Other pictures of the meeting are placed in different colums of my homepage. The rest of the photos can be found here.

Worldmeeting from 24th to 29th July 2007 in Borlänge / Sweden.

If you watch out for information about the 2CV in the internet, one encounters inevitably sides with travel and meeting reports. To me it was time to dive into this cosmos. A world meeting should be visited. I could not travel to the meeting in Scotland in the year 2005, because my No. 1 was not ready to fly at this time. The restoring operation was finished in 2006 and Borlänge in Sweden was the next meeting, lasting from 24th to 29th July. I started my jurney on Monday the 23rd. Since the last camping vacation was dated back more than 15 years and the old tent had disintegrated to dust, a (favorable) new one was purchased. The tent and the other necessary stuff was carried together in the floor. The first half of this collection filled the boot completely. Before that I had already accommodated a second spare wheel, the grease gun, tools, tools, tools, some small articles and a spare generator. I already stopped the loading of the reserve transmission, the exchange engine and the spare chassis - I started the last camping vacation somewhat more carefree - I guess I became more careful with the years...
My neighbour said 'have a nice journey' after a small talk. So I closed the trunk lid and started the engine. 200km later I realised that I had forgotten the second half of my stuff at home. Okay, improvisation was always my strength and what is missing must be replaced otherwise. At the exit of a truckstop, close to Hamburg I saw a woman with a Sweden sign in her hand. Good luck - she must know the way to Borlänge. Katrin wanted to go back to Stockholm after an attendance with friends in Hamburg. Together we drove to Frederikshaven at the northeast point of Denmark, to reach the ferry to Göteborg. I had seen no further 2CV the whole distance and I started wondering if I was traveling at the right date? Without Traffic-jam we reached Frederikshavn at 23:25. Approximately 120,-Euro worse off, I could pass the barrier to enter the queue to the ferry. The price would have been much cheaper if I had booked the trip by Internet some days before - afterwards you know allways better. Since the departure should take place around 4:15, I tried to sleep for a while. Nevertheless I was driving my car since 10:30 in the morning. It noticed that my blanket must have been on the heap which I had left at home. Boarding started at 3:00 and there among the other cars I saw a green vehicle with familiar shape. Maike and Uwe from Heide with their rushing duck had already seen me before in the queue, but they did not want to wake me up. The passage to Göteborg lasted 2 1/2 hours. Despite the really low sea disturbance I felt somewhat sea sick when the ship started slightly moving. I am a self-confessed landlubber. At Göteborg we went different roads again, since the two from Schleswig-Hollstein wanted to visit a friend before travelling to the meeting. Katrin told me not to visit the center of Göteborg, since in this one-way street labyrinth many tourists disappeared without a trace. In addition it was quite early and the center was still sleeping. On the federal highway E20 between the lakes Vänern and Vättern we drove toward Örebro. I was quite grateful to have a co-driver with me during the first kilometers, since the different colours of the signs confused me at first. Near Örebro the duck density increased gradually. First I saw an old, but shining 14PS passing by, when we stopped at a motorway-station. It did not last for a long time, then we overtook this Dutch copy. When we reached Örebro, I drove Kathrin to the bus station, because she wanted to take the bus to Stockholm. She told me how to drive to the E50, which should lead me directly to my goal. Following her description to the E50, a Greek delegation of 5 ducks entered the federal highway when I stopped at a red signal. This was my first small convoy directing to the world meeting. Near Borlänge the way towards the meeting area at the airport Rommehead was marked with Citroën-chevrons. When I arrived, I was in between a queue of some kilometers. Since it would last some time to check in, I established first contacts with other 2CV drivers. With the registration number 1145 on the windshield I was allowed to enter the meeting area, where I was welcomed by a elk-shaped 2CV. On the campground I saw many colleagues with different equipment. There where Indian-like tents, campmobiles, converted 1-man-campducks and all thinkable dwellings. Many clubs or small groups settled and colonies of all nations could be seen. After rounding the pothole-scattered meadow allmost completely, I found an inviting free campground at the edge of the area. Beside Anke and Mike from Wülfrath I arranged my newly acquired tent for the first time. First impression: It looked clearly larger at the photo at the internet. This impression remained when I went in for the first time - stretching completely was impossible with my 1,91m. The 2m length indicated in the bruchure probably referred to the outside edge of the herrings. The pillow was also left at home, which meant additional comfort losses.


