Experience the northern lights at Kiruna or Rovaniemi

We drove on the first holiday 25.12. with the aim of seeing the northern lights and had the first intermediate destination Flensburg, because on Monday 27.12. in Mölndal near Gothenburg wanted to go to a tire dealer to lend us spiked tires. We found the dealer NDF Däck & Fälg on the internet ndf.se. There we could borrow a set of spiked tires with rims for around €400 and have them fitted. Our bikes are stored for a period of 5 weeks and then reassembled.

Unfortunately, we had a breakdown right after only 350 km, our radiator thermostat no longer works and the engine no longer warms up. That is why there is no longer any engine heating. After some hesitation and phone calls, we decided to partially cover the radiator and continue the journey. Arrived in Flensburg, we got the hang of it. The Fiat has normal temperatures again, the heating is warming up again. But we're half a day behind schedule. So write to the tire dealer and inform them that we won't be available until December 27th. come in the afternoon instead of early in the morning.

Parking space opposite a supermarket with supply and disposal.

We still tried to get help about the radiator thermostat today on Sunday and the first holiday. Well, Sunday and the first holiday - we tested and tried ourselves and then decided to go north with the self-made radiator cover.

So continue across the Great Belt (bridge) and then take a break at a marina in Malmö with a view of the bridge. Tomorrow morning we continue...

here is the tire dealer

beautiful large campsite with cabins and pitches for caravans and motorhomes.

Tomorrow we will explore Gothenburg.

Today we wanted to see Gothenburg. But first thing in the morning: sleet, then rain at 1 p.m., we were wet and didn't feel like it anymore. But otherwise a nice, cozy city.

So we drove on to Jönköping in the afternoon.

There is a new parking space here with electricity and drainage and supply - right on Vättern, works perfectly at -5° C today.

The city and/or the Husqvarna Museum are also worthwhile.

3Alviksvägen, 56132 Sweden

The parking space directly on the canal also offers supply and disposal in winter. The coffee, however, was closed. But the place isn't far, just over the bridge.

It's beautifully romantic, the canal and the lights in winter.

You can hardly go wrong on the Göta Canal, every place is beautiful and you can find some parking spaces or campsites even in winter.

to a typical Swedish farm "Glofshult". Hiking and cycling would be great here. Only 5 km from the Baltic Sea coast. There is also a farm shop.

Today we have a hiking day. It's 5°, the snow is gone. But the ground is still frozen.

Today we went to Stockholm - in the middle of the city. In the Norr Mälerstrad right next to the town house and a quay with inhabited boats. Ok, being in the middle of the city also means traffic, but in Cornoa times we didn't want to take the bus or train. In addition, a stroll through the city is very easy and beautiful. It's 0°C during the day and -1°C at night.

After it snowed at night in Stockholm and fog and thaw set in early in the morning, we drove to Sundsvall via Uppsala after breakfast. In Uppsala we were able to shop for dinner and fill up with diesel despite it being a Sunday. All major shops and markets are open until 10pm. Tomorrow we will fill up with gas in Kvissleby.

Unfortunately we had fog the whole way, the roads were covered with snow from Gävle onwards. But no one cares, it is driven 110 on the E4. So it comes as it has to come, an overtaker comes about 1 km ahead of us in the deep snow and in the central boundary. After 150 m, the front of the car is in the oncoming lane and the rear is in the fast lane. Everyone gets stuck and we have to spend an hour on the autobahn before the route is released again. Has anyone learned anything? No, within the next 7 km there are 2 more accidents. We're glad we borrowed spiked tires.

We have decided not to drive any further and therefore drive to a parking space at Vikarbodarna. Just beautiful!!! In the middle of the snow, on the edge of the forest, next to a small town and only 50 m from the Baltic Sea. There is even supply and disposal despite the winter time (-7°C) the water works!

By the way: there are very nice rest areas on the E4 and they all have clean toilets with latrines for disposal!

Today we were gas and diesel fuel, then we drove along the coast (Höga Kustenleden). We think a piece of coast worth seeing and unique in Sweden. It is a piece of fjord coast. With frozen side arms of the Baltic Sea.

The weather: cold winter, partly heavy snowfall and then again at -1° C drizzle. Even the E4 was very difficult to drive. Not 300 km but a 4.5 hour drive;-).

The landscape is magnificent!

this is a parking space belonging to a marina, we landed there unplanned. Because we just weren't as fast as we thought. We left at 9:00 this morning. In between we only filled up and made lunch. From then on, almost nothing worked. Every few miles the windshield wipers were full of ice and couldn't get the water wiped aside. Gradually a layer of ice formed on the pane. It was the same for all other drivers, you had to stop constantly and clean the wipers and the window. Crap today only 280 km done....

Now we have explored the city, it is beautiful and lively - certainly worth more than one night.

Oh yes, I almost forgot: Large snow blowers (trucks) drive on the ice of the Baltic Sea and prepare ice surfaces for skating.

today everything worked out, the weather was good, the little snow came as "dry powder snow". The wiper blades had no problem with that. We crossed the Arctic Circle and reached Kiruna around 3:00 p.m. (The time on the pictures is 1 hour too late) The sky has cleared up, the sun has peeked out on the horizon. And now you can see the stars. Tonight around 4.00 am there is also the first slight chance of seeing the Northern Lights.

By the way: the temperatures have been in double digits since last night. This afternoon it was already -17° C and tonight -20° is forecast.

