TRAVEL. ROAD TRIP. SCANDINAVIA.

Heading North — Our First Impressions of Scandinavia

Part one of our mini road trip through southern Sweden

It wasn’t much. Our interaction with locals. But honestly, it’s what we wanted. To be in nature. Away from the civilization and away from people. We work on a daily basis with people in stressful situations. On our off days, we prefer to remain somewhere secluded.

We had three days off from work and decided to use them to the fullest. After finding out there was an overseas harbor just 1,5h from us we had searched for destinations.

Denmark in 2 hours and Sweden in 7 hours.

At first, we decided Sweden was too far to go to for only two nights. But when we found out how expensive the ferry to Denmark was and that the one to Sweden would only cost us 30 Euros more, we decided to book the night ferry and go all in.

We just landed from our last jump on Sunday evening (we’re both working as skydiving instructors) and jumped in the car to drive north. None of us had ever driven onto a ferry and to say the least, I was a little nervous about missing the check-in times or getting into trouble with my husband’s passport (he’s African, we’ve spent a fair amount of time at immigration offices around the world so far).

We waited in line, only needed to hand in our passports for the check-in, and were then allowed to drive a little further just to stand again in line to wait for boarding.

After some more waiting, all trucks and cargo were on board and the travelers by car were also allowed to drive their vehicles on the ferry. Over a few ramps, we made it onto the deck.

Originally we had planned to sleep in the car but I had researched beforehand and found out nobody was allowed to stay in the car deck. We grabbed a few beers, a blanket, and our pillows and walked on the deck like first-time travelers.

Which we were. We definitely stood out from the rest. With the luggage we carried with us and the way we were dressed. Budget travelers, I’d call us. Even if we would have been able to afford to book a cabin on deck, there weren’t any available. I guess people traveling to Scandinavia must be rich.

After dining on deck (we missed getting snacks beforehand) and spending a fortune on a little bit of food, we tried to make ourselves comfortable on one of the reclining seats.

I can sleep on a plane. Always. But despite having endless legroom I did not see myself falling asleep in one of those chairs in the brightly lit room.

I quickly made my decision to move over to the hallway and sleep on the floor. With the help of our blanket and the two pillows, we made ourselves a bed. I put the sarong (multi-purpose scarf I always travel with) over my face to block out the light and was sound asleep soon after.

It had been a long day.

We woke up early with the announcement of the ship arriving in one hour. I guess we had slept on and off for three hours, maybe four. The floor was hard but at least I could stretch out.

We grabbed our bags and despite it being something around 5 am, it was already bright outside. Overcast and windy outside but our excitement for the upcoming trip was overpowering the tiredness.

Since I was the one who had slept better and possibly more than my husband, I sat behind the steering wheel as we were driving off the ferry.

No checkpoint on the other side. Thanks to the European Union. This is how we cross borders.

It was still early in the day. I soon hit the highway and told my husband I’ll drive north until I get tired. Then we turn off and find a nice place to take a nap.

I must have driven something around 3 hours (while my husband slept at least one hour next to me) when I decided it was time to turn off. I had marked a waterfall on my map I planned on checking out but when we got there, the parking was more like in the back of someone's farm and my husband made clear he wasn’t gonna sleep there or take a nap.

I took a different turn from the countryside leading into the forest on some piece of gravel. By now I was ready to pull off anywhere and sleep a bit. I was exhausted. I guess I didn’t sleep as much as I thought.

And this is where I had a little breakdown I’d call it. My husband wasn’t happy with just stopping here and we had a little argument before I told him to go on my iOverlander App and direct me to the closest wild camping spot marked on it.

This app we’ve used a lot while road tripping through Namibia and while I was doing research for this trip I was surprised to find out it was available in Sweden too.

I love the app. It includes formal and informal campsites, picnic spots, and wild camping locations where they are allowed. Written from overlanders for overlanders, everyone can submit a location, upload photos, and add a description.

Now, with a destination in mind, I was good to go again for another 45 minutes which is the time we needed to get to this specific spot. And I tell you what, I’m so happy we drove there. As I saw the open field in front of the lake I knew it was worth all the complaining.

I quickly reversed the car towards the lake and minutes later we were sound asleep. This time on a comfortable mattress with the only background noise of singing birds.

It was just past lunchtime when we woke up and quickly prepared a meal on our camping stove.

Rested and relaxed we were now ready for a hike exploring the surroundings.

My husband had mentioned rain was coming but nothing was going to stop us now. We packed the rain covers and an umbrella and started to follow a small trail along the shoreline.

We didn’t get far before the first drops hit us but that didn’t do anything to the smile on my face.

Just look at the surroundings. Isn’t it beautiful? I know, it probably would have been prettier with blue skies in the background but this way we had the lake all to ourselves.

There were several vacation homes along the shore of the lake but they were all empty. It was a Monday and there was bad weather predicted for the entire day. Not the type of weather Scandinavians would go on vacation.

The clouds were moving in and it got darker and darker. We might or might not have had a discussion about whether it was safe to be in a forest during a thunderstorm.

We also decided if we turn around we would still be in the forest the moment the storm would hit us. So we might as well keep going.

My husband said the chance was very low that the lightning would strike that one tree next to us. With so many trees stretching all across the hills surrounding the lake.

Well, if that wasn’t convincing enough…

Yes, we kept going.

All of a sudden all hell broke loose. It was pouring down rain just as we were approaching another vacation home and we quickly sought shelter under the roof of the little veranda.

At the right time at the right place, I would say. The rain was hectic but turned into hail. I was holding up the umbrella to protect us from everything that was coming from the sides.

It didn’t hail for very long but I’m happy we had found this little bit of shelter.

The rain soon slowed down and we continued our hike. We didn’t make it even halfway around the lake but there was as well no real hiking trail. We had followed some small paths always leading to a vacation home and in between, we just walked through the wilderness.

Without meeting a single person, we returned to camp. The weather had calmed down, the wind stopped and even the sun came out.

My husband started up the drone to capture this unique location from above. I was running around with my camera in hand getting pictures of raindrops, the lake, and everything else.

After another relaxing hour or so in the car we decided to venture out again. In the other direction. We didn’t get far though.

There was this yellow vacation home at the edge of the lake surrounded by fenced grasslands with sheep grazing on it.

This was my dream home. I decided it right there and then. It has all I need. It’s tiny, it’s secluded, it’s in nature and right next to the water.

The only thing missing was the for sale sign on the door.

Yes, I did look for it.

We felt like we were awake for 48 hours already but our first day in Sweden wouldn’t come to an end. With the sun setting so late in the day, you really have plenty of time to explore, drive around and enjoy the countryside.

My husband was asleep before the sun had even set.

I couldn’t believe what was unfolding in front of my eyes and sat in the camping chair outside the car for another hour listening to the frogs and birds while watching the sky explode in a festival of colors.

I was typing on my tablet capturing my thoughts and feelings at the moment while getting up every few minutes to take another picture with my camera.

It was cold. Like close to zero degrees (Celcius) cold.

But this view was warming me from the inside. These are the moments I live for. This is why I travel. To find places like these.

No hotel, B&B, or campsite is able to offer me a better location than this. We might be missing the comfort of a lot of things when we decided to sleep in the car. But all those things don’t matter.

All that matters is the peace surrounding my soul.

Until that mosquito made me flee inside the car.

“In the wilderness, my soul strums to the rhythm of pure bliss.” — Angie Weiland Crosby

Watch the video of our road trip:

More about our adventures in southern Sweden:

Join my email list here if you would like to read more travel essays or sign up for the Medium membership to receive unlimited access to my and other writers’ stories out here (I will receive a commission fee in return).