	1.) Elk-2CV and service-car of the organisators. The shockabsorbers of the elk-car were removed, so it became the bouncy bounce for the children. The blue car was equipped with a fanfare horn to give notice of programm changes. 2 + 3.) The queue in front of the meeting ground. Those who wanted to be among the first people let in, had to spend the night in the queue. 4.) My giant tent (the little knob at the left). 5.) Nation Citroën called and the flags of all departments could be seen above the meeting area. Thanks to Anke for pictures No. 2 + 3.

After a first walkabout, my aruous day ended quite early in the tent. Other meeting participants seemed to be more rested, because music was to be heard during the whole night. These 'creatures of the night' disintegrated to dust with the rising sun and peace turned in, beeing sightly disturbed by snoring from the surrounding tents. During darkness it became quite frigid and iI started dreaming of the forgotten blanket. I crept out of my tent quite early and was recompensed by a very acceptable sunrise. The second advantage was that the sanitary equipment was nearly deserted.


1 + 2.) Sunrise at the meeting ground. 3.) The sanitary equipment - no fully tiled bathroom, but allways kept clean. You like musik while having a shower? Park your car with the speakers on the bonnet besides the shower cabin.

On the next morning I studied the brochures first, in order to make the day's schedule. From 10:00 o clock in the morning till deep night in all places of the meeting area, different programs were offered, so that it was impossible to participate all points. I had planned to leave 'two horses' after the arduous ride over 1560km and use 'two feet' to cover the distance of approx. 6km to Borlänge. One can still use the offered bus between Rommehead and Borlänge in the case of doubt in between. Not far from the meeting area I found a sign 'nature reservation Forstbrunnsdalen' directly on the left of the busy road. 'Nature reservation' - quite exaggerating for a small brook of 1,1km length. I passed by and visited the 'Stora Tuna Kyrka' first, an 1469 inaugurated church, which was planned as a cathedral. The tower of this building with its powerful top is really impressing.


The 'Stora Tuna Kyrka'. You can also find modern art inside the building. Did the artist think of a duck when creating this artwork?

Arriving at the outskirts of Borlänge, I still wasn't at my goal, because I had to cross the housing developments in the peripheral area first. Here I could admire the many beautiful timber buildings with the very maintained front gardens. I believe the term 'English lawn' just can be exceeded by the term 'Swedish lawn'.


Swedisch single occupancy houses with front gardens. Even the birds live in little houses of the same color :))

At last he center of Borlänge with the pedestrian precinct came in range of vision. Here I had a little refreshment, in order to go to the opposite outskirts of the town. The traffic museum at the Pylonen with the 2CV-exibition was my actual goal. I passed by the Ätvravinernas Reservat, where kingfishers are to be domestic according to a sign-board. I saw none, since I did not walk through the area.


1. + 2.) Pedestrian precinct of Borlänges. 3.) Statue of Jussi Björling, a great tenor born in Borla$auml;nge. 4.) Älvravineras Naturreservat.

Finite I arrived at the goal of my migration - the traffic museum. The temporarily accommodated 2CV-collection in here was smaller than the number of duck vehicles parked in front of, but it was nevertheless very informative. Here I could take several pictures of the complete chassis of a 1955er 2CV. The appropriate pictures are to be seen in other columns of my homepage. Beside these special exhibitions the museum accommodates many old road construction vehicles and reminds with a Crashtest 'BMW contra tree' and 'alcohol eyeglasses' to caution in the traffic. When I had nearly terminated my walkabout, a small conference room was opened for the visitors. The upholstered chairs looked comfortable and my feet were aching after the long walk. A short film would be quite good now. I had made it comfortable for me, when two men entered the podest. Film demonstration with explaining words - that's much better. Now all visitors were requested to call their names and country of origin - that was really unusual for a film demonstration. I realized that I had entered a meeting of the delegates of the world meeting. Okay, there where still sufficient empty chairs left and to run away would look certainly stupid. Karsten Schreiber already had introduced himselve as a german delegated, therefore I did not conceal my name and country. After the meeting I was just told by Karsten to spread the words I heard to all other participants of the meeting. No secret arrangements were discussed here, but the characteristics of Swedish legislation concerning alcohol and cigarettes were explained. Thus I gained unintended a small insight of the organization. Without bureaucracy a large meeting like this can't be organized.


