Well, we've certainly put in the miles - crossing to the east coast of Sweden and now into Finland. A much needed down day by the lakeside gave Clare a chance to swim and us to give Nala a good walk in fairy tale woodland. It's nice to have a little of the genial hubbub of other campers - a friendly Swiss couple and a lovely Dutch couple who enjoyed watching Nala leap into the lake for her ball.

We visited the copper mine at Falun where the famous red paint of Sweden is made - a bi product of the mineral extraction that has been going on for over 1000 years.

As we've headed east pastureland has opened up - lots of horses, menages and riding stables. And we've experienced Swedish nature at its best - one wild camp spot a few kilometres down a gravel track to a lake side spot of absolute tranquillity. Archie tucked into the trees, a fire on the lake edge, a long morning swim. We will really miss these moments when we get south and wild camping is less easy. And a long walk at a nature reserve on the edge of the Stockholm archipelago. It was incredibly beautiful - misty lakes and coves with golden rushes. Mossy boulders covered with pines, birch and now oak and beech. Pine needle paths. Cowslip filled meadows. The occasional little opening into a bay with a red and white cabin perched on boulders - steely, salty sea and mist. The only sounds were birds and voices drifting from passing kayaks (at one point a jovial school party crossing a bay) and motorboats that could be heard but not seen. At one point we could hear the wing beat of a sea gull it was so quiet.

We didn't have long in Stockholm but rather fell in love with it. There is so much water, it's calming. Parisian grandeur along the promenade and then Romanesque churches, the royal palace and Parliament building. Parks, warrens of narrow streets reminiscent of Rome or Prague. Chic scandis going home from work - some on ferries; hubbub of bars filling for after work drinks. It's grand but human in scale and had a really nice feel.

And now we've left Sweden behind - an 8-hour crossing on the Baltic Princess to Turku in Finland. Amazingly easy and comfortable navigating hundreds of little islands between the Gulf of Bothnia and the Baltic Sea. Nala, adaptable as ever and saying hello to everyone.

We're staying close to Turku as Archie needs some mechanic attention, so we've spent Ascension day cycling the nature paths and visiting coves of Ruissalo island - part of the Turku archipelago. Fingers crossed we can be on the move again soon.