Friday. August 5, Gislaved

Great display in supermarket this morning.

 Today has been the first without rain for quite sometime, although overcast and temperatures only reaching 18, but I’m not complaining! We have had what I call a “driving” day as we head South West towards Helsingbord and the ferry to Denmark. Had a brief holdup as we were leaving Trollhattan with the road closed for about 10 minutes as the bridge over the canal was opened and 4 yachts passed through. It fascinates me to see the road rising upwards!

We chose to stay off the main roads and really have enjoyed driving through the rural countryside in this part of Sweden with its rolling hills, farms and forested areas, and small country villages. First stage was on HW 42 to Boras where we stopped just out of town at a Coop store for a few supplies. It was one of the nicest stores we have been into, not too big but everything beautifully displayed.

We really needed to do the van ablutions as it had been 5 days since we had filled with water and we were getting quite low. Found a place with a sani station at Kinna which was probably one of the dirtiest places we have been too. It was beside the recycling centre and the train station, with electric points you could stay at (and two vans were parked up), but after doing what was needed we were soon out of there.

There weren’t a lot of exciting places to stay on Park4Night in this area but an hours drive further on we checked out this site in Gislaved, which turned out to be very functional, in a grassed central square in town and there are 5 other campers here which always makes us feel comfortable. And after 4 hours driving today, we were ready to have a stop.

……7pm. Oh dear, I had been looking on the map to see what is in town and found a really nice, well reviewed restaurant and we decided to walk to town and go out for dinner. Also it had started to spit with rain, so umbrellas up we set off for the 15 minute walk…..only to see that it wasn’t open, and Google translate told me they were closed for a summer break until August 10^th!!! Couldn’t believe it and his nibs made very rude comments about my organisational skills. A sad walk back knowing I still had to cook dinner….but importantly, poured a glass of wine first.

Hold up this morning as we waited for
yachts to pass through the canal.

 

Such a range of farm buildings today...drive by shooting

Tonight's campsite...and not near water, for a change.