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Route description for Experience the northern lights at Kiruna or Rovaniemi


Experience the northern lights at Kiruna or Rovaniemi

Aurorae experienced in December/January 2022 in Sweden and Finland

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bei Würzburg, Deutschland

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.

Erbshausen-Sulzwiesen, 97262 Hausen bei Würzburg, Deutschland

49° 54' 43.5" N 10° 0' 31.9" E

49.9120893 10.0088516


☍ 651,8 km (5 hrs. 41 min.)

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Flensburg, Deutschland

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.

Lilienthalstraße 4, 24941 Flensburg, Deutschland

54° 46' 27.2" N 9° 23' 38.7" E

54.7742282 9.3940825


☍ 350,7 km (3 hrs. 20 min.)

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Malmö Camping & Feriecenter

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...

216 11 Limhamn, Schweden

55° 34' 18.9" N 12° 54' 28" E

55.5719155 12.9077768


☍ 279,1 km (2 hrs. 43 min.)

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Göteborgsvägen, Mölndal, Schweden

here is the tire dealer

57° 39' 54.5" N 12° 0' 43.5" E

57.6651435 12.0120902


☍ 6,9 km ( 8 min.)

Lisebergsbyn

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

Tomorrow we will explore Gothenburg.

Olbersgatan 9, 41655, Göteborg, Sweden

57° 42' 21.6" N 12° 1' 43.4" E

57.7059900 12.0287200


☍ 146,2 km (1 hrs. 36 min.)

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Jönköping, Schweden

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

57° 46' 57.4" N 14° 9' 42.4" E

57.7826137 14.1617876


☍ 125,3 km (1 hrs. 24 min.)

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Borensberg am Göta Kanal, Schweden

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.

Magasinsgatan 7, 590 31 Borensberg, Schweden

58° 33' 31" N 15° 16' 46.3" E

58.5586014 15.2795153


☍ 107,1 km (1 hrs. 20 min.)

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Fahrt über Linköping und Narsholm nach Vikbolandet

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.

GQJM+XC Utsäter, Schweden

58° 31' 56.9" N 16° 47' 1" E

58.5324755 16.7835995


☍ 199,6 km (2 hrs. 18 min.)

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Stockholm

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.

Norr Mälarstrand 24, 112 20 Stockholm, Schweden

59° 19' 35.7" N 18° 2' 42.4" E

59.3265719 18.0451201


☍ 366,2 km (3 hrs. 48 min.)

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Vikarbodarna, Schweden

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!

Vikarbodarna 210, 862 96 Njurunda, Schweden

62° 11' 56.8" N 17° 29' 44.5" E

62.1990974 17.4956842


☍ 285,1 km (3 hrs. 16 min.)

Day

Degernäs bei Umea, Schweden

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!

Degernäs 2, 905 80 Umeå, Schweden

63° 46' 0.3" N 20° 15' 21.7" E

63.7667553 20.2560348


☍ 272,1 km (3 hrs. 3 min.)

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Lulea, 38 Södra Kungsgatan, Schweden

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.

Södra Smedjegatan 2, 972 35 Luleå, Schweden

65° 34' 49.4" N 22° 9' 6.7" E

65.5803862 22.1518654


☍ 343,7 km (3 hrs. 45 min.)

Day

Kiruna, Schweden

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.

67° 51' 20.9" N 20° 13' 31" E

67.8557995 20.2252821


☍ 266,3 km (3 hrs. 15 min.)

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Snow Village

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.

Lainiotie 566, 99100 Kittilä, Finnland

67° 32' 31.7" N 24° 29' 40.9" E

67.5421339 24.4947052


☍ 30,1 km ( 34 min.)


Pakatti, Finnland

MW2G+PC Pakatti, Finnland

67° 39' 6.5" N 24° 55' 33.9" E

67.6517939 24.9260706


☍ 153,7 km (1 hrs. 40 min.)

Day

Rovaniemi, Finnland

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.

Sodankyläntie 551, 96900 Rovaniemi, Finnland

66° 32' 31" N 25° 48' 25.5" E

66.5419468 25.8070780


☍ 11,2 km ( 8 min.)

