Spring is here

How do you tell?
Well, take a look at the following weather report:

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Its no longer -28, the suns setting at 20h38 and there are the following popping up all over:

Also, snow is melting, the sun is actually warm, there are some great views if you know where to look;

 and while looking, if you know you have too squint for the sun, then you know spring is finally here. 

Thanks God

Åkesjön

Yeehah...Takis in the snow, you can take him outta
SA but you cant get the Saffer out of him!

Sitting with a cuppa Rooibos and a quiet Sunday sudden inspiration struck me to actually catch up on some posts…

Seeing as it’s the only thing to catch with this fishing story.

Just over an hours drive by bus from Östersund, past a town renown for fishing called Krökom is a small outpost called Åkesjön (no I cant pronounce it). Its basically a small wilderness area that is a big snow scooter hotspot. Its yet another a great spot for the Swedish folk to get out and enjoy nature.

View from the hotel room

The trip was arranged through the International Committee at the university (a organisation/dictatorship lead by student(s) to get new internationals and exchange students a chance to experience Sweden fully.) It involved a bus ride to a hotel, lunch, dinner, breakfast and the fishing; all in all a nice package as a whole.

This also coincided with the daylight savings time adjustment, moving all the watched one-hour backwards. So, I set my alarm for an hour earlier to wake up, unbeknown to me my phone adjusted itself automatically for this…needless to say there I am 2 hours head start on the others in waiting for the bus. Great start to fishing.

Four German friends

Once at the destination and a brief lunch later, the fishing was to begin. We were shown the ropes by a hero of mine. Now I don’t say things like this lightly, but our guide was really impressive. A 15 year old girl who rode a snowmobile like a pro, fished like a pro and killed the fish by slamming it on her boots…now this is a daughter if I ever had one!

Awesome snow doggie

Anyway, after finding a spot, drilling a hole manually through ice that was about a metre thick, we get given our “rods”. Seriously, they are about 30cm long and thin as a pencil, yet to be convinced on their purpose. The end has a fishing spoon, single hook…and a maggot. With this we are to conquer fish.

Hole with stupid "rod" thing

So, picture the scene. Lying/sitting next to a hole the size of a football, in snow, freezing, holding a tiny rod and nothing else but the unbridled expectancy of a fish on the end. Needless to say, once again, there were no results except some great photo’s and freezing feet.

And we wait...

So: Until ice melts or I see other people pull up record number fish and of decent size, I remain to be convinced on pimpla (ice fishing in Swedish)

Just a few poses

These snow mobiles are super awesome!

Surprise Visitations

There is never denying where one comes from, and the more you love your roots, the greater the chance it is when returning, even for a short visit. 

This is exactly what I felt in March. A surprise visit home to SA for 10 days was planned and executed with sublime action.

After a 34 hours of transportation (train rides, flights, lay overs) SA presented itself with its awesomeness. Its true what they say, SA is a great country, it really is and even more than ever I am proud to say I am a South African.

Braai time

The motivation for the trip was primarily for my mums 60th and my dads 63rd birthday. It was also time to get some sunshine. I know this was the case when, for the first time in my life there was no difference between my butts white skin colour and the rest of my body :)

Mums 60th laughs

Dads birthday dinner

So: To fill a week: Family time, Braai time, running time, dinner time, party time, sunshine time.

And some realisations: 

SA is fantastic

Sunshine is never over rated

If you have 7 hours layover, do something about it

Drink lots of water on a plane

Ethiopian Airlines is not that bad

Family is fantastic

Spend more time with friends

South Africans really do know how to braai

Water can break cars

Bad water...