http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php This Section lists the different journals recorded about our visits to Sweden. en bill@wannawow.com Copyright 2009 2009-06-03T16:11:11+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/the_passport_appointment/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/the_passport_appointment/#When:17:11:11Z Today we drove to our passport appointment in San Francisco. We had an appointment at 10am, which we were actually on time for (amazing). When we got to the 5th floor the guard said we could not bring any food or drink past the security checkpoint. So, down the elevator we went. Jess and Zoe finished the smoothie while I ran back to the car to put away the other snacks. In the mean time at least 10 other people passed the girls headed for the elevator. We finally made it to the check in window and received our number. It was #80. Apparently the appointment time meant nothing. They were currently processing #24. After at least ten minutes they were on #26. Yeah, it looked like it was going to be a very long day. Trip 7 2009-06-03T17:11:11+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/10pm_summer_stroll/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/10pm_summer_stroll/#When:10:43:09Z Last night I took the dog out for a walk. It was around 10:30PM. The sun was near the horizon but it was still an hour away from dipping below the hills. The golden color from the low sun looked really nice on the buildings, flowers, and sheep! View the photos Trip 6 2008-06-29T10:43:09+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/swedish_midsummer_party/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/swedish_midsummer_party/#When:10:49:45Z Today we went the a Swedish midsummer party in Kuivakangas, a village just south of Juoksengi. The day started off with some games, and a quick pony ride. Jessica got three out of five baskets, and Zoe was not too excited about being on a horse so we cut the ride a little short. Trip 6 2008-06-20T10:49:45+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/ride_to_the_river_part_2/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/ride_to_the_river_part_2/#When:16:40:27Z After checking out the river and the ‘beach’, I thought I’d ride north to see if I could find anything interesting. After a few minutes I found a cool looking ‘road’ that I figured would lead down to the river so I decided to walk down to the river’s edge for a little different view of the Torne River. Trip 6 2008-06-07T16:40:27+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/ride_to_the_river/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/ride_to_the_river/#When:14:39:22Z Took the camera and rode my bike around the village today. This is the first set of photos. I started by heading down to the river. It’s amazing to see how high the water level is now. The water was very calm and the cloudy sky was just beautiful. Then I headed up the road a bit to the ‘beach’. I snapped a few photos on the way. Well, I arrived at what is usually a beach, but with the water level so high there was no sign of sand, so I took some photos of the flowers. Maybe next month the beach will be visible again. View the photos Trip 6 2008-06-07T14:39:22+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/the_ice_is_breaking/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/the_ice_is_breaking/#When:13:36:42Z Today the river ice began to break up and float down the Torne River here in Norrbotten. It does not look as though it will be as sensational as it has in past years, but this will be my first time experiencing it, so I’m excited none the less. Every year they place a small boat out on the ice just north of the bridge in Övertorneå. People try to guess when the ice will carry it under the bridge. I guessed the boat will pass under the bridge at 4:16pm on May 6th, which is tomorrow. I might actually be close. View the photos Trip 6 2008-05-05T13:36:42+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/kukkolaforsen_in_the_spring_thaw/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/kukkolaforsen_in_the_spring_thaw/#When:10:15:26Z Well Spring finally came to Norrbotten. The river water is rising and the ice is breaking up. Here is the first set of photos from the ice break. These ones were taken about 45 minutes south of Juoksengi at a place called Kukkolaforsen. Here are some photos taken last fall at Kukkolaforsen, before the snow came. View the photos Trip 6 2008-05-04T10:15:26+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/arctic_circle_webcam/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/arctic_circle_webcam/#When:17:22:46Z Kalle just installed a webcam at the Arctic Circle in preparation for Walpurgis Night, a holiday celebrated on April 30 where people light huge bonfires. The camera faces North toward the center of Juoksengi and will be left up after the celebration. Now everyone can see for themselves how long (and short) the days are way up north! View the photos Trip 6 2008-04-25T17:22:46+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/return_of_the_swans/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/return_of_the_swans/#When:20:47:00Z Today while driving to Luleå, I spotted a guy standing at the edge of an opening on a frozen lake, fishing! Naturally I had to pull over and take a photo. That is when I noticed that the swans had returned. There were several standing along the edge of the ice and others floating around in the water. As I stood there two of the swans began to flap their wings and prepare to fly away. I was able to capture them running across the water and taking off. Then they turned toward me and made a beautiful pass.  The sun behind me lit up their wings against a fantastic blue sky. View the Photos Trip 6 2008-04-20T20:47:00+00:00 http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/ice_fishing_in_juoksengi/ http://www.taavo.com/ees/index.php/main/journal_comments/ice_fishing_in_juoksengi/#When:19:14:00Z Today Kicki and I entered two ice fishing contests out on the Torne River in Juoksengi. The ‘Juoksenginappet’ and the ‘Polcirkelnappet’. The day started at 11:00am down at badstranden, ‘the bathing beach’. It was a beautiful morning with a few clouds and just little wind. Two hours later it was time to weigh the fish and award prizes. Kicki and I were 0 for 1 so far, so we just watched and ate grilled korv, ‘sausage’. After the prizes were handed out everyone took a short walk or drive down to isvägen, ‘the ice road’, literally 800 yards south for the next contest. By now the clouds had thickened and the wind picked up considerably. If you hadn’t guessed, that means it was COLD! Well Kicki and I stuck it out for another two hours, along with many others, but again we came up short. Really short. we were 0 for 2 for the day, and really cold. There was another weigh in and prizes were handed out. It was fun to see everyone from the village out enjoying the bright spring day, even if it did end a little cold and gloomy. In fact, as I write this at 9:00 pm, it is just getting dark and beginning to snow. View the Photos Trip 6 2008-04-13T19:14:00+00:00