LostInTheWoods

We are in the throws of a warm spring, and it is now time to take off the “winter tyres” (studded) and put on the “summer tyres” (normal everyday rubber). By law during the six months of winter, your car must have a set of winter tyres. Which means extra wheels, and the tyres are not cheap (£100/$200 each). So this is the most overt extra expense when you first come here.

Changing all four wheels in the hot Spring sun was sweaty work. The car now is a lot quieter when you drive, it doesn't sound like you are driving on gravel the whole time. I don't know how much damage the roads take, as only a small percentage of the time are you driving on ice/snow, the rest of the time the studs are chipping away at the road surface.

So with summer tyres on, it is downhill to the summer... and that reminds me... nobody can remember when it last rained!!?? I can remember when it last snowed, but no other precipitation has been seen in these parts for months. Very odd.

Another sign of summer is the explosion of teenagers burning around on loud mopeds. I swear they drill holes in the exhausts (mufflers for you Americans), the noise is astounding. Now I come to think of it the variety of vehicles on the road differs dramatically in the summer to what you find in the winter.

Along with the for mentioned mopeds, you see Honda Goldwings, Trikes and massive American cars from the 50's. Some Swedes spend their disposable income on a designated summer ride, that is kept under wraps in the cold winter months, and brought out to show off in the summer. This makes a change from the usual SAABs, Volvos and ever increasing number of Toyotas (is Toyota going to take over the world?), but if I were ever to have a summer ride, I would have to opt for a British classic. Keep the flag flying and all that....

That is all.
LostInTheWoods