Part 9 - Surprising Ending

On Sunday morning, we returned to the Lomsesanden campsite in Farsund around 11 a.m. Fortunately, we managed to secure a nice spot in the back, quiet section of the site. There are 85 pitches, 5 camping cabins, 14 glamping tents, 13 hammock spots, and a long section of beach for tents. Fire pits are also set up all along the beach for some romantic atmosphere and such.
Once we had set up, we could finally move on to my wish for this vacation. A hike through the neighboring nature resort, which had already been one of my absolute highlights in southern Norway in 2019. Through beautiful dune landscapes with some bunkers, we were able to admire the vastness in peace under the bright sunshine, despite many other hikers. From an old bunker on a hill, there was a breathtaking view of the surroundings. We then continued to the coast, where there were several small bathing coves with sandy beaches. Of course, these were very popular; some had driven there by motorboat to enjoy a few lovely hours. Since the water was low at the time, we could even climb over some rocks and stones, with sun-dried seaweed on a small island that isn't always accessible. There, we had the best view of the huge North Sea; we also saw some ferries or cruise ships in the distance. I can no longer say how long we sat there, but one can easily lose track of time when the view is as stunning as that.
Eventually, we walked back and each treated ourselves to 3 scoops of ice cream from the reception since that had to be a parting treat from Norway. Then we saw that there was a pizzeria on site with a real stone oven that can fit 6 pizzas. So, that would be our dinner. Shortly after 7 p.m., we ordered but were forewarned of a 45-minute wait. At the ordering counter, it was already clear that demand was immense, as endless tickets were piling up there. So we went back to the motorhome and returned around 8 p.m. We had to wait another three-quarters of an hour; the owner then wanted to compensate us with ice cream on the house. But it didn't matter; we already had ice cream, and anticipation for the delicious pizza didn’t lessen. After 1.5 hours, we finally received our tasty treats, and to be honest, you've rarely had better pizza at a campsite! We certainly never have.

In the evening, when the sun had set, it got quite chilly, and we had to turn on the heating again. At some point, there was suddenly a bang, and we checked to see what it was, but couldn't find anything. We didn't think much of it, but later the heating stopped working as well. Great, time to head to bed and snuggle under the blanket.
On Monday morning, André wanted to make coffee, but the burner wouldn’t turn on. Conclusion: The gas bottle is empty. But that shouldn't come as a surprise since we had been camping without connections several times, where the fridge had to run on gas, and it also requires gas for warm water for washing up or showering. 10°C in the evening is not uncommon in Norway.
A brief disappointment set in, but then came the far worse issue. Outside, we saw that water was running out of the car. It wasn't just dripping; it was running! And the kitchen cabinet was completely soaked too. We figured out that this happened because we used the faucet or the toilet flush inside. So, the bang from the night before seemed to be a malfunction in the water system. A burst hose, or a pipe or a connection... absolutely fantastic!
We could have refilled the gas, but now we couldn't use any water at all! So, not at all! We looked everywhere, but everything is so well built that there's nowhere to access to fix a leak. And who knows if the damage will worsen if we continue to use water?
Thus, we drove somewhat aimlessly and sadly to the ferry to Norway. A 4-hour crossing was ahead of us. However, that went quite well because we treated ourselves to the Commander Buffet (25€ flat rate per person for all-you-can-eat and drinks included), then we went to the animation center, where bingo was played first and later there was a chance to spin the wheel of fortune. The animator did a fantastic job, and a group of about 30 young people played along heartily – and correspondingly won a lot.
After the ferry, we traveled a few more kilometers and by sunset arrived at a pitch in a marina with a lighthouse. The check-in there was again via QR code and online payment. We ran through all kinds of possibilities about how the vacation could continue, but came to the conclusion that the trip must unfortunately end abruptly. Without water and gas, it just isn't feasible anymore. So we informed the landlord about the damage and that we would be returning the car 2 days earlier than planned. This way, he can still have it repaired before the next tenants want to head out on Saturday. Annoying, but unchangeable.
On Tuesday, we drove the nearly 900km almost straight home, where we arrived at half-past nine in the evening.
Fridge emptied, bed linens gathered, and off to bed. With breaks, we had been on the road for almost 12 hours, which can be quite exhausting.
Today, we cleared out the leftovers, cleaned the motorhome, filled it up, and returned it.
So modest was how the vacation started and ended, but the two weeks in between were once again beautiful, adventurous, enriching, and we met some wonderful people. There's no need to discuss the nature, as the view is priceless year after year.
Perhaps we'll discover some other unknown places in Scandinavia next time...