 

 

 

                  

 

   

 

 

 

    

 

                  

 

   

 

 

 

    

 

 

   

 

 

 

    

 

Gidday all,

Crossing over the Arctic Circle line again, we called in to see Santa, who took some time out from his busy silly season preparations to have a chat. Wanted to mention the grandkids, but in the excitement, forgot.

Saw our first Moose on the road today. He took off before we could get a photo, big as a horse. Still 24hrs daylight, quite warm, in the 30s today.

                  

 

   

 

 

 

    

 

                                                                          our route

                                                             both sides of the circle

                                                                   Santa lives here

                                                           north pole planking

                                                             told you Santa was here

                                                                 in Santa's living room

                                                 this website tells you what it thinks of you

                                                             reindeer antlers anyone?

All sorts of stuff for sale

Gidday all,

Making our way from Lapland into southern Finland. Scenery is wonderful and plenty of reindeer, but every time you stop to camp the mozzies and March fly population come to say hi.

Cost of everything is a bit high in Scandinavia, highest paid for fuel is $3.00/litre in northern Norway, but we can get by on very little too. Keep passing other VW’s the same model as ours, and they all wave and smile.   

Camped up on a river somewhere washing cloths and showering, life is good.               

 

    

 

 

 

    

 

                                                     one of the roads we took in Norway

                                                           yes and what do you want?

                                                              taken at 11:45pm

                                                                  our riverside camp

Up near Norkapp

Crossed the artic circle and in Lapland, only got up the road a bit and came across a herd of reindeer on the road. Had to wait for them to wander on. Then onwards and upwards, through Lapland and back into Finland and north to Norkapp the very top of Europe.
Talk about the land of the midnight sun, it never sets here. daylight 24hrs a day, makes it a bit hard to sleep. All going great. Will head south again now, just have to pick our route.

                                                                   

The artic circle

                                                          don't know what she's doing

                                                          Din making friends again

                                                               reindeer everywhere

                                                           at the very top of Europe

Din and her new friend

Gidday all,

Now a good way up the east coast of Sweden, heading for Nordkapp at the very tip of Norway. Will cross the Arctic circle in a couple of days. Sweden is beautiful and the weather has been kind, sunny and warm. Will put up a map of our route from Denmark to the present, can’t tell you the names of towns as I can’t pronounce them let alone spell them. Getting by with the language app on the phone and a lot of sign language. Been camping out at rest areas and stream banks, free camping is allowed and good in Scandinavia. Lots of Europeans on their summer holidays though. Kermit still running well too

                                                               our trip from Denmark to Sweden so far

                                                           Din found a friend on one of our lunch stops

                                                           a long boat one small village has restored

                                           the Nordic air is so rejuvenating, here's Din and I out for a stroll
                                                                                  taking in the view

one of the many huge bridges spanning the waterways here

Gidday all,

Well, we took the ferry to Norway, 4hr trip and the ship was packed. Had to wander about for ages before we found some spare seats. Din coped well with the crossing but was glad to be on dry land again. In the land of the fjords, the phone took a while to kick in but now have reception and all’s good, I think.

Going up the west coast for a bit then crossing over just above Oslo into Sweden then up and over again then who knows where. Have been up in the mountains already ice and snow on the side of the road. Magnificent scenery, those Vikings had a beautiful home, but rugged.

Chateaux de Kermit is going great, not as spacious as the Winnafargo but very comfortable.            

 

   

 

 

 

    

 

                                                     waiting to board the ship in Denmark

                                             snow on the road and ice on the mountains

                                             Alas poor Din, I knew her well. Only joking!

                                             The land of the fjords, some spectacular views

From thatched roofs to ones that need mowing

Gidday all,

Still in Denmark, now up the top, debating if we take the ferry over to Norway from up here or go into Sweden via Copenhagen as per plan A. The weather has been sunny mostly and in the 20’s, but it’s sure to get cooler the further north we go.

 

   

 

 

 

    

 

                                                     love the thatched roofed houses

                                                                   looking the part

                                               houses on the brink of falling into the sea

Relics of days gone