Day Eight. Harkan River Sweden.

0720hrs. Awake. It was so hot in the room last night we had to open a window. With all packing being completed last night we had plenty of time for a leisurely coffee. Once finished here at the cabin we strolled across to the kitchen for some breakfast and another brew. 

0855hrs. The two mini bus taxis arrive. Here we took our leave of Jay and Lewis. They were staying on to meet with family and friends later today before setting off up river again Sunday to repeat the adventure. Johan, like many of us had to return to work on the Tuesday. Monday being a Bank Holiday in the UK so he would be accompanying us.

0950hrs. We had cleared baggage check-in at Ostersund airport. This self-check and labelling is great. Jackie manages to set the alarm off yet again. “It’s my hip”. Les had his carry-on subjected to a double scan. Looking not only nervous but very guilty, he was called across to open the bag and show the contents. Inside, the offending items were identified as a knife and fork. The ‘go to’ weapon in a terrorists arsenal when taking down an airliner. If that was not bad enough the Stopportons could not find their passports that the security agent had placed in the tray on the belt. Having once suffered a major incident in an airport many years ago I am usually most protective in an airport and especially of docs. (Tamil Tigers my arse!) Asking all nearby had they picked up our PP’s they all replied no. In desperation I asked all again. Les who was now sweating like a suicide bomber in downtown Bagdad had, it seemed picked them up and pocketed them. Not unlike the fiasco that ensued after the sauna last night when he walked off with the wrong towels causing Ben, I and Johan to go searching!  If I was running the Security Team here I would have had Les in for a cavity search! Once that has been visited upon him he might take a slightly keener interest on whose PPs he was picking up in future! As an aside, I trust you all have at least a colour photocopy of the relevant page of you PP laminated and stashed somewhere. Best memorise your PP number.

 We now walk into the departure lounge, all seemingly styled and furnished by Ikea. There is a delightful café and the usual gift shop.  Reindeer skins adorned walls and seats. Posters and pictures showed local scenes throughout the seasons. Upon each of the low lying coffee tables was a small tea light set inside a small piece of Silver Birch trunk. Ben was telling me how last Xmas he made a few of these guys which his wife sold at the local craft market. He reckoned he made a killing. What a great idea I thought. Turning to Jackie to tell her the story, I was amazed at what I saw. She had a knife off the table and was stripping the bark off one such decoration to keep for later as tinder. I gently removed the knife from her and told her she need not worry about that sort of thing for a few more weeks! Dave also seemed to be slightly melancholy. When I asked why he replied he had so wanted to see a reindeer. He was beside himself, until a little while later when I spotted him munching on a reindeer sausage wrap. He seemed pretty content then!

1045hrs. Aboard seated in the emergency exit seats. Result. Within a few minutes we taxied out and turning onto the main runway went straight into the take-off roll no messing. Full throttle.

1103hrs. Wheels up.

1148hrs. Wheels down. Brilliant sunshine at Stockholm Airport. We have quite a few hours to pass till our flight out to LHR. We all seemed to bomb burst in different directions. We last spotted Steve being dragged upstairs into the McDonalds by young Casper. Apart from passing Johan at some point we did not see any of the others until the boarding gate. We bought a rather twee stylised model of a Viking on the prow of a longship which we thought might act as a figurehead for the camper.

We checked that T5 was our next stop and then made our way to a rather pleasant café with views out over the apron. Here we bought a ham and avocado on granary bread sandwich and a rocky road brownie. I’m uncertain whether it was the seeds in the granary bread or the price at £9-50 for the sandwich that made me cough! It was very pleasant sat here with the sun streaming in through the windows. After some time we decided we may as well make our way through to T5. This entailed quite a considerable walk crossing various terminals etc. Again submitting to passport and security checks and exiting into the obligatory duty free hall. How can so many different perfumes be produced by so many different companies? Perfume booze, perfume, booze and so it continued down the length of one of the largest Duty Frees I have seen in a long time.

1410hrs. Eventually we arrived at Gate F68. If I had walked out that door I reckon I would have been in Norway we walked that far. The gate had hours to go yet before it opened, indeed even the gates waiting room was locked. We found seats outside. I had a strange craving for chocolate and so bought some of the Liquorice salted choco bar as recommended by Tim earlier. I thought I might have a quick kip but was approached by a chap, certainly not of Swedish origin, in a distressed state chuntering on in Swedish. I told him I only spoke English. His English was limited in the extreme. He was from Kurdistan and was panicing cos his gate was closed and he thought he had missed his flight. I took him to the display board and after checking his papers managed to convince him his gate F67 opposite ours was yet to open. At this he seemed to relax somewhat when a passing airport employee confirmed this he threw his arms around me and gabbled off for ages. He was flying to Bulgaria. Had left home ten years ago, fleeing persecution and now lived in Sweden where he had taught himself Swedish and was happily married with a young family.

1645hrs. On board our Boing 737-600. Steve and Casper are seated in front of us. Casper now sporting a new ‘Sweden’ winter hat. Dave sat across from us to talking about moose. That can only mean one thing, he fancies a moose burger. Good luck with that at LHR!

1717hrs. Wheels up.

1831hrs. Landed LHR. Sunny and warm. Well at least that’s something. We made our way to baggage reclaim and for the last time on this trip met up with everyone. There was time for a last hug and best wishes for a safe onward journey before we took our leave. Sarah, Trevor’s daughter would be collecting us in the arrivals hall if her flying schedule permitted and would then whisk us back to her parent’s house for the night before continuing our journey on to Plymouth tomorrow.

1950hrs. Sat at Trevor and Janice’s house enjoying a Ruby Murray.