Traffic museum Pylonen.
	In range of vision of the traffic museum is the consumer temple 'Kupolen'. Since I had missed a blanket last night, I visited this purchase possibility next. Inside the building are small shops as well as supermarkets. The Swedish Citroënclub used a small slot for advertising purposes in own things, which seemed to arouse the fascination 2CV in a small citizen...

I decided to cover the distance back to the airfield Rommehead by foot, even if they started aching. To hitchhike would have done, too, because the bright-yellow wristband, every participant of the worldmeeting had to carry, branded me as a member of the Citroën-community. I wanted to get through the things I started in the morning. When I bought something to eat in center of the city, I was asked by the saleswoman whether I would also belong to the 2CV-drivers (she already knew to interpret the wristband correctly). After I affirmed, she told me in broken German proudly that she had likewise possessed a Citroën at the beginning of the 70's. And then still another car such as Mr. Bean (a mini) and and and... It was allways easy to start a conversation with the swedish people. On my way back I passed the sign 'nature reservation Forstbrunnsdalen' again and dared a view inside. A few stone steps downhill and I was in a completely different world. The noise of the cars turned to silence and the trees around blocked the sunshine. 'Nature reservation' was nevertheless no exaggeration. At a parting of the ways I saw a large swarm of biting midges in the light of the low-standing sun. Spontaneously I decided to take the second way. The way leads on narrow paths besides a small brook, which is dammed up to small lakes in some places. Here are the breeding places of the mosquitoes (who didn't bite me at all during the meeting, although I had left the anti-mosquito appliance at home). At a larger clearing I found a small, occasionally regaled barrack with banks. At this pond I saw a duck, diving for food. It was quite shy, so I couldn't shoot photos without my telephoto lens. I probably had to return with better equipment..


Nature reservation Forstbrunnsdalen with little lakes and a mystic stone circle.
	On the way back I passed by his traffic sign. Was this a reference to my homeland, or didn't I leave 'Hessen' at all?

Back at my tent again, I put my tired body down on the mattress early on the evening. Sleeping with a blanket was clearly more restorative. On the next morning I catched my telephoto and went toward Forstbrunnsdalen again. Before that I took a look at the exhibition area. Every day the most charming vehicles of the 50's, 60's, 70's or 80's were elected by the members of the meeting as well as the daily visitors. Beautiful vehicles were issued and I still needed pictures of some special modells for my homepage. That was the principal reason to pack up my photo equipment (because of that I would have driven back the 200km at any time). Early in the morning I was the only human at the pond and after a few minutes the duck appeared at the water surface. Using the telephoto lens I could take some beautiful pictures, even if the animal still behaved very shy. After approximately one hour a family with a little child came to the place, whereby the duck did not disappear as I feared. It continued to dive for food and ignored us. Even another duck came by. Somewhat later it happened: Child wants to feed duck. As soon as the first peace of bread touched the surface of the water, all shyness of the animals was as wiped away. Like a rocket both ducks hunted each breadcrumb threwn towards them. I was apparently not a lonely natural scientist, who had discovered a new kind of bird... Thus I had the chance to take some more close-ups of the feathered animals.


Wild ducks.

