Author: Tor Nordahl

Sites

Jekthamna

Small freecamp site nearby cemetery.

Great views over the sea and a sandy white beach. Located at the northern part of the island Senja (The fairytale island) in the small fjord called Botnhamn. Senja is Norway’s second largest island. The anglers will like it in one of the small fishing villages where fishing is the way of life. Senja are surrounded by high mountains and the deep, blue Atlantic Ocean. The picture above are taken in Botnhamn at 2 am – beutiful midningt sun. You will find more freecamp sites at Senja in the book “Freecampers Guide to Norway”

69.5575, 17.9068

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Beatiful scenery

Caravans OK

Tents OK

Possibilities for bathing

Saltwater fishing

Firepit or grill

Picnic table

Open/accessible all year

Sea area

Sites

Skulerudsjøen

End stop for historic narrow-gauge railway and starting point for the Halden Canal system

The site are located in the heart of the wilderness in the south-eastern Norway. Both the canal and the railway are remnants from the mid to late 1800s.

There are two possibilities to stay overnight at this site. One site at the rest area at 59.6684, 11.5523 and the more organized site at the “museum” part at 59.6698, 11.5471. At the museum part of this site you can hook up to electricity, empty the toilet and fill up with freshwater. There are even a toilet and shower facility at this site. There are a small fee for using the electricity and toilet facilities.

The old shelter for the locomotives are still standing, and some of the narrowgauge rails are beeing rebuilt. If you are interested in more information and looking more closely at the locomotives, you can travel to Finstadbru (59.9399, 11.4336) or Sørumsand (59.9865, 11.2457) which are other stations on the Urskog-Høland railway. At Sørumsand it is also possible to travel with the old steam locomotives on the weekends during the summer months.

59.6684, 11.5523

Properties

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Properties

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Beatiful scenery

Caravans OK

Possibilities for bathing

Freshwater fishing

Firepit or grill

Picnic table

Trash disposal

Open/accessible all year

Near point of interest

Forest area

Toilets

Electricity

Freshwater available

Chem-toilet disposal

Footpaths

SmartCamper

More prototyping

We have worked som more on the inclinometer or camper-leveler.

This gadget is intended to solve a problem most freecampers have encountered – how to get the rig level without running back and forth with levelling blocks and jacks. Mount this device on a flat surface inside your rig, connect to the SmartCamper panel and get exact instructions for how mutch to rise wich end(s) to level your rig!

The programming are getting more mature and we have decided to use the MPU-6050 6-DOF, an ESP8266 and a OLED display for the first prototype. We have also used our 3D-printer to print a small case for the leveler. The ESP8266 will be exhanged for a ESP32 at a later stage to be able to select a connection even via Bluetooth.

If You like this project or have any suggestions or questions – Please leave a comment or send us an eMail !

SmartCamper

Prototyping

The first functional unit taking shape!

We have added a GPS, a 9DOF gyro and some environmental detectors to our system based on Raspberry Pi 3 B+ running Raspbian (Linux). The front-end (dashboard application) are made in Node-Red and displayed over WiFi on an Android tablet mounted on the dashboard of my car.

Data from sensors are distributed over WiFi or directly to a MQTT-server on the Raspberry and stored in a SQLite database on a USB-memory stick if necessary. Several small programs are made in Python or Javascript to handle data from the sensors and the MQTT server.

Gasbottle monitor

We have made a prototype weight for the gasbottles via a modified bathroom scale and an ESP32 with a small display. We can read the persentage left in the bottle on the display. The small ESP32 communicates via WiFi to the Raspberry Pi and we can monitor consumption and make some qualified guesses for how long the bottle will last and a lot of other statistics if we want.

We are going to 3D-print a rounded plastic housing for the next prototype using cheap load sensors (wheatstone bridge), a D/A converter, an ESP32 and recargable battery for the next prototype.

Inclinometer

We are also experimenting with a 9DOF (currently based on BNO055 but it seems to require a BNO080 for better presition) connected to an ESP32 for levelling of our motorhome. We are for the most part using freecamping sites where the ground seldom are straight and level…. The ESP32 runs as a WEB server (using Flask) and we have a graphical display on the phone or tablet showing wich wheels are low and by how much they need to be rised. Much like the gyros on the dashboard for ofroad cars, but with better resolution.

The 9DOF and ESP32 are seen to the left in the picture below. Again communicating over WiFi.

Trip ideas

Wildernessroad in the north

Post author By Tor Nordahl
Post date 2. April 2019
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A diverse alternative to E6. The road goes past Norway's second largest lake and Northern Norway's highest mountain.

Nordland is Norway’s second largest county and clearly the most extensive. If you are heading along the E6, this detour can be a welcome break and variation from the beaten track. Of course, it takes longer than driving the E6, but we are happy to exchange some time into beautiful nature experiences.

