DAY 13: BACK THROUGH SWEDEN WESTWARDS, STOCKHOLM TO GOTHENBURG

Olivia meets Muumi Troll, on the Silja boat, as we approach Stockholm. (Thanks to Larisa Ivanova, from Moscow, for taking the picture and sending it to us!)




Our magnificent Silja ferry arrived on schedule in Stockholm, gliding smoothly past dozens of islands in the archipelago on its way to docking at around 9.30am. We were certainly sad to disembark.

By just after 10am, we were following signs for Gothenburg through Stockholm city, and soon we were on the E4 road, heading south west. It was already getting hot, even at 10.30am, with the car thermometer showing 24C.

At 11.45am, we stopped close to Norrkoping and had an early lunch. Outside, at the play area, as Sandy played on the climbing frames, a guy appeared with a couple of children. I was sure I recognised him as former Edinburgh speedway rider Robert Eriksson, and indeed it was. Incredible to meet a former hero, just stopping for lunch like that!

We then continued our drive, with a couple more stops for ice creams and to stretch our legs at scenic spots beside beautiful lakes. It was now very hot, over 30C, and we were glad to jump back into the air conditioned car!

The beautiful lake we stopped beside, near to Jonkoping.






At one point, Anna, Sandy and Olivia were all fast asleep as I drove. The road was very quiet and of a very high quality indeed. On the whole holiday, we didn't ever encounter a bad road in either Sweden or Finland. The infrastructure puts our country to shame.


The excellent E4 road heading towards Gothenburg, passing Jonkoping.



We got to our hotel, the Scandic Molndal, in south Gothenburg at around 4.45pm. It's a very impressive, large hotel. Our bedroom was on the third floor, room 303, and had two single beds, as well as fold down bunk beds that were hidden in the wall. Very clever! I was pretty tired after what was the longest drive of the whole holiday, 280 miles, so I had a shower to freshen up and we then walked to a nearby Chinese restaurant and sat down in the warm sunshine for dinner. It was very tasty, and I discovered a lovely cider, made from pears.

Back at the hotel, after a quick shower for Sandy and Olivia, I collapsed into a deep sleep, apparently even before them! I felt I deserved it though, as all the others had slept during the drive!