The lung incident!!

Mick has a shocker on his 2nd day riding and ends up with a collapsed lung....but he was ok after an op and 6 days of intensive care. We are so lucky to have had Uncle Wolfgang and Aunt Sabine there!

The overnight ferry from Goteborg to Keil was a great experience!

Tarnaby, Sweden

We have just spent an incredible week in a tiny town called Tarnaby in the north of Sweden with Simon and Monika Edmonson, and their little daughter Aana. It's a beautiful spot, set amongst the mountains, forrests and surrounded by big lakes.

Monika has her glass studio here in an old barn by the lake. In this barn, she produces the most incredible glass artwork. We were lucky enough to visit Monika's exhibition in Stockholm last week and were blown away by it. Today she gave us a tour of her studio and explained the long process she came up with to create these pieces. You should definately have a look at Monika's website (via the link on the right hand side) where you can see pictures of her work!!

One thing we realised very quickly about this place is that it's cold!! Our first morning here we woke to snow, and it continued for several days. Was pretty exciting, but as we were still living in our 'summer' cycling gear, we weren't exaclty prepared for snow!!

So, we spent a good few days in their cosy warm house reading books, playing with Aana and having saunas.......ooohh all very relaxing! Then there is the outside stuff - picking berries, hiking in the mountains, digging potatoes, canoeing on the lakes etc. It really is a great way of life up here, and we can see why Simon & Monika love it so much.

But, you need to soak up the culture too....and what better way to do that that go to a traditional Sami Reindeer Slaughter!! Not for the faint hearted, or even those who don't like the sight of blood. I wasn't sure how I'd go, but it turned out to be one of those experiences where you are so interested in what's happening that you just can't look away. So, we watched the Sami people herd all of their reindeer together (thousands of them) into one big area. They then sort through them, capturing some with lasoos to tag, others to eat etc. I was contemplating vegetarianism, but then the whole process is quite humane, and the animals are free until the very last moment.

So, we thought that was all pretty amazing, but then a few days later a Sami friend of Monika's turned up at the doorstep with one of these reindeers! So, into the kitchen (aka makeshift butcher) where he started to disect it into edible pieces!! Mick and I joined in the production line bagging it up in freezer bags. Much fun was had!

Just some of Monika's work...it is SO INCREDIBLE!

Dinner with Linda, Helena, Simon & Monica

Heading out fishing with Simon which proved to be a huge success

Who needs entertainment when you have Mick and Simon at your dinner table

The 'home butcher' Olle caught and butchered his first Reindeer at the age of 13, and has done 30 a year for the past 50 years!!!

We had the whole production line thing going on here...there was a LOT of reindeer meat!!!

Aana was in on the action too

Monica was on bag duty

You can tell Simon enjoys getting his hands dirty

Catching up with Linda at her cottage outside Tarnaby

Linda's little cottage...it's so cosy (but she tells us it's quite chilly in the winter)

One of the views from Linda's cottage

Linda lives in an amazing, peaceful spot out here on the lake

As soon as the wind dies down, this lake becomes a perfect spot for paddling

Crystal clear water - beautiful!

Paddling with Linda on the lake out her front doorstep

On a hike from Hemarven through the mountains with our expert guide Simon

The Tarnaby lake below

A dusting of snow along the ridge. This would be sensational skiing in the winter

A waterfall along the way....

Aana was full of energy all the time, and we had plenty of fun playing

The produce of a hard afternoon's work digging potatoes...by Mick and Simon

Mushroom picking is popular this time of year.....except I'm not sure if this is one of those edible ones, best check with the experts

Heading off to the Reindeer Muster with Simon and Aana

Catch me if you can!! They tend to run in circles within the round fence.

Watching in anticipation as each is caught and tagged.....

Being caught in the background

It's definately safer on THIS side of the fence!

Arriving at Simon and Monica's place in Tarnaby.....and it starts snowing!

The view from the balcony.....this place is beautiful!

Some photos from home (OZ).............

Margot (Mick's mum) and Shoshana

The Brennan Boys!!!

Josh and Peter (Mick's Dad) at the Hoppet ski race...don't be deceived, they tell us there was actually snow!!

Tash's brother Josh at his graduation.....CONGRATULATIONS Josh!!

Josh and Tash's mum Sandi

Mick's sister Claudia and our gorgeous niece Shoshana

The Brennans.....Tony, Heidi, the newest member Shoshana, Pam and little Wotenash and Quendy

Amy, Dean and Jess Gray!!!!

Stockholm

We have cheated this section of the trip.....after leaving the bikes in Goteborg, we caught a train over to Stockholm to stay with our friends Jenni and Mats. Has felt like luxury to go from our tent to staying with great friends, in their lovely apartment in the city of Stockholm. There has been plenty of catching up, sightseeing, great food, drinks, entertainment....and we all have the running bug!

A spot of shopping in Stockholm

We wandered around the harbours of stockholm on dusk . This is the youth hostel at Skeppsholem where you can stay in the summer

A row of old buildings that line the harbour

Pulling out of the harbour in Stockholm on a leisurely boat cruise to a small island called Fjaderholmsguiden

A spectaular fountain on the way to the island

This is how life should be....relaxing in the sun on the island

A traditional old boat on the island