On my way back to the meeting area I recognized a sign to the meeting garage, which I had a look at. My own vehicle was still in a very good condition after the trip to sweden. It's still like brand new. The queue of the stranded vehicles was not too small and all kinds of physical defects were represented. From slight ignition problems to defective chassis up to serious engine problems like a broken cam shaft. Everything was diagnosed and repaired by experts of the Swedish Citroënclubs. Two garages with lifting platforms and a camp with many spare parts was present. Those who could reach here, where supplied in the best way. Some defects reminded nevertheless to some more servicing of the vehicles. Adjusting valve clearance and broken spark plugs should not not arise, if one keeps the service interval. Those small errors become usually apparent in unpleasant situations far away from the homeland. When examining all the defective ducks a bad feeling came to my mind, because I had left the exchange engine, the spare transmission and the reserve chassis at home. I moved along, before these feelings became stronger...


2CV-Hospital with medical director (right).

In the afternoon i visited the market street. Here you could by many spare-parts, especially for the early models. Besides that you could get lots of model-cars, T-Shirts cups etc. and so on...


Market.

On the next morning I was waked by rain drops, which sizzled on the roof of my tent. I checked whether the interior was still dry. The praised watertightness seemed to be given, at least here the manufacturer did not exaggerate. I considered to visit some museums arond Borlaäng this day. I started with the geological museum in the center of the city. On the way there a hitchhikerin at a bus stop wanted to go to the railway-station. It was a Frenchwoman on a study trip. I didn't have to explain details of my 2CV. Her train would leave in 15 minutes, so I put spurs to my horse and we arrived in 7 minutes. Within the area in front of the geological museum one finds a beautiful park landscape, which invites for staying. The museum accommodates an extensive mineral and fossil collection with explaining text briefcases in different languages. The director of the museum asked me whether I would participate in the exibition in the center with my car at the following day. I had not heard anything of that event, however it seemed to be interesting to me.


Park landscape in front of the geological and the 'Jussi Björling' museum. The sculpture completely right takes up the topic movement and is called 'kuli'.

Interior of the geological museum.
	The mixture of 2CVs and other vehicles was representative for the streetscape of Borlänge during the world meeting.

The next station on my trip was the village Torsang, 8km east of Borlänge. Here I visited 'Hembygds garden', a small park with historical barracks and boats, where at small concerts take place during summer.


Hembygds Garden.

Back at my car, I heard a swedish man saying 'turn signal' to his mate when pointing to one of the dipsticks at the fender of my 2CV. I had to clarify this mistake. His English was as good as my Swedish, but he called for a third man, who was speaking English very well. 'Like A Truck' he said, when he seemed to have understood my explanation. Why started all of them laughing, as I touched my No. 1 appreciative at the roof and said 'Yes, a big car.'? Immediately a small group of festively dressed humans stood around me and I had to show everything from the engine compartment to the trunk. The pictures of the restoration process were likewise studied with interest.
The church of Torsang is the oldest in the region Dalarna and its emergence is dated to the 14th Century. I wanted to visit these next, however a wedding ceremony or baptism took place here (therefore all those well dressed humans around my car). So I went to the motorcycle museum on the other waterside. In this barn, just some square meters wide, many motorcycles, models and objects from yesteryear are presented. The museum is managed by a couple and the host knows interesting stories about every sample of the exhibition. Thus the demonstration of the starting procedure of a motorcycle of the label 'Wanderer' took some minutes. Each square centimeter of the walls and the showcases offers interesting views, so that you should take time to have a closer look at the objects. Unfortunately three of the showcases had been destroyed recently and the models had been stolen. According to information of the museum operator, only the most expensive exhibits were taken out. Before my departure from the world meeting I acquired a 2CV-Modell (year of construction 1957) on the meeting area. I wanted to hand it to the museum operators as reconciliation for the stolen models. Since the museum openes at 12:00 and I arrived at 10:00, I put it with an explaining note in front of the locked door. Possibly someone can check whether the gift arrived...


1.) Spark plug with fuel tap. 2.) Showcase (still) without a 2CV. 3.) insides the museum. 4.) Mom-and-Pop store.

