That Hot tub and Sauna hut...

Hot Tub and Sauna Hut before its voyage.

The idea came about when we were in Norway last year, whilst delivering the other hut.

“Could you build me a hot tub?”
“Of course we can... Do you want it on wheels?”
“Can you do that?”
“Well – yes, everything is better on wheels.”
“OK, could I have a Sauna as well?”
“Yes, of course.”

That was roughly how the conversation went, not having any idea how we were going to achieve it.

But nothing ventured nothing gained. So on our return to the UK we forgot about it completely and got on with out regular work. - For a while anyway.

Then one particularly wet and dark afternoon we got to thinking about the Hot tub idea again – and wondered if it was a serious idea. - So - After a couple of tentative e-mails and some serious head scratching and sketchy drawings we got the go ahead and produced what you see below.

A completely stand alone wood fired Hot tub and sauna - with 12 volt electric lights – solar powered and “portable” Built almost entirely from home grown Cedar. 

Hot tub and Sauna Hut

THE TRIP.

Once again we were on the boat to Brevik via Gothemburg. The difference this time, besides the hut, was being able to see the way up to Brevik by daylight.

The views from the boat were amazing.

It was raining when we finally departed at Brevik, the road wasn't closed this time, so we thought compared to last time it would be simple. However, after a short time we were kicked off the road. A short diversion this time before being back on the main drag where, besides the occasional lane closure we were making good progress.

We arrived at 3am local time, abandoning the vehicle by the small marina like before, and got our heads down ready for unloading.

The hut looked good by the waters edge. 

We had sunshine in the morning, the perfect ingredient for planning how we were going to get the hut into position. This was done, as all great decisions are, over breakfast.

First we had to drive into the garden next to the first Norwegian hut,
 let the new hut come off the trailer and get the trailer out of the way.

The new hut looks good near the first one.

Then using the American workhorse we moved the hut across the garden and near to the final position. This was a slow and patient task as obstacles needed to be overcome and avoided.  

Half way there, moving the pick-up into a better location.

With careful manoeuvring and the use of three people, a winch and a truck, the hut was finally in position, on slabs provided by the new owner. The hot tub was ready to be filled.

Final touches were added once the hut was in position. 

This took a while. Stopping around halfway to check that the hut was still chocked and not moving before bringing the water level up to full. The fire was then lit. The sauna was also then lit.

Solar panel added to the roof for the lighting. 

The sauna room heats up in about 30 minutes, while the hot tub takes around 4 to 6 hours in summer heat to warm the water up above air temperature.

Hot tub Fire

The fire was left stoked and burning in the hot tub, with the lid on, over night. The next day the water was very warm and the fire was still Smouldering making it very easy to reignite.

Inside the Sauna.

The lighting in the hut is 12 volt, charged by a solar panel on the roof allowing for use during day and night.

The hut in the dark.

We would like to thank our kind hosts for their hospitality while we were commissioning this hut and waiting for the next boat back to the UK.

Whilst we were there both the sauna and hot tub were used and admired by many visitors during the holiday weekend, and were told that it would continue to be used by both the owners and any guests who wished to join them.

Please contact us for further details.
Email: davestilthouse@gmail.com

Huts N Stuff Nordic Adventure.

 

We received an email which truth be told we first considered to be a wind up. “A hut to Norway?”
Well, we said, Yes it could probably be done, and left it pretty much at that.

Several months past, and then suddenly we get a few more emails. Same idea, a hut to Norway.

Then a few months, there was us, the trusted truck and a hut loading onto a boat at 2 am ready to leave Immingham and head for Norway. 

The ferry takes a couple of days, going via Gothemburg (Sweden) before landing in Brevic Norway. Thankfully the seas were calm for our trip out. 

Landing at night, we disembarked the ferry, had a very pleasant trip through customs and headed off with a sat nav and a pretty good sense of direction for the motorway which would take us almost all the way to the hut's new resting place. The motorway in question, however, was shut.

The diversion was down a winding road which had speed bumps every few hundred yards and was a 40 km/h road. The speed limit wasn't a major problem, carrying the hut as we were, however the speed bumps made it slower still.

Eventually, after a missed turning back upon the motorway and a corkscrew bridge which was a little tense, we were making good progress back upon the motorway before being kicked off once more.

This continued, moving from the great straight roads onto twisting ones a few times during the evening. Having gotten back on the motorway again we were greeted with tunnel after tunnel dealing with mountains and rivers in much the same way.

Right where we left it the night before. 

The hut arrived in the middle of the night, having kept the new owner informed during the evening travels. It was parked up by the coast and then we retired, finally, ready for the positioning of the hut the next morning.

On The Lorry

Getting the hut into position, after weighing up the terrain, was relatively easy. The truck made it up a winding gravel track and then onto a grass area without any real problems.

Off The Lorry!

Once the hut was unloaded the next thing to do was manoeuvre it into position by pushing it around the side of the truck.

Making use of local resources.

The hut is placed next to the truck.

The drop of the hut was no worse than doing it in the UK, and then after a couple of hours the hut was in place to the relief of all involved. 

Happy to see it in place. 

Next was to get the truck off of the grass.

This did not go to plan.

The truck was broke. It was the weekend and the truck was going nowhere. At least the boat back wasn't for a couple more days.

The Owners Couldn't Wait to Spend Their First Night In the Hut.

We enjoyed some of the sights while the trucks problems were on our minds, and were greatly in debt to the hospitality of our hosts. We tried many ways to get the truck drive-able over the weekend, but only succeeded in getting it to the bottom of the lane where it was rescued by a much bigger truck.

Red Rescues Yellow.

The truck floats!

Views from the Hut.

The hut, however, did not care, being sat where it was with wonderful views of the Nordic coast. Spectacular views, which we are told, have been gazed upon by many of the Norwegian royals, albeit from the other side of the fjord.

More of the view from the hut.

A truck free zone.

Finally the truck was on the boat home, ready for its next adventure. And then, eventually a return trip to Norway with another hut, a friend for the first, since the original was loved so much.