Öland was just a beautiful island. Since we are still missing the south, maybe we will come back to see the rest of it. So far we have traveled a lot along the coast, so now it's time to go inland.
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Lake Stora Hammarsjön - very large with islands
After we got the spare part for the gas plate in Kalmar, we went shopping and refueling. We had chosen a place to fill up drinking water, which we then drove to next. We continued to our first lookout point. Since it was already later, we had hoped to spend the night there as well. To get there, you had to drive on a better forest path.
It was evident from the tire tracks that tractors also drive here and since it was only a single road, we hoped that there would be no oncoming traffic. When we arrived at Blaxhult, we were surprised. The parking lot was not signposted and halfway in front of a driveway to a field. In the middle of the woods. Ok, tried back and forth how to stand without blocking the driveway. It just didn't work. It was too steep. After discussing what now, we decided to find another place and leave Blaxhult behind us.
Half an hour away we found a place to sleep by a large lake, Stora Hammarsjön. From now on you will have to drive “gravel roads” more often. Although we have found that these are easier to drive than in the Baltic States. The place to stay is also a fishing spot. The information was even to be found in German on the board. There were 2 fire pits, an outhouse and garbage disposal. Just genius. Since the weather wasn't better yet, it had rained all day, and the next few days shouldn't get any better either, let's see how long we stay here.
The view of the lake with its small and large islands is great. There is even a cottage for rent on one of the small islands, which can only be reached by boat. It has no running water or electricity, but it is very popular. The weather got a bit better around noon and so we walked a bit to the left with Finja. What we noticed last year in Scandinavia is that there are hiking trails marked here that are just beaten tracks and go over hill and dale. 2 people next to each other doesn't work, the way is too narrow.
Finja had fun and went well too. However, she was also happy that she could chill and sleep for the rest of the day and that we didn't drive any further. It didn't rain for the rest of the day, but it was windy and cold. Later there were two campers who stood here. Otherwise, few cars pass by and only a handful of hikers. Basti used the time and edited pictures. I have finished the next report for the homepage. There was little that could be done with WiFi. Sebastian then took out our antenna so that my report could be put online.
Then I finally had time for my handicrafts again. At the moment this is neglected because we eat late in the evening and then have to be rinsed. After that we don't feel like doing anything anymore. The next day the weather was really great from noon. The sun came out and we went running with Finja, this time around to the right.
We got our feet easily wet because the paths were a bit muddy. We walked to the other side of our parking space and took some photos on the way. After an hour we were back at the place. Basti then repaired the second gas plate, for which we needed the spare part. Now it works too !!
In the evening there was a thunderstorm on the other side of the lake Stora Hammersjön. Except for a few raindrops, we got nothing, only heard the rumble and thunder. But afterwards there was a super nice rainbow. The next day we drove on. The 2 days and 3 nights at the lake were really nice!
Emil "Michel" from Lönneberga and Astrid Lindgren
Who doesn't know the boy who does all the pranks? For some, childhood memories come back. His real name is Emil, but was then called Michel Germanized because there were already some Emil figures in Germany. In the place we are in Lönneberga found on the map was just a small hut with a wooden Emil figure and information boards. The hut was lovingly decorated with carved figures and there was also a guest book, where we of course signed up.
Otherwise you can go to the various locations in the area. Some of them, such as the "Katthult - Hof", are managed, but can be visited. After a few photos of and with "Michel" we are on our way to monument of Astrid Lindgren made.
Off to Vimmerbywhich was also her childhood place. The memorial of her, where she sits in a suggested room with her typewriter, is in the center of Vimmerby on the market square. After a few photos, a young woman spoke to her little daughter in German. We talked to her for half an hour and we pay our respects. She is traveling through Sweden with her husband and 3 children, the oldest of which is just 6 years old, just with a backpack and a train. We find it challenging to travel like this. Hats off!!
The small town itself wasn't very impressive now. When we arrived at the car, looking for our next vantage point, we saw that A. Lindgren's birthplace would not have been far away. But we didn't want to go again. There are also in the vicinity Astrid Lindgren's World, a theme park all about your characters. There are different buildings and scenes from her books shown. But on the one hand the park is closed at the moment and on the other hand the entrance fee is not without it. So we went to the next point.
Hjältevad - car problems and swimming lake
On we went to our next point, the Runkesten. During the journey we realized fairly quickly that something was wrong with the car. He no longer pulls and when it goes a little bit uphill, you have the feeling of driving at a snail's pace. Not nice. We had this problem about 3 years ago, but apparently it wasn't a permanent fix. We can drive, just hold it slowly.
We couldn't go to the Runkesten. The GPS wanted to drive us there on a forest path. We then drove on the main road along the lookout point, but every possible junction was blocked by bars. So we started looking for a place to stay. We left the first one behind us, it was on the road and so close that we couldn't have turned.
In Hjältevad we then found what we were looking for. There you can stand at a bathing lake 24 hours a day and that's what we did. The swimming area was great and well-kept. Basti first took a look at the car and vacuumed the air filter. However, he couldn't find the fault, but thinks it's the turbocharger. So we have to go to the workshop. On our way we found several Mercedes dealers and workshops on the Internet and decided to drive to our points and then visit a workshop on the way.
The weather was nice and we still had great reflections on the water. Basti took a few photos before we went to bed, annoyed about the car. These are things that you don't need on the go !!!!
You can find more pictures in the Sweden photo gallery.