Once again the subject of disposal: There are really some parking lots (also on the E10) with a picnic area, there are also toilets there and each one also has a "latrine emptying". Sometimes there is even drinking water.

It's already the 4th or 5th day below -15° and ice is slowly forming on the inside of the profiles of the doors and flaps. But everything works perfectly, the Alde heating warms up nicely and even the insulating glass panes in the front remain free of ice. The waste water tank can be emptied perfectly. A Gardena shut-off valve only broke when I was filling the water tank. It's exciting to fill up with water at - 25 °C.

we are bursting with pride, our first attempt to see the northern lights worked. We drove 50 km west towards Narvik into solitude. It was really dark there. After about 3 hours of patience, the time had come. The mobile phone works as a remote control for the Canon camera - until, yes, until the mobile phone battery suddenly tells you that it's too cold. So quickly held a hand warmer under the cell phone and warmed the cell phone.

we spent the last few days hiking and walking in and around Kiruna. In the evening we drove off into the dark and photographed the northern lights.

We also got to know a nice couple from South Tyrol with whom we spent nice hours.

still at around -20 °C. Inside and outside of the Snow Village. We visited the village for €19 per person and were amazed by the snow sculptures - amazing.

We went to Finland and checked out the snow hotel near Kittilä. Impressive sculptures in every room!

Then we went to Kittilä itself because there is a nice pitch right by the river. It has no service but pure nature. There was plenty of snow. when we got there there was already a camper there and we couldn't find a place in the snow without getting stuck. So we went back 150m and stayed there overnight.

First we went shopping in Rovaniemi. Then we are to Santa Claus Park. Yesterday we used the webcam to call the grandchildren. And went for quite a long walk in the evening. Today we went on a reindeer ride - nice and leisurely through the winter forest.

Tomorrow we're going to do a Ski-Doo Tour - let's see how that goes.

The BestPark pitch is great. Supply and disposal work and there is a sauna all for the price of €24.90. Only the current is only fused with 6 A.

we stay 2 more days in Rovaniemi. Today we ride the Skidoo. We are lucky!!!! The booked tour takes place with us as the only participants. And - we can't believe it, our guide's name is Martin and he comes from Germany. After a short briefing you can start. The chemistry between Martin and us seems to be right, we have fun!

In the evening we look for a parking space just outside at a rest area that is also used by locals to look for the northern lights.

Today we are going back to Kiruna, we want to be at the gas professional before 4 p.m. and have our tank bottle filled. Then we make our way a bit outside to get another chance to see the Northern Lights.

Enjoy a short coffee break and the scenery at the Arctic Circle, then continue straight away to a rest area next to the E4 until tomorrow.

Today we went to Strömsund where there are 2 parking spaces. Well, it wasn't particularly nice at first. But the city was worth a nice walk.

There is a parking space between the lake and the railway, directly on Badgaden, where winter swimming is also possible.

However, the specified mobile home parking space at the lift station is closed in winter?!

so drive on if necessary and look for a place nearby - found a place by a lake in Rätan.

Today we drove to Falun, where we filled up gas again and explored the city. We used a parking lot directly on the lake for this purpose. The parking lot at the mine is closed again in winter. The city is beautiful but just as frozen as every city since Östersund. You walk and park on sheets of ice, and the streets are ice tracks too. Cheers to spikes - we could have used "E" roads, it's not that bad.

today we drove via Örebro (mining town) to Mariestad on the Vänern. We made a stop in Sjötrop on the Göta Canal. We actually wanted to stay there and have a coffee and go for a walk. But all three parking spaces and the café are closed. In Mariestad there is electricity on the pitch and also a service house with water. So tomorrow we will stay in Mariestad and go for a walk.

A storm is raging today - according to the weather forecast 50 km/h - but it feels worse. By the way, the white on the ground - pure ice!

here there are 5 locks in quick succession. Nice towpaths for walking. The canal was drained in this area while sluice gates are being repaired.

The parking fee is paid via an app that only works with a Swedish bank. Or by phone: Well, we don't know that much Swedish. So we called and stumbled through. It turned out that the lady on the phone has a shop in the neighboring town and we should bring the parking fee there. We did the same thing the next day and had a great chat.

also on the Göta Canal, right at the entrance to Lake Viken. A nice place to go for a hike and enjoy the area.

Funny to keep a distance sign because of Corona, then this outhouse!

we were here in the summer 2 years ago. In my opinion one of the most beautiful spots on the Göta Canal.

Now in winter, like almost everywhere, nothing is going on. You stand alone in the square, nothing is open. In the summer we visited the museum, very interesting. Here almost everything was produced with hydroelectric power from flour painting, to an ironworks, to products such as frying pans and kitchen stoves, etc.

we drove near Gothenburg today to be near the tire dealer in Mölndal tomorrow morning. Actually, I wanted to drive to a parking space in Öckerö. When we stood in front of the ferry at the last second - the traffic light was already on red, it was released again so that we could still go - we drove onto the wrong ferry. She took us to Hönö. Well, never mind, we didn't know either one and the descriptions sounded great too. The pitch is open in winter, is in the harbor and is a good place to go for a walk.

Malmo in the port

in Flensburg we washed our camper again, it was time.

Today we ate fish - simply delicious! Tomorrow we will buy and freeze fish

it's a pity that the holiday is already over, we could spend another 5 weeks in the north of Sweden.