Old steel / new steel

Falun, Sweden with the Rolander family

This update comes to you from a hammock, on a warm summer's afternoon, in a garden in the forested Swedish countryside. Sorry to brag, just setting the scene! It's been sunny and about 19º all week, so pretty ideal really.

With the Rolanders, the unwritten agreement is that I do a few hours work each day in return for bed and food. Therefore this week has been the closest to real life of my trip - a mixture of doing odd jobs in the house and workshop, cycling every day and chatting. 

Mon
Nic and Maria were out for a while so I found myself babysitting, or more specifically, sitting in the garden reading. I then went on a road ride, which after a short while turned into an off-road ride - rural roads are often not tarmacked in Sweden which isn't good at all on a lightweight road bike with hard skinny tyres and no grip, but no harm done thankfully. 

Astrid (Nic and Maria's niece) and Winnie (their daughter) then took me a couple of miles up a track into the forest to swim in the local lake. Bit murky but not too cold, with completely idyllic scenery.

After tea, Nic and Maria and I spent hours talking about their businesses, the world, travelling, technology, design and nearly everything else. Can't beat a good yarn.

Tues
Took down some old florescent lights then refitted with Nic them in his workshop. In the afternoon I cycled round Runn lake, the second biggest in the region. The scenery was absolutely stunning - both the lake and the small villages around it. One of the nicest rides I've ever done; I got drunk on my own excitement alone that day!

Weds
Started with old steel; working on Nic's old Range Rover, grinding off rust and stripping down parts.

Then later it was all about new steel. At the crayfish party last week I met a guy called Stefan who is a manager at the Swedish Steel mill nearby in Borlange. As I've worked with sheet metal for a few years, in the week I had a thought - I wonder if I could get a tour? Nic made the call for me, and so on Wednesday, I found myself in a enormous factory complex, being taken on a two-hour, one-on-one tour of SSAB steel, producers of some of the highest grade steel in the world.

They basically take 30 tonne blocks of steel that arrive by train, and process them into rolls of thin high grade sheet. Five kg of every Ferrari, Mercedes and Volkswagen body comes out of their factory. Needless to say I was fascinated and felt pretty lucky to have visited. When I thanked him for his time, Stefan said 'that's fine, you're a potential customer'! 

Thurs
Another day working on the Range Rover, grinding, painting and replacing parts. De-stressed afterwards (joke) with a fast 13 mile ride down to nearby Falun town and back. Admired the huge local ski jump setup as I went, passing other locals out training on rollerblades with ski poles - their training for cross country skiing. 

Fri
Nic and Maria had both suggested cycling around Siljan; the biggest lake in the area (of which you may have gathered, there are many), so I took a bus to Rättvik and went for it. Most of what I saw was actually forest, but sometimes glimpses of something - the lake - is more exciting than seeing the same sight all day. 

Sat
Just like a normal Saturday at home. Trip into Falun town to run errands, mow the lawn, do washing, set up a projector for Winnie's birthday party later, fix various bikes, read in the garden.

I've really enjoyed my week here, seeing typical Swedish family life and doing normal sorts of things, just in a different place. The Rolander family have been great fun, thanks for your hospitality guys! Heading north tomorrow. 

Siljan Lake