The Otto’s Blog

Normally avoiding any major city is a priority. Even Heidelberg was difficult to drive in. I nearly had a meltdown driving through Stuttgart.

So why go to Stockholm? Nad is there. I’ve known Nad since first years of college. Nad is backwards for Dan, can’t remember making the nickname but it’s coming up to 25 years and still sticks.

Our first stop was a small fishing town called Hällevik where at the little museum they invited us to celebrate Sweden day with them tomorrow. Great!

Time for the family vacation up to Sweden.

Quite a surprise for not just off season but literally end of season, Krk is full. While the previous place was at max 10%, this place is at least 90% full. Time to get a taste of main season.

I will always cherish the offseason and live in fear of the main season. Feels like a post apocalypse zombie attack. The last few remaining humans, go on vacation.

Another journey another drive through Slovenia. We always stop here and we are always pleased with the results. The people are always friendly, speak English, food is good and prices are old school Croatian. Not that this all (except the price) doesn’t apply in other countries… but I think it’s time to make a Slovenian vacation.

Main season is over, Germany is getting cold and Freya can walk. Time to head south.

Easy boarder crossing is always good. Immediate old men on bicycles in the middle of each lane even better. All the negative things people said about the place aren’t true, and all the positive things are true. Looking hopeful!

It is that time of year. A magical bunny drops and hides eggs made of chocolate. Offering a perfect metaphor and explanation of the story of Jesus.

Croatia was perfect. What more else to say? Danijel was the best host, his house great, location magnificent. I didn’t even take any pictures, was too happy as it was.

Sticking with Landstraßen all the way to Croatia was very nice, except for 2 passes to Italy being closed, and the Navi only telling us about one of them. We got to see quite a lot.

My mother told me the other day there were pictures of when I was 1 month old and with the family on a road trip to Yellowstone or maybe Yosemite, gotta ask about those pictures. Also to ask more about the doctor they took me too that I quote my mother “should not have been a doctor.”

Been a very long time since we’ve gone out on the road and of course, there’s 3 of us now.

So we didn’t take many pictures, ‘‘twas more of a relaxing holiday at the beach. Lots of swimming, fun on the canoe, and we’re on a boat.

We take a week off to chill and relax on the island of Elba.

We left our last Wilderness Way post at the Plateau of the circuit. A beautiful scenic place and not so bad a spot for lunch. The very next stop had 3 things for us, of which we only knew one.

There’s a lot of Vag in Sweden, but it’s all been travelled. Our next goal is to cross into Lappland, the northern most territory in Sweden, via the Vildmårksvägen!

The Swedish word for finish is Slut. Would be really funny if they took it to the next level and meant finish not as end but as their neighbors to the east.

First and foremost, apologies to the readers, Norway and Oslo for the false negative vibes of the last post, we had a great time, beautiful countryside and city and most importantly looking forward to next years Norway trip replacing the lakes of Sweden with the F-Jords of Norway. Oslo, you put the R in Norway! Really, we had a good time and it is highly recommendable.

What’s the first thing to do in Sweden? Make an IKEA joke, eat a Kanelbullar and then go to Norway!

As any good Irishman should do, go to Sweden to rape, pillage, burn and plunder. A checklist guaranteed in Sweden.

The journey began from big bettlingen, with literally Stau or construction till Flensburg.

4 day weekend so good time to get some hiking, make progress with the HW1 Albstieg and test out some upgrades to Hubi.

Finished our Croatian tour with a nice long relaxed stay on the island of Rab with a few lessons learned and some already known. Don’t go to huge campgrounds nor family friendly, look for small and dog friendly.

The lakes of Plitvicka are recommended by all from all, so we left the coast to go inland. Some fun windy and windy (free beer if you know the difference!) roads through mountains and we made it to very green and wet Lake Plitvicka area. We made it here early afternoon, so we decided to do half the park today and half to tomorrow. We went to entrance two for day one.

Leaving Trogir and Split without seeing Trogir nor Split and we make our way down South (as the blog is named). We pass by Makarska and it’s steep mountains on our way to Drvenik, where another short little ferry to the island of Hvar.

Our Bill Withers Lovely Day actually started off with a bang. Neighbor had a combo of chainsaw, blower, lawnmower and woodchipper all in one device at 7am. That thing was loud. It became hilarious when he stepped it up in high gear.

The first stop of the day was National Park Krka. We love our waterfalls and this place has them!

After a lovely breakfast of bacon, beans and eggs at house Pandza, we start making our way south on the mainland with Senj as our goal.

I probably spelled his name wrong… shout out to Danijel and many thanks!

The second day of our tour had us already in Ljubljana and on our way to Croatia. After crossing the border I wanted to hug the Istrian coast from Umag all the way to Pula, but by Porec I gave up and made a straight shot for Rovinj, our first Croatian town. I wish I had known to stop in Kringa, home of Jure Grando, worlds first vampire! Rumor has it he also tried out as Power Forward for the Sacramento Kings.