Houseboat life is never uneventful, indeed never. In the summer, you'll see all sorts of craft moving through the water: sauna rafts, submarines and people standing on boards and paddling. In winter, it's the icebreakers, skaters and divers that make you look up from your breakfast table. And then there are all the animals of course... and all the unexpected drama.
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ShareNatural phenomena and wildlife
It is not easy to photograph, the sea smoke, but it is there. It's like a thick white fog that lies just above the surface of the water. According to SMHI the weather phenomenon of sea smoke occurs when water surfaces come into contact with much colder air.
The smoke often occurs when it is colder than 20 degrees below zero and when the water surface does not freeze for some reason, which it does not in our marina because there are propellers moving around the water.
The ice-free water here in Pampas marina also attracts ducks. We usually have ducks here, but when the ice settles on Lake Ulvsunda it becomes even more crowded with ducks in the marina - everyone wants to be here! I have seen the heron a few mornings too. He always lands in the same place, on the jetty just outside our kitchen window.
People on the ice
When Lake Ulvsunda froze over, they started coming - all the skaters! Some whiz by on long-distance skates and others sweep the ice clean so they can engage in some kind of sport. I always think it looks nasty when the skaters get too close to the houseboats (where there is open water) or when they skate even though it is above freezing. But I hope they know what they are doing... We were even more surprised one evening when a cyclist rushed past on the ice!
Drama in the water
Late one weekend night, sitting up in front of the TV, we heard the loud sound of boat engines. In the middle of the night? When there was ice on the lake? We opened the patio door and went out onto the deck and right in front of us it came in: the icebreaker with a large towed sailboat behind it. We don't know what happened to the icy sailboat, but at least it needed help into the harbour!
Another day, when Peter was at home, he suddenly saw a diver outside the kitchen window. What was he doing there? Well, there was a water leak in a pipe that runs along the bottom, so the diver was there to fix...
But it's even worse when a water leak occurs indoors! One morning, one of the small houseboats was upside down in the water. A water pipe had sprung a leak and no one was home. Luckily, there are neighbours looking out for each other and staff at the marina. The water was quickly pumped out, but unfortunately there is always water damage that needs to be repaired...
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Ninni, Henrik och husbilen Knasen says:
Hi! Yes you seem to have something to look at most of the time 🙂 Hope it worked out with the houseboat that was skewed.
02 February 2016 - 8:53
Comsi Comsa says:
Oh, I think they prefer that the boat is NOT on the slope. 🙂
Hugs ♥
02 February 2016 - 9:04
Lennart says:
Great pictures and things are happening all around you!
02 February 2016 - 9:07
admin says:
Ninni, yes there really is always something to look at! The boat is fine, but water can cause damage that needs to be repaired.
Comsi Comsa, us too! Fortunately, it was corrected quickly!
Lennart, there is always something going on outside the windows...
Steve, one of the best things here is that the neighbours look after each other's houses (boats). Nothing goes unnoticed!
I respect the ice so I wouldn't want to cycle on it, but...
02 February 2016 - 9:36
Geddfish says:
At the caravan time, we discovered that Vätternrundan went right past us at the rest area near Hjo. Lots of cyclists 😉
Yes, it is cool to be in the middle of nature and in the middle of the action.
Hugs <3
02 February 2016 - 10:10
Steve says:
Nice to have a heron outside the kitchen window. Cyclist out on the ice???
Because you neighbours are looking at each other's houseboats. It looks really nasty with the house tilted at an angle.
Everything seems very well organised in your neighbourhood.
I can say this. It is much quieter at Getingstorp. But then, you live in the big city too.
02 February 2016 - 9:15
Ama de casa says:
Wow, there's a lot going on at your place! Fun to watch, when it doesn't get TOO dramatic like with that crooked houseboat...?
I do not understand those who dare to go out on ice where there is open water nearby. I liked to go long-distance skating, but waited to go out until they had ploughed a track on Norrviken. I thought that if it held for the plough truck, it should hold for me too 😀.
02 February 2016 - 10:37
Linnea says:
Exciting! I would have found it hard not to stand and look for exciting things all day 🙂 .
02 February 2016 - 11:02
Ditte says:
Yes, it's first-class entertainment and it doesn't get boring. We recognise a lot from our view, but it's a bit more from above than yours.
Sadly, however, for those affected by a leaking water pipe.
Lovely pictures from your home! But right now I'm not looking forward to Stockholm. Well, maybe a little. But +22 and bright sunshine is also nice here in early February. And to sit outside by the sea and have lunch...
02 February 2016 - 12:21
Frank Olsen says:
What an exciting place of residence you have 🙂
Do you know how thick the ice is where they "skate"?
Skridskor has always been a slightly strange word for us "norbaggar" 🙂 .
