Chucking in the Towel

The sauna, nearly complete, roared into Rally HQ in Sevenoaks at 9:30 on Saturday night. The word “roared” is not used metaphorically. The hole in the manifold is now so huge that it’s not unlike driving a large dragon.

The last 1200 miles took Sven just under 26 hours, including a quick kip in a delightful Danish petrol station and a refuel every six meters or so.

The windscreen wiper "issue" identified in Sweden manifested itself most dramatically on the German Autobahn, when - at considerable speed - the wipers packed up completely in a thunderstorm.

Like any seasoned traveller, Sven scoffed at the continental weather, donned a pair of ridiculous sunglasses and stuck his kopf out of the window to see more clearly - this proved momentarily effective but he found it surprisingly tricky to steer and lean at the same time.

Giving up, he ploughed through a line of stout Teutonic cones onto the hard shoulder and hotwired the wiper motor directly to the battery. This solved the first issue but the electric windows were now stuck down and he realised that the wet leg he'd been suffering from was due to the fact the winscreen was falling out. This news, he had to admit, came as a relief: like the proverbial pessimistic German vegetarian, he had feared the wurst.

With our charity challenge completed, HMS Stockholm will be auctioned along with her spare parts following some mechanical work to get her back into top shape. Over 4000 miles and through 12 countries, the old Volvo engine consumed not a drop of oil or water despite being driven for over 10 hours continuously at various points. Apart from our temporarily cooked brakes and various electrical glitches, the car ran without serious fault for the whole trip. We think that’s pretty impressive.

The Sevenoaks to Stockholm Sauna Rally has featured in newspapers across the world from the Prague daily to South Korean Gazette (I would give you its proper title but my Korean’s not that hot). Googling “Sharrad Wilkinson Sauna” now produces around nine pages of results.

So far, we have raised over £4500 for Samantha Dickson Brain Tumour Trust. Our JustGiving site: www.justgiving.com/sevenoakstostockholm will remain open until Christmas, so if you haven’t donated it’s not too late.
Lars, recently purchased Swiss felt hat firmly on head, has gone back to his veg, safe in the knowledge that if he ever gets into a sauna again it’s unlikely to be a moving one.

Sven, sitting in a ten foot high pile of towels and pine off-cuts, wonders what to do with himself next. Perhaps something a little more low key is in order.

Thank you everyone.

Images of the trip will be uploaded to our website within the next few days.

With thanks to our sponsors: Dane Valley Volvo, The White Company, Hammamas, Percy Walker and Co., Harvey's Video Productions, Ground Handling International, Ditto, Liberty International Underwriters, Norpe Saunas, Absolute Graphix, Tonbridge Learning Zone, Hildenborough Volvo.