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Rovaniemi, Finnland

Sodankyläntie 1654, 96900 Rovaniemi, Finnland

66° 34' 57" N 26° 1' 27.7" E

66.5824887 26.0243629


☍ 376,4 km (4 hrs. 31 min.)

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Rastplats bei Kiruna

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.

981 95 Kiruna, Schweden

67° 59' 28.8" N 19° 55' 19.8" E

67.9913335 19.9221611


☍ 333,8 km (3 hrs. 52 min.)

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Ljusselsstugan, Schweden

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.

XG29+RP Ljusselsstugan, Schweden

65° 57' 7.2" N 19° 31' 9.7" E

65.9520084 19.5193658


☍ 400,4 km (4 hrs. 48 min.)

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Strömsunds Camping

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.

Näsviken, 83324, Strömsund, Schweden

63° 50' 49" N 15° 31' 60" E

63.8469400 15.5333300


☍ 101,4 km (1 hrs. 19 min.)

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Östersund, Schweden

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

Storsjöstråket 19, 831 34 Östersund, Schweden

63° 9' 48.8" N 14° 38' 40.8" E

63.1635432 14.6446634


☍ 96,9 km (1 hrs. 17 min.)

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Skigebiet bei Klövsjö, Schweden

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

845 97, 840 32 Klövsjö, Schweden

62° 30' 8.8" N 14° 10' 40.4" E

62.5024555 14.1778948


☍ 25,1 km ( 22 min.)

Rätans Camping

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

Kämpevägen 2, 84030, Rätan, Schweden

62° 28' 47.6" N 14° 32' 16.7" E

62.4799000 14.5379600


☍ 273,4 km (3 hrs. 20 min.)

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Sjösidan Falun

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.

Främby Udde 20, 79153, Falun, Schweden

60° 34' 51.2" N 15° 40' 32.9" E

60.5809000 15.6758000


☍ 290,8 km (3 hrs. 23 min.)

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Gästhamnen Mariestad

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!

Hamngatan, 54286, Mariestad, Schweden

58° 42' 53" N 13° 49' 10" E

58.7147222 13.8194444


☍ 22,2 km ( 22 min.)

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Hajstorp Schleuse

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.

54590, Töreboda, Schweden

58° 44' 50" N 14° 6' 28" E

58.7472222 14.1077778


☍ 23,2 km ( 27 min.)

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Tatorp, Schweden

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!

TÅTORP 41, 549 93 Moholm, Schweden

58° 36' 33.6" N 14° 11' 31.5" E

58.6093265 14.1920959


☍ 34,5 km ( 39 min.)

Forsvik Schleuse

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.

Kolbodsvägen, 54673, Karlsborg, Schweden

58° 34' 30" N 14° 26' 15" E

58.5750000 14.4375000


☍ 226,7 km (3 hrs. 29 min.)

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Gästhamn Hönö Klåva

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.

Klåva Hamnväg, 43090, Öckerö, Schweden

57° 40' 52" N 11° 38' 42" E

57.6811111 11.6450000


☍ 302,3 km (3 hrs. 53 min.)

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Malmö, Schweden

Malmo in the port

Strandgatan 27, 216 12 Limhamn, Schweden

55° 35' 5" N 12° 55' 7.6" E

55.5847276 12.9187827


☍ 348,7 km (3 hrs. 47 min.)

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Stellplatz im Industriehafen

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

Harniskai, 24937, Flensburg, Deutschland

54° 48' 12" N 9° 26' 22" E

54.8033333 9.4394444


☍ 278,0 km (3 hrs. 16 min.)

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Stellplatz am Fährhafen

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

Fährhafen, 27472, Cuxhaven, Deutschland

53° 52' 24" N 8° 42' 5" E

53.8733333 8.7013889


☍ 294,6 km (2 hrs. 50 min.)

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Wohnmobilstellplatz

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

37619, Am Mühlentor, 37619 Bodenwerder, Deutschland

51° 58' 50.7" N 9° 31' 6.1" E

51.9807568 9.5183659


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