We knew from the beginning there will be a lot of driving during our holiday. First of all, we had to reach Norway, then visit points of interest and afterwards come back. We found out rather quickly, it won’t be as easy as it used to be when Tomek was 4 months. Back then he overslept most driving. Well, we didn’t do so much driving as now, but we could put him in the car seat anytime and it was ok. Now, as 1-year-old he doesn’t sleep so much anymore and get bored harnessed with safety belts. How did we deal with it?
The best time for driving is after eating and playing when Tomasz is a bit sleepy and the bumps and the engine’s roar put him easily into sleep. Only that afterwards we cannot stop because it is highly probable, he will wake up. But the worst what we can do is to turn off the engine. Then he will wake up for sure. And that is why we do not have photos of many beautiful places…
It is not always possible to drive after eating and playing. Sometimes the weather interferes, sometimes the schedule of the day. It is alright if the route is short. Tomek will look around and listen what you’re talking about. The longer section requires more work. You need to sing a song, or a few, clap your hands, show every single toy you took on the trip and start fooling around. After that, you have only two options left. You either lean over to him and caress until he falls asleep, or you shut your ears and look for a parking lot as fast as you can. Naturally, the child you take out of the car seat is totally transformed – smiling and happy to discover the world.
But the most demanding was searching a place to overnight. The evening has fallen, time to go to bed, and there is no parking space in sight. Very often in both, Sweden and Norway, there were private properties or the prohibition of camping along the way. So we were driving, and driving, and driving with a hope in our hearts to find a parking, a meadow, whatever! And fast. Because at this hour only corn crisps soothed Tomek’s moans.
In order to get to Sweden, we took a ferry from Helsingør to Helsingborg. In Sweden, we planned to do some shopping. We didn’t take much food with us. We knew the prices should be lower in Sweden than in Denmark. What we didn’t know is that there are plenty of shopping centers along the motorway and that they have all kinds of products you wish to find. In Denmark, there is no choice of product in most of the markets. So we were truly delighted.
As I’ve already mentioned, finding a place for a night rest usually brought some difficulties. This time was the same. Finally, we stopped to refuel and just in front of us there was a big parking with places to overnight. Our neighbours were a guy with a dog in the camper from one side and another with a huge circus rabbit from the other.
How does Multivan work as a camper? Well, I am not quite satisfied. The good thing is that unlike in the van, we are all together inside with some space around. But making a bed wasn’t just a matter of sliding the couch. We had to take out the luggage, pull out the seat and then put the suitcases, the trolley, the backpack somewhere in front. It wasn’t that bad with a good weather (which we didn’t have much) because I could go out with Tomek, the baggage could go also out for awhile, and Jurek could prepare everything inside. But with the rain and the wind, we were all inside and didn’t want the things to get wet. Sure, after few nights we had worked out ways of doing it, but still… it would be nice to have a roof tent.
I must say it was comfortable enough to sleep on the couch. It was a bit cold, though. Not all the nights and not all over. I mean it was warm under the duvet but cold outside. I woke up few times to check on Tomek and cover him with a blanket. I even dress him in a hoody few times although it seemed that cold didn’t affect him in any way.
We ate breakfast outside. Jurek prepared scrambled eggs with sausage. He usually cooked our meals while I was looking after Tomek.
During the day, we made a long break by a picturesque lake. Jurek made dinner, Tomek was practicing walking, Kaprys sniffing new terrain and I was watching over everything. 😛 It would be a very enjoyable picnic if not mosquitoes.
We decided to camp for the night by the lake just outside Lillehammer. There were even more mosquitoes! And they were driving with us for few more days.
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