Time for a city escape. That normally means, that I take a tour to Trondheim, which is only 3,5 hours drive from home. I have been there many times, so there is no pressure to see anything. I like to combine it with a trip to IKEA should I need something for my flat. After I rearranged my seating in the living room, I had a gap that had to be filled with some cabinets. But that will only be an hour of my time in Trondheim.
That was exactly what I did. Friday after work I took my car and drove to Trondheim. 3,5 hours of relaxing while driving and listening to Audiobooks. Before I checked into the hotel, I went shopping at IKEA before trying to find a parking spot close to my hotel. A lot of one way streets and one wrong turn while looking for a sport for my car and I was on my way lout of the city center. Just had to take an semi-legal u-turn to get back. But I found a nice spot and went to my room. As it was after 10 pm, I just watched some series and went to sleep.
Breakfast the next morning was nothing special. If you want to have a good breakfast, don’t go for the Quality Hotel Augustin. As convenient as it is in the city center, it feels somewhat cheap. But good enough for my stay.
Thinking about what to do in Trondheim before, I had the idea to take a road trip to Sweden. Not the usual shopping tour – in Norwegian called “Harry tur” but visiting the town of Åre, where I have stayed as a student in the winter of 2003, when on an ERASMUS exchange. And if the time allows it, maybe a tour to Östersund.
Leaving the city in the early morning, going on the E6 north towards Stjørdal. Empty streets. A lot of toll payments on this part of the trip. At Stjørdal switching to the E14 eastbound. Weather is a little bit cloudy, but it shall be better around noon. After some geocaching stops on the way I cross the Swedish border. A short stop at Storlien Euro Cache to buy some small stuff, but it is not worth the trip. But as I am here – it is part of the normal program. Driving further towards Åre the weather gets better. The sky becomes blue and the sun is nice to see when driving through the Swedish landscape. And of course some geocaches here, too.
I arrive in Åre around noon and find a parking place at the old church. Nice building. Åre is a ski resort in the winter time, so a lot of ski lifts and shops/restaurants dedicated to winter sports and now, in the summer, mountain biking. If it makes them happy. 🙂 A short walk through this small town. I don’t remember anything from 2003. 😀 I saw a cable car and take a look how much it will cost me up to the top. 150 Swedish kroner is a reasonable price so a ticket is bought and a few minute later I am on my way to the top of Åreskutan. The view is great. The weather is perfect. Unfortunatelly I didn’t pay enough money for the parking so I don’t have the time to get all the way up to the top. But taking in the view, watching paragliders start and having some ice cream is good enough. After the break I take the next cable car downhill and walk to my car.
It is early enough that I can make the trip to Östersund, about 100 km east of Åre. Beautiful weather. 26 degree. After arriving I try to find a place to eat. Checking the web I find a local pizza restaurant. Not good. No taste, soggy pizza base – but it filled. After finding a parking spot it is time to walk through the city center. Unfortunately all the shops are closed because it is after 3 pm. So it is just wandering around and taking a walk to the Badhusparken on the shore of Storsjöen. A nice place. Buying some ice cream and sitting in the sun doing nothing but enjoying the view.
But it is time to get back to Trondheim, 3,5 hours drive ahead. But I cannot just drive back. Of course I have to log som Geocaches. 🙂 But there are some dark clouds behind me, so as soon as I am back on the E14 it is a straight drive to my hotel. I arrive late and hit the hay at once. 7 hours driving was not bad today.
Sunday morning sleeping as long as possible. Breakfast and then I decide not to stay to long in the city. I bought some furniture and want to get it set up in the afternoon. So nothing special on Sunday. Just a drive home.