Here you find the five latest blogs

Before continuing on to the North Cape, we’re making a quick detour to Sweden to visit Carmen, a friend of our son Felix. She’s been living in Merasjärvi for 10 years and works as a sled dog musher and tour guide at a husky farm. At first, that sounds like a romantic dream of untouched nature, glistening snow, and a pack of loyal dogs. However, everyday life is shaped by a strict daily routine. Feeding time is at 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. The 40 dogs are already waiting eagerly, and their excitement can be heard from far away. Afterward, the enclosures must be cleaned, no matter the weather. In winter, the tourist tours are then prepared and the teams are harnessed. In the summer, from June through September, the dogs are practically out of work before they’re prepared for the new season with concentrated feed and training.

Carmen also offers year-round opportunities to work as a “working guest” and has a few RV spots in front of the house available for a fee. Anyone interested in working at a husky farm should be physically fit and able to handle stress. During the winter months, it’s not uncommon to work in temperatures ranging from -20 °C to -40 °C. If you’re interested, here’s how to contact Carmen: Link to the homepage

We’re staying with Carmen for two days and going on a short bike ride in the area. Thanks again for your hospitality and the wonderful time we had with you and your parents.  

After three days of sightseeing, we drive a few kilometers further east to Porvoo. It’s a charming little town with picturesque wooden houses. We stroll through the town and enjoy a bowl of salmon soup for lunch. Then we continue on for 40 km to a beautiful campsite by the sea. We like it so much there that we decide to take a day off and enjoy the sunny weather. In the afternoon, Hans stops by—a German who emigrated to Finland 32 years ago. We sit together in the sun and learn a lot about the economic situation in Finland and the challenges the country has faced since the closure of the eastern border with Russia. 

Karin’s knee problem has mostly healed, and on May 1 we set off on our big Scandinavian tour. We say goodbye to our grandchildren, who shed a few tears because they won’t be seeing Grandpa and Grandma for a while. We drive along nearly empty highways to Bamberg, a World Heritage Site in Upper Franconia. The city’s landmark is Bamberg Cathedral, with its four imposing towers in Romanesque-Gothic architecture and the famous Bamberg Rider. An architectural highlight is the Old Town Hall, built on an island in the Regnitz River. In bright sunshine, we enjoy lunch in the beer garden on Town Hall Square and watch the colorful hustle and bustle. Afterward, we drive another 100 km or so to Mittgenfeld, where we find a nice spot at the sports field.

Now that our MOMO has undergone a thorough tune-up over the past few months, we’re heading to northern Italy today. Around noon, we’ll start the engine and set off for the Brenner Pass. First, we have to buy a GoBox and fill up the tank. Both of these tasks bring tears to our eyes given the prices. But we’re on our way to vacation, after all. Aside from the currently inevitable traffic jam at the Lueg Bridge, we make it over the mountains without a hitch and stop for our first overnight stay in Sterzing. There, we immediately soak up the Italian atmosphere and spend a lovely evening.

We spent almost a week at our dream spot in the Maine Public Forest. We had the spot right by the river all to ourselves and only left when our fridge was empty and we had used up all our firewood.