The first day of Summer

It's official. Summer has arrived in Stockholm. So I headed for the beach at Årsta Havsbad. It will be a very different Summer this time around.

Almost Summer

Three photos from the grassy beach at the Upper Lake at the Rudan nature reserve earlier in the week. After snapping these shots I headed over to a friend's place for coffee on his lawn. He lives just across the road from my favorite cafe. I haven't been back at the cafe for ages it feels like.

Meanwhile in Sweden

Poseidon's Square in Handen earlier this week.

Hesslingby

It is very green now everywhere which is nice. This is the old Hesslingby estate in Österhaninge.

Coffee in the garden

The cafe at Västerby in Nynäshamn used to be up in that red cottage. But today you can find it in the bygdegård building, second photo. This is always a popular stop for bikers and cyclists that are out riding along Sorundavägen.

Stora Lundby

Stora Lundby manor at Västerby in Nynäshamn. The estate dates back some 700 years. The current manor is a bit newer, from the 1940s. The Swedish actor Mikael Persbrandt lives here with his wife Sanna Lundell. Snapped while out on a longish bike ride last week.

The Countryside

From a bike ride last week on what was a glorious day. This is Österby near Söderbykvarn in Nynäshamn. I counted six tractors on that field so this should count as a countryside photo.

ŠKODA Cycling Team

I spotted a few members of the 2020 ŠKODA Cycling Team along Sorundavägen a couple of days ago. They seemed quite happy.

Sköna Maj

The beauty of May. Home of a local artist at Lillgården in Tungelsta.

Eka

If you follow Viking Sote's Road all the way down to the Landfjärden bay, hoping to escape in the old rowboat or eka in Swedish, you will not get very far.

Around Häringe

There's a horse farm at Häringe Slott. The surroundings are part of the Hammersta-Häringe nature reserve, so it is always open for the public. There were a few people out and about during my visit. If you arrive via Viking Sote's road you can see Betsholmens Gård at the Landfjärden Bay, (third photo), and the cottage down by the water (fourth photo), which is part of the Häringe estate.

Häringe Castle

Some photos of Häringe Castle and a few of its pavilions. The current castle dates back to 1657. Owners over the centuries include King Gustavus Adolphus. The banker and industrialist Torsten Kreuger and Axel Wenner-Gren, at the time one of the wealthiest men in the world. The area has a very interesting history and it is said that the battle at Soteskär took place here back in 1007. At least if you want to believe Snorri Sturluson. These days it is a more quiet place. The castle is a popular hotel with rooms named after guests from the Wenner-Gren era, including Greta Garbo. Häringe is today part of the Häringe-Hammersta nature reserve so it is always open for visitors.

A bench for mere mortals

If you were to rest on this bench at Häringe castle you could sit there and look at the intimate moment between the Satyr and the Menad just in front of the little pond where the birds hang out.

The one handed rider

Nice day for it, although it was snowing just ten minutes before. I was shooting a big old oak out on a field at Häringe Castle when I heard the Harley coming so I only got this one shot. Snaps from the castle and it's surroundings to come.

Plåttak

Swedish word of the day. Plåttak. Metal roof.

The Power Plant

The power plant in Jordbro on an interesting day, weatherwise. I biked through a hail storm, snow, and then some rain. That was followed by two hours with a blue sky and some serious sunshine, which was nice.

Villa Gullringen

New retirement home with 79 apartments under construction in Jordbro. Named after the nature reserve Gullringskärret.

Husby

One of about 70 Husby farms in Sweden. Back in the day, they were all owned by the king. This one an be found in Österhaninge.

Modern Architecture

All the buildings on the left here are part of the ongoing project Haningeterrassen in Handen. All are apartment buildings constructed over the last couple of years. The highrise is called Blicken and I have shown it to you a few times by now. The ones closest to the camera have just been finished. Looking at this photo I'm not too sure about the architectural style.

Outdoor Gym

The outdoor gym at the Rudan nature reserve a few days ago. This is a great spot for a workout, situated between the two lakes. And if you want to go for a run, or an MTB-ride or whatever Rudan is the place to do just that.

Clouds over the lake

The Lower Lake at Rudan a couple of days ago. Snapped from a jetty. If you have good eyesight you might see a few kids freezing after a swim in the cold water.

Cabinet

There used to be a filling station and a garage at this parking lot in Jordbro. Looks like they are gone now. I have shot a couple of fun car meets here over the last couple of years.

A Thursday Walk

I took my Thursday walk,(for Utata), at the Snörom hill at the Gullringskärret nature reserve. It was a nice day for that sort of thing. As I normally do I went for a photo stroll before sitting down on the top of the hill for a bite to eat. In all my years walking here I have only met one or two people up on the hill. One reason for that is that the hill is sometimes used as a horse pasture. I took the first photo while walking up. The second photo shows the Snörom farm at the other end of the hill. The last photo shows the big stable at the Kalvsvik horse farm and the motorway to Stockholm, and if you look closely you can also see my bike.

Clawfinger

Sköna maj

All of a sudden everything is going green again, which is why the month of May is a favorite time of the year over here. Normally this is just a boring walkway in an industrial park, but not today.

Tulip Roundabouts

Two roundabouts along Nynäsvägen in Handen. I shot the second one with a wide-angle lens at 24mm, although it is in fact 38mm with the Canon 77D because of the smaller sensor. The first photo was way trickier. It is a much bigger roundabout, with way more traffic, and the wide-angle didn't work, so I used my 70-300mm zoom lens and shot fifteen or so photos for a tricky panorama. Because of all the cars, cyclists and pedestrians, I'm guessing it took me a minute to snap the photos.

Empty Beach

My favorite beach, Årsta Havsbad over