Hem ljuva hem...
Back in Scandinavia for a few weeks. Between my trips to Stockholm and Helsinki, I manage to spend some time with family & friends on the beautiful little island where I grew up - the Aland Islands. It is still the peaceful place I remember from my childhood, although many things have changed since I left... Lately, I've discovered at least one new baby or a new house every time I've been back ;-))
Winter & snow finally came to France the day I left, so unfortunately I missed out on the powder - again.
Luckily there are ways to enjoy the winter even in an archipelago without mountains: Långfärdsskridskoåkning - or in other words: tour skating!
As usual, the best way to get some time with my parents on winter weekends is by following them in their search for the best ice. So, it was time again to pack the necessary equipment: a back-pack with a waterproof bag inside, containing a complete change of clothing, a towel and a pair of plastic bags to keep my feet dry in wet shoes. The back-pack has a waistband and a "groin strap" to keep it down - and myself up - in case I fall in the water (it works as a buoyancy aid thanks to the volume of the waterproof bag inside). A throwing-line, ice-pikes and ice-prods with a whistle, used respectively to pull people out of the water, test the strength of the ice and climb back up on the ice from the water, are required as well.
Once the equipment had been checked, I was finally ready to attach the long, blade-like tour skates to my hiking boots and head out on the newly formed ice (yeah, winter was late even in Finland this year...)!
Mom - I think you're out on thin ice...
... and I'm following!
posted by Jarnita @ 5:56 PM
2 comments
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