Back at the parking area, a red duck with the licence plate of Bad Ems arrived. Manfred from the duckdrivers club Diez introduced himselve and gave me a note about the schedules of the meetings in Diez. Sometimes you must travel far away to meet people of the neighbourhood...
In the meantime the church was free for an inspection.
Out again, a small steam boat came along the river, whistling loudly.


The oldest church of the Dalarna-region.

The last station of the today's daily trip should be one of the oldest museums of Sweden, the Ornässtugan in Ornäs, approx. 5km north of Torsang. I was however half a hour too late for the last guidance of the day. Therefore I walked around the impressive timber building and had a closer look at the little boat harbour.


The Ornässtugan-Museum with boat harbour.

In the evening it was time to notice finally the program taking place at the marquee. The summary of the day from 19:30 to 20:00 always made the beginning. Here the highlights were presented in small videos and pictures. On this Friday evening the '2CV-Club' and only representative of the country Ghana was asked to enter the stage. With the 23 days travel to the world meeting, the cup for the furthest journey was handed to this country. Just 400km from the staring point 2 tires were already damaged. During the further travelling 2 broken gearboxes and some small articles failed too. The jurney to Sweden was mastered nevertheless punctually at the beginning of the meeting.
The 2CV exibition in the center of Borlänge was announced next. 100 cars should be presented to the Swedish population in the centre of the town. It applies: 'Who comes first, gets first.'.
With the conception of the host country of the next world meeting in the Czech republic, the program continued. In front of the tent the campfire was kindled (for safety reasons it was not very big) and until midnight different bands played different kinds of music.


Evening activities at the big party tent. Fig. 3 shows the mechanics of the Czech Republic.
		Fig. 1 shows the 'Frozen Ducks'. It's a musician formation who got to know each other during a Finnland-Raid. In fig. 2 the artists look somewhat bored, which could be because of the fact that the two 'gifts of God to the women' are announced, but did not enter the stage yet. With the gloss of those two guys the batteries of my digital camera stopped the service, so that I can't present pictures here - bad luck, girls.

The following morning I joined the queue for the travel into the center of Borlänge. A group of bikers guided the 2CVs and blocked all crossings, so that the convoy could drive to the city center. In the pedestrian precinct of Borlänge a parking bay was assigned to each vehicle and the Citroënclub Sweden explained the history and technology of the cars. A particularly dismanteled 2CV was used in order to present the technology of the automobile. The visitors of this exhibition could vote for the most interesting vehicle. A converted trailer-2CV won this voting.


		Exhibition in the center of Borlänge. The last picture shows that the wooden bar was really used to check the fuel level.

At the afternoon I went to the Pavillion. At this place Björn Oledal presented historical, typically Swedish music instruments. The key violin, he built by his qwn, proved as a very tricky instrument. Nearly one hour passes by, until all strings are tuned. As Björn said appropriate: 'I play this instrument for 30 years. That means, I played 20 years and 10 years went by for the tuning.' Subsequently the formation 'Oj pojkar' played Scandinavian folk songs.


Swedish Instruments and folk songs, presented by Björn Oledal and the formation 'Oj pojkar'.

The last evening started with the summary of the Saturday. The most charming vehicle of the 50's was elected during the day and the winner vehicle still was covered with the original finish. As prices there were wooden Dalarna horses or pillows and towels with such motives.
With tension the result of the voting for the world meeting 2011 was expected. Poland and France had competed for the holding. The German delegation had withdrawn its candidacy. The representatives voted clearly for Salbris in France, so that in 2011 the motherland of the 2CV hosts the worldmeeting for the second time. A quite complex campaign (fourth in order) brought success.


		The most charming car of the 50's and the hosts of the next but one worldmeeting from France.

The conclusion ceremony of the 17th 2CV worldmeeting in Sweden followed. The red banner with the Citroën-chevrons and the names of the past hosts of the event, which hung above the stage during the meeting, was handed to the Czech delegation. Several delegated of different 2CV-Clubs gave small gifts to the swedish organizers as thanks for the successful execution of the meeting. I'd like to say thanks, too.
I visited the campfire again, where English was the usually-spoken language. The meeting was really internationally.
As last band of the celebration 'Hej and Ho with Peter' entered the stage and played 'Kravalljazz'.
Really tired, but contently it went back to the sleeping place at 1:30.


