Stage 10 - Östersund and Ekki

In Östersund we are very lucky. The parking lot where we are located is right by the sea, or at least the huge lake feels like it. And next to it is a small harbor where boats nestle against each other. But nothing feels cramped, instead it's full of freedom and space, airy and open. The city sounds so beautiful Swedish and we want to browse a bit in it.

But first I have to work and have a few meetings in the bus. And then I'm done and we stroll through the narrow streets. Since Chris has a business call, I sit down in a cafe, in the sun, and enjoy the day. Apparently, there is currently an exhibition happening here and some visitors are crowding into the back rooms.

Östersund is small, but exactly the Swedish town we need right now to do some shopping. And so we find a whole bunch of new pants for Chris and two suits and some weatherproof shoes for me and all sorts of things that we can store nicely in our small garage in the camper. In the evening, we sit at the beautiful harbor by the lake in the wonderfully Swedish-designed restaurant and eat delicious food, served by a super nice pretty young Swede.

Somewhere behind Östersund and Strömsund is Ekki's Woodlands Farm and his family. In the twilight, we rumble along a overgrown path and then a wide field opens up in front of us. You can still see the slightly hilly meadow, its lush green, a shed, and forest at the edge. Further back, a red Swedish house with a few still lit windows.

Ekki comes out just now, we've read about him in our parking spot finder app. He is a German emigrant and now lives here with his family, offering campers the opportunity to park on their property. Just what we need. We are curious to learn more about him, and since there is another bus standing about 100m away from us, we expect a lot of peace and quiet during our time here. Ekki is nice, gives us electricity right away, and promises that we can also join his pizza evening the next day. That means, making our own pizza in the old converted wooden hut and then into the original stone oven.

The next morning it is raining. For the first time in 6 weeks, the sky is gray, and somehow it fits well because that way we can easily snuggle a bit longer in our warm cozy bed. But at some point, we have to get out and the rain has also stopped. We grab the shovel, nature toilet paper roll, and rubber boots and set off into the red glowing wild forest. Striding through lots of mud and wet grass, we finally reach a quiet giant lake. Maybe we could swim here?!?

And indeed, a day later Chris steps into the icy cold water and swims his laps equipped with a wetsuit and buoy. The lake has a few degrees, and I only dive a few times. But there is nothing here. Just us and nature. And far away, in another world, Ekki and his farm. Time stands still here. Everything is just okay. What is, is. And we enjoy it to the fullest. When Chris has swum his 1.5 km after about 20 minutes, we quickly dry ourselves off and set off again. Through the forest, into the warmth. Ekki and the pizza dough are already waiting.

It's a sociable, cozy evening with Ekki, the pizza that really looks like a cartwheel because it has a big hole in the middle (accidentally!), and the two of us. Ekki likes to talk and tell a lot, and we marvel and laugh at so much courage and carefreeness. How he moved here with his pregnant wife, two children, and his mother on a whim and now tries to offer his family a life that is a little freer. Where "free" can also mean "self-responsible" and perhaps also a bit "insecure". Overall, the Swedish social and immigration system makes it easy for a European to immigrate and settle in.

When we say goodbye the next morning, Ekki, now with his two children in tow, gives us a fresh Chinese cabbage from his garden. Chris is thrilled. Not. But I am even more so. We wave and move on. Further, northwards.