02 February 2016 - 12:22
BP says:
Considering all the entertainment, excitement and rescue operations you will be offered, you certainly don't need to buy expensive cinema tickets;-)
02 February 2016 - 14:12
Anita Malta says:
I think the idea of living on a houseboat sounds exciting, but I've never thought about how much is going on around me. The cyclist probably took the prize here, absolutely crazy! Good that you look after each other's boats and really hope that it went well for the house that ended up on the slope.
The wildlife must be an appreciated feature as well as skaters gliding by 🙂 Then you have a fantastic view and can follow the seasons so close to the knot 😉.
02 February 2016 - 15:00
Anna, New York – My Bite of the Big Apple says:
Wow, how much "entertainment" you seem to have outside your windows. 🙂 That cycling across the ice on the weekend night sounded like a silly way to tempt fate.
I understand that the ducks are happy to be around you. Nice pictures!
02 February 2016 - 16:53
Rolle o Carina says:
Great for those who like excitement! 🙂
Take care....
02 February 2016 - 16:55
admin says:
Geddfish, a lot of cyclists at once then! 🙂 Yes, we like to just both in nature and "in the mud" ...
Ama de casa, no the houseboat was not so fun, but many other things are entertaining! I am like you, I want to know that the ice is very durable before I go out 😉.
Linnea, haha, sometimes it actually feels like you're missing a lot just because you're not hanging out at the windows... 😉.
Ditte, it sounds like you have a great time in the heat! I almost think it's hot here (after the cold snap) but it's on another level, haha.
Frank Olsen, no I don't know how thick it is. I think it has been quite thick actually, but then we have, for example, our area where it is completely open. What is the Norwegian word for skates?
BP, then we can save some money on it, great! 😉
Anita Malta, I have never before experienced the seasons and the weather as clearly as I do here! And yes, it's great to have all the neighbours looking out for each other! The houseboat will be fine, but there is probably some damage inside that needs to be renovated unfortunately.
Anna, I also think it must be a bit foolhardy to cycle over the ice on a weekend night like that. How will you have time to notice if the ice is thin somewhere? And who will see you if you fall in?
Rolle and Carina, it's kind of fun when things happen around (except when someone gets hurt of course, not so fun with the little houseboat).
02 February 2016 - 17:25
Znogge says:
You live in a really lovely and exciting place. There is undeniably something special about having the sea close by and at the same time in the centre of the city. However, I would never have dared to cycle across the ice ...
02 February 2016 - 19:34
Matts Torebring says:
You young people seem to be having a really exciting time. With all the talk about floods and changes in nature, it's nice to live in a hot spot like Aneby. But if the water rises at your place, the boat goes up with it. You live protected from flooding, unless the water takes you out to sea.
02 February 2016 - 20:10
admin says:
Znogge, isn't there something special about water? And cycling across the ice (especially in the dark on a weekend night) doesn't seem very smart....
Matts, it is so wonderful that we can be called young people sometimes 🙂 Yes, heights can be good against floods. As you say, however, we follow you up, we hope 😉.
02 February 2016 - 21:24
Marianne - Glimt av verden says:
To me it sounds very exotic to live in a houseboat, and there is a lot going on around you. I don't think I would have ventured out on the ice, though, either on a bike (!) or skates (ice skates - I guess I've never heard that word before 🙂 ).
02 February 2016 - 23:50
solvei says:
A cyclist who comes running in the night and disappears...sounds like a good intro to a crime novel....
We are standing among lemon trees 8km from Murcia. Somewhere there is a motorhome...
02 February 2016 - 23:56
Frank Olsen says:
Helena, skridskor is called skating in Norwegian 🙂 .
03 February 2016 - 7:50
admin says:
Marianne, it's cosy to live on a houseboat! But I only go out on the ice when it feels very thick and safe... and not by bike. And I had never heard the Norwegian word for skates before! 😉
Solvei, the lemon tree thing could also fit in a book! 😉 Sounds lovely!
Frank Olsen, then I have learnt something new today too! 🙂
03 February 2016 - 8:21
Mycket annat och lite betong says:
At least it won't be boring. Lots going on around you. But scary to cycle across the ice at night, probably no ice studs even...
In our bay it freezes early so busloads of skaters usually arrive. They probably know what the ice is like because we haven't seen anyone fall in, even if they have held their breath sometimes. Then there are cars, quad bikes and snowmobiles when the ice gets really thick.
PS. I have voted for you.
Agneta
05 February 2016 - 17:44
admin says:
Agneta, no he probably didn't have any ice studs with him... If there are cars on the ice, then I dared to walk on it! 🙂 Thank you so much for your vote!
06 February 2016 - 9:17
Steel city anna says:
Wow, what drama! Would also find it scary with people walking on the ice. Did it often before but would never do it now. Not cycling either 🙂 cool with the sea smoke!
10 February 2016 - 15:35