		The last festival.

Sunday was the day of departure. The gaps on the camping ground became appreciably larger and I made a last tour around the location to say goodbye to my new friends. We agreed to meet again latest in two years at the next worldmeeting. My small tent at the edge of place was packed up very fast (the small size was advantageous therefor). I drove the traffic route outside the meeting area slowly upside, turned and went back again. Thus most of the swedish drivers did. The population seemed always to be very interested in the things going on at the airfield. Becking Anke and Mike for the last time and shortly honking, I started driving home again.


Farewell.

For the journey back home I had planned to take the route passing the Öresund- and the large Belt bridge. I had to drive through Örebro and from this city southwards on the E50 toward Jönköping at the south point of the Vättern. At the parking field at the end of the Hammarsundet bridge, I took a longer rest. Here is a small trail, which leads to the other side of the bridge.


Walk around the Hammarsundet-Bridge.

It continued driving on the E50 along the large lake. Before reaching Vadstena, you could already see the tower of the St. Pers Kyrka. At the edge of the city, a sign pointed to the monastery. Since I was in vacation and not on a fast getaway, I decided to have a closer look at the interesting city. When parking in front of the church, an other 2CV was already there. Vadstena is really a very nice place with many objects of interest. Since St. Peter's is not opened for visitors, I kept moving to the monastery, which was inaugurated in 1384. The place around the monastery and it's interior are worth seeing.
After visiting the monastery I went to the bank of the Vätter-sea, which is in range of vision. From the monastery a trail leads directly into a beautiful protected landscape along the lakeshore and I with a few steps I was in the middle of a landscape, which distinguishes Sweden with its many lakes. The sounds of a group of geese reminded me of the fact that I had left my telephoto in the car again (It's not really needed to take some pictures of the interior of a building). Thus back to the parking ground and to the nature reservation again. Beside the geese and many other birds, I heard and then also saw a well camouflaged group of ducks on my way back out. Ducks are really everywhere.





		Insides the monastery I saw this picture of contemporary art, but I don't know, if we can see ducks here... The beach at the coast was only one meter wide - telelens made this picture possible. The excursion to Vadstena was worthwhile itself in each case.

When I was on the road again, I had been in Vadstena for more than 4 hours and there were still many things left to discover. You should probably spend a few days here, if possible.
Driving on the E50 and E4 along the coast, the sun went slowly down to the horizon. On a parking lot approx. 30km in front of Jönköping, I watched my last sunset in Sweden.

Every time it started to cool down strongly, I drove some more kilometers towards Malmö, until the heating had fulfilled the car interior with warmth again. At 7:00 clock in the morning I had reached the beginning of the Öresundbridge. The sun was shining, but the wind blew strongly towards my car. When the wind becomes to strong, this bridge is closed for empty trucks and light vehicles. Thus if this wasn't a strong wind, I would really not like to experience the strong ones at the bridge. Just in the tunnel section of the building my car came to speed. At the photo I took in here, it looks like Warp 5.
Towards the Öresundbridge the large Belt bridge had to be crossed. Here at it started raining and the wind became a little bit stronger. Despite full power the Speed indicator didn't really pass the 60km/h-label.
Just one more bridge separated me from the continent and here the world seemed to end. Most violent rain and strong wind. I had to clasp the steering wheel very strong.


Crossing the 3 bridges from Sweden to the Danish continent.

The travel from Denmark home was uneventfully. Nowhere in Germany I saw an other 2CV, apart from the ones in Vechta, where I stopped to by some small spareparts. Short before the motorway exit I was stopped by the only traffic jam of my entire journey. A truck had crashed into the guard rail and the total blockage following, caused a larger traffic jam. Around 21:00 clock I arrived at home. My No.1 had kept up the 3394km.
Memories of a marvelous country and a fantastic meeting remain.

Other pictures of the meeting are placed in different colums of my homepage. The rest of the photos can be found here.