This trip will take you along Bjørgefjell national park and Røssvatnet. In this area, the possibilities for fishing, hunting and hiking are almost limitless. Some stretches are narrow gravelroads not suited for the largest motorhomes, but most motorhomes under about 8 meters should have no problems. Even small caravans are OK.

The trip starts when you turn into FV274 at Bjortjonna some kilometers north of Majavatn on E6. The first part takes you trough the national park and we are driving alongside “Fiplingvatnet” and slings between mountain and forest villages. Nearby Øvre Fiplingvatnet you will find Kvannli Gård which also has a campsite. Even further up along the longstretched “Fiplingvatna” you will find Strandli Gård with a small hotel, a restaurant and cheese production.

You will find “Børgefjellskolen” a little further along the FV274 if you choose to take the road on the east side of Nedre Fiplingvatn. They have rental of cabins and apartments, and it is also a verry good starting point for those who want to visit one of Norway’s most wilderness-dominated national parks. We others can at least enjoy the view towards Børgefjell, with Kvigtind and Golvertind while we drive through Storfiplingdalen. If you want to spend the night at a a fantastic freecamp we suggest a detour to Unkervatnet

After some kilometers we encounter E73 and turn right towards Hattfjelldal. After passing Grytselv fjellgård the view opens up towards the “Hatten” (The Hat 1128m) -a mountain resembling the famous headgear. If you want to spend the night at a fantastic freecamp we suggest a detour to Unkervatnet.

In Hattfjelldal we turn left onto FV291 to drive alongside Røssvatnet and Okstinden. After Røssvatnes was regulated it is has 219 square kilometers surface area and Norway’s second larges lake after Mjøsa. The road largely follows the banks of Røssvatnet up to the borders of Hemnes muncipality. At the convergence of the two regulated lakes Røssvatnet and Tustervatnet you will find a large area and freecamp at Tustervasstraumen. See below.

Tustervasstraumen – Freecamping along FV291

The road goes over to FV331 and continues to the small town Bleikvasslia. If you are travelling with kids you should stop at “Barnas naturpark” (The childrens naturepark). Here you will also find “Køtaplassen” a rebuildt southern Sami residence, a so called “Sjeltie” meaning meetingplace.

From Bleivasslia we continue on FV806 towards Korgen and back into E6.

On the map in the sidebar we have plotted some nice freecamp sites and several places for accomodation or eating. This detour will definitely be worth your extra time on the way for north or south along the E6.

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SmartCamper

Testbed

We will test out the SmartCamper projet using Raspberry Pi B+ and several ESP32’s with different sensors in our testbed. Will post pictures and information as we progress! Looks like a mess, but as of today’s testing of Home Assistant running on a Raspberry Pi B+ :

You will also see the editor for WordPress on the screen in the background.

SmartCamper

Objective and Inspiration

Post author By Tor Nordahl
Post date 16. March 2019
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A modern motorhome or camper trailer is a home on wheels and a large investment. Why not treat it as you would your home with alarms, monitoring and other system to protect your investment. Considering both home and vehicle aspects of a system i would personally want to monitor, control or have the following features:

Monitoring levels (battery - freshwater - wastewater - toilet)
Temperature and humidity outside/inside
Alarms (GAS - Intruder)
Leveling - Inclinometer (9DOF accellerometer)
Gas weight (Monitoring amount of propane left)
GPS (Theft alarm, Travel log, local weather etc)
Media player - Chromecast (your favorite show on the TV)
Network HUB (4G or local WiFi)
Rearview and dashboard camera
Google Home/Alexa (talking camper)

SmartCamper

Choice of development platform

Post author By Tor Nordahl
Post date 16. March 2019
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Criteria and choices

Since this project is primarily a DYI project, it is important that both software and hardware are cheap and readily available. It is also important that the “products” are well documented and preferably has an active user community online.

We have evaluated several hardware and software systems like “Blynk” and IoT systems from the big players like Amazon, Google and MicroSoft. As of today it looks like we will fall down on Home Assistant on Raspberry Pi and Arduino IDE on ESP32 as products for further experimentation.

Home Assistant are an open source home automation software system that puts local control and privacy first. Powered by a worldwide community of tinkerers and DIY enthusiasts. Perfect to run on a Raspberry Pi or a local Linux server. It is well integrated with other IoT systems and has a WEB interface for visually controlling our gadgets.

ESP32 are a cheap but verry capable microcontroller. It is engineered for IoT applications and has WiFi and Bluetooth capabilities built in combined with an ultra-low power consumption. It is also supported in the Arduino IDE for easy software development. Arduino are a defacto standard for DIY automation projects.

