This is a collaboration with Bergholm and Wake up where you want. You can read the full article here.
When the pandemic put an end to Henrik and Eva's planned trip to Italy, life took an unexpected turn. A spontaneously rented motorhome was the starting point for a new way of travelling - and eventually a whole new lifestyle. Now the couple are swapping their house for an apartment to free up more time for their passion: slow, tasty road trips through Sweden and Europe in their Roller Team Kronos Fit.
Henrik and Eva Rendahl from Karlstad met at a cookery course for beginners. Since then, food and wine have been a common thread in their relationship. When Eva turned 40, they had plans to rent a house in Italy for a month. But the pandemic put an end to the trip. Instead, a new idea was born: a gastronomic road trip in Sweden.
- We rented a motorhome through Rent and Travel and decided to go to places listed in the White Guide, says Henrik and continues:
-Every evening a new restaurant, every night a new place to park the motorhome.The trip was a success. When they got home, they were in agreement: ”Later, when we're retired, we'll have our own motorhome.” But ”further ahead” came faster than they expected. A few days later they drove past Husbilslandet outside Kristinehamn and turned off with the intention of just looking - but then rolled away with a motorhome.
- It was probably the most expensive spontaneous purchase we made," says Eva, laughing.The fact that the couple's first motorhome came from the Land of Motorhomes was a coincidence - they just happened to be driving by. But the relationship has been long-lasting.
- They are incredibly service-minded. They organise events, meetings and care about their customers even after the purchase. It doesn't feel like they just want to sell vehicles, but actually want to take care of us motorhome owners," says Henrik.A few seasons after the first purchase, the couple switched to a new Kronos Fit 921P from Roller Team. The reason for choosing this particular model was the flexible size in combination with the optimised surface.
- We were careful about what we wanted when we chose our Kronos Fit. Every space is well thought out and well planned. We don't like to stay on large campsites, but prefer to travel to smaller and more cosy places. So it's very practical to have a compact vehicle that we can take everywhere without compromising on comfort," says Henrik.The couple rarely stay in one place for more than one night and love small, narrow roads and being able to pull off where it looks cosy. Even then, a small motorhome is worth its weight in gold.
- We thrive best on small pitches, preferably on a farm. Ideally, the farmer should produce his own cheese or wine - then we are extra happy," says Henrik.
From homeowner to freedom fighter
When Henrik and Eva returned from their long summer holiday, they were greeted by a dilapidated garden, a house in need of maintenance - and a feeling that something was wrong. They had just driven through vineyards in France, sampled local specialities and fallen asleep overlooking the vines. And now they were coming back to the house, which was in need of a lot of love.
- We looked at each other and said: ”Is this really what we want to spend our time on?” Henrik says, and Eva agrees.Two weeks later, the couple made up their minds and in August they sold the house. Now an apartment awaits instead - and the plan is clear: more time for freedom on wheels.
- By the time this report is published, the move has probably already taken place to the apartment. "The decision is not about scaling down life - but about scaling up what we actually love," says Henrik.- We want to free up time for our hobbies. And one of the biggest interests is spelled h-u-s-b-i-l! Eva adds.
Moving from a house to an apartment is a big step, but for Henrik and Eva it's also a mental adjustment. As one estate agent put it to them, an apartment looks the same when you get home as when you left it.
- That's not really the case with a house. There's always something going on - the lawn, the flower beds, the maintenance. And it doesn't fit in with how we want to live anymore," says Eva.
Travelling with the motto ”Slowcation”
One of Henrik and Eva's best recommendations is to avoid motorways when possible.
- Beyond the motorways there are better restaurants, more beautiful nature and more experiences. "If you have the time, you gain so much by taking your time when travelling," says Henrik.
The couple says the concept of slowcation clearly encapsulates their way of travelling.
- We drive maybe three hours a day. Then we want to stop and experience. We don't want to burn the motorway for eight hours just to ”get there”, says Henrik.
They laugh when they remember their ”record”, when it took the couple two days to get from Västerås to Karlstad. A journey that normally takes just under three hours.
- But we had a great time on the way," laughs Eva.
From travel diary to popular travel blog
During the pandemic, when travelling was restricted, Henrik and Eva started to document their experiences in a more structured way. What was initially intended as a travel diary for themselves quickly grew into something else. Today, they run two websites, with travel stories, tips and a map of all the places they wrote about.
- rendahls.se - where they collect travels and experiences over the years.
- knapptstyrfart.se - focused on motorhome and caravan park reviews.
- I think we have around 60 pitches now, mostly in Sweden but also in other countries," says Henrik.
Followers and readers often contribute tips. Ahead of longer trips, Henrik and Eva ask about favourite spots along the way, and many of these little gems are found via other motorhome enthusiasts - and now also with the help of another travel buddy: ChatGPT.
- "Last summer we used AI a lot to plan routes and get tips along the way, both in Sweden and down in Europe. It gave us lots of suggestions we wouldn't have found ourselves," says Henrik.
The secret, he says, is not just to ask ”What are we going to do at the Göta Canal?”, but also to tell them how they are travelling, what they like and how much time they have.
- "The more background you give, the better suggestions you get. This applies both when you ask people and when you ask an AI," he says.
Ahead: more time on the road, less time mowing the lawn
Now that the house is being replaced by an apartment, both time and energy are freed up. The motorhome is ready, although it will have to rest a little during the winter. And the plans for the future? More slow journeys, more unexpected turns, more vineyards, more Norwegian views - and definitely more tips and stories on their blogs.
So somewhere between a small campsite in the countryside and a restaurant in an alley, two Värmlanders roll on in their small, well-thought-out motorhome. And the motto is - more slowcations, maximised with experiences!
Henrik and Eva's tips:
- Rent via Rent and Travel before you buy
We started by renting a motorhome. It's a big investment to buy your own, so rent first and be sure of what you want. Even if you work full-time with limited holidays, there are plenty of opportunities to get away. There are a plethora of models, sizes, layouts and designs so test out what you like!- France Passion and the network of flavours
France Passion is a network of 4,000 farmers who allow caravanners to stay on their farms for free in exchange for tasting and buying their produce. A quid pro quo that the couple are happy to indulge in.- Dare to take a detour
A motorhome makes it easy to change direction and take a detour. When traffic jams prevented the couple from reaching their destination, they discovered a completely different destination instead. In the village of St Martin, the Weingut Schreieck vineyard offered a few spaces for motorhomes - with vines right next door, a wine fridge where guests could pick a bottle and put money in a jar, and a small village street with restaurants around the corner. A really successful detour, which would have been harder to pull off with hotel bookings to contend with.
The blog Vakna där du vill is run by Bergholm, which imports caravans and motorhomes of the brands Knaus, Weinsberg, t@b, Tabbert, Morelo and CI & Roller Team. Our products are sold through a network of dealers located around the country. We also run the conceptRent and Travelfor the hire of motorhomes. You can read more about us and see more products on our websitewww.bergholm.com
