Next stop - Sweden

After a leisurely breakfast we packed up, which now takes no time at all.  We finally have a routine, and it is quick; empty water container, hot water cylinder, toilet cistern and toilet cassette, turn off gas, turn off every electrical switch in caravan, take out cord, put every thing away inside and outside the caravan, wind up steadies and hitch up.  Less than half an hour, and just as quick as in the motor home.  We now look experienced, or at least I hope we do.  We have less people watching us.  We feel confident.

I think we have the jockey wheel sorted!

We paid the bill, with slight trepidation.  All that swiping with a card, equals to a mounting bill at the front office.  But no, the cost for three nights came to about £90, which is £30 a night, quite reasonable for a camping ground close to a city centre.  Walter's showers and the two washing machine loads were extra.   I did not go unshowered by the way.  I used the shower in the caravan.  I like it better.

So with instructions from the girl in the office, but no time to set the sat nav system we were off in search of the E47, the motorway which goes around Copenhagen. Of course all did not go well, so after going around a few roundabouts more than once and a few discussions we pulled into a service station for more advice.  Finally we entered the correct motorway, but in the wrong direction.  By this time the sat nav was working, and we exited, and went around yet another roundabout and re-entered on the correct side, direction Malmo, on the edge of Sweden.   One really appreciates roundabouts when towing a caravan.

Finally onto the E20, past the airport and then into the very long tunnel, which is the start of the Oresund crossing.

 Once out of the tunnel, we saw the Oresund bridge ahead of us, and hoped that the wind was not going to be too strong.  I did not fancy being blown over the side.  The water looked very cold.

 The bridge was not as impressive as some bridges we have crossed, but it was still quite exciting.  I think the cost was also impressive, but thankfully unknown at present because we have a toll badge and went through the automatic toll lane.  In the fast lane too, but that was unintentional.  Luckily it was not busy.

 I drove the whole way, sedately as usual, but the road was not busy, and the road surface was very good.   The weather was shitty, to put it bluntly, rain showers, windy and cold.   What an introduction to Sweden.

We have stopped at a wooded campsite in Varnamo, about 200 kms from Malmo.  It is an ASCI site, which we are a member of, so the cost is minimal really, Skr100, about £10.  And the wifi is again free, with no limit on devices.  We are very happy.

 I reversed the caravan into the site, as I also did in Copenhagen, without burning the clutch.  But Walter was not happy with how I had lined the caravan up perfectly with the marker.  So he used the caravan mover to move the caravan about a metre over.  Boys and their toys!  Mind you I will admit there is not a muddy puddle at our door anymore.

On the subject of costs in Scandanavia, we were warned that Denmark, Sweden and Norway were very expensive countries to visit.   So we have been on our guard somewhat.  Certainly alcohol is expensive as are restaurants.  Perhaps hotel accommodation is too. But diesel is about £1 a litre, whereas in the UK it is currently about £1.20.   Quite a saving there.   So far we have bought food at the supermarket, which has not been too exhorbitant.  Delicious, yes, especially the fresh white asparagus.  Most of the campsites outside of the cities are ASCI sites so we are looking at reasonable rates here.  And we are travelling early in the tourist season.

But thank goodness we brought all our wine and non alcoholic beer with us though, rattling around in the car as we travel along.