Campinghacks

Wintercamping in Norway

Wintercamping is a challenge – also giving high rewards

Think of a crackling camp fire, on a starry winter sky…. Yes, maybe we will see the Northern Lights tonight.

Winter camping is colder, darker and sometimes more difficult than you might think. But, done right, it can be massively exciting and exhilarating and reward you with a totally new outlook on the world. Imagine waking up to twinkling frosts, snowy mountains or a cool, calm day by the coast. There is nothing like it. In fact, it could provide you with some of the best camping experiences you ever had!

Insulation

In order to stay warm in the winter, it is important to insulate the motorhome or caravan as well as possible. Most campers are insulated in the walls and the floor for use in wintertime, but it is still wise to insulate window surfaces and roof hatches. Particularly the windscreen and the side windows of the driver’s cab in motorhomes can be poorly insulated from the factory. There are many products that you can attach to the outside of the car to isolate the driver’s cab as shown in the picture. For insulating the roof hatches you can just fill them up with some rubberfoam or use this insulating sheet made specially for the hatches.

Heating

Most campers and caravans are well insulated and have good heaters installed from the factory. However, should the thermometer crawl below -20C, it may be okay or even necessary with an additional heat source. A small propane heater might just save your day should the onboard heating fail for some reason. REMEMBER to check your GAS supply and always have a spare bottle avalable!!

Cloathing

Do’nt forget your warmest clothes when camping in Norway in the cold season! Good warm and waterresistant footware, thick wool socks and Long Johns for your legs. A thick windproof and warm jacket, a skarf and a winter hat is also a must when the temperature gets below freezing. Do not forget the gloves.

Awenings

You may want to use an awning as an entrance. This will shield the interior from snow and ice dragged in from your footwear. It will also keep the campervan a bit protected from the wind, snow and rain.

Power

When freecamping, even in summertime, it can be a lifesaver to have a small generator avalable. In wintertime the batteries drain quicker and most heating systems are depentent of battery-power to function! Use the generator to top up your batteries in the afternoon so you don’t wake up to freezing temperature and a dead battery.

Trip ideas

The Telemark Canal

The only canalsystem in Norway connected to the sea.

We will suggest a trip along the Telemark Canal and give you information of sites to see and places to stay with your motorhome og campervan. As always we focus on beutiful freecamp (wildcamp sites) for places to stay overnight with your campervan.

The Telemark Canal have 18 lock levels divided over 8 lock systems to lift boats 72 metres above sea level to the lake of Flåvatn. From here beautiful lake and river reaches take the traveller on to Dalen, 150 km inland, in the heart of the mountains of southern Norway.

The Telemark Canal was completed in 1892 and 500 men had worked for 5 years to bring this waterway into the heart of Telemark. The canal is a living heritage site, and has kept its nineteenth century air, with manual operation of most of the lock gates. The beautiful old walls and lock systems have been preserved in their original form. Along the banks of the canal you can still see the old lock-keepers houses, the smithies, the sawmills, the watchmens cottages and the jetties with warehouses and other buildings.

The contrast between the broad agricultural districts, the wilderness and the old industrial sites makes the Telemark Canal one of the most attractive tourist destinations in Europe. In addition, the water is clean and the fish live well!

Porsgrunn / Skien

These two cities have more or less germinated into each other, and have ritch industrial traditions. The Telemark canal starts here and you can take a tour up the canal with some smaller canal boats. Day trips on the Telemark canal are arranged with a combination of canal boats and bus. The trips can be initiated from several places along the canal, and gives you the possibility to start and end at the same location. It is also possible with at roundtrip all the way to Dalen. Booking and information HERE

Ulefoss / Lunde

Ulefoss is one of Norway’s oldest industrial communities, with sawmills operating from the 1400s; mining and ironworks from the 1600s. Ulefoss is still largely an industrial site, with a number of people employed in the iron foundry and mechanical industries. Ulefoss lock system has three lock chambers with at total lift height of 10.7 meters. The Ulefoss system still stands as it was built in 1891.

The village of Lunde has a large campsite “Telemark Kanalcamping” situated near the Lunde Locks. The canal boats are passing only a few meters from the campsite. This is a great starting point for excursions up and down the canal.

Kviteseid / Vrådal

The landscape changes to steeper mountain sides down to the canal and the highest mountains peaks to over 1000 meters. In Vrådal there are even a ski resort with 5 lifts and several slopes that makes for an attractive destination in the winter.

Dalen

The end of the journey is Dalen at the very heart of Bandak. Among the well known tourist attractions is the “fairytale hotel” Dalen Hotel wich was completed in 1894 and the veteran ships “Henrik Ibsen” and “Viktoria” in regular traffic on the canal, between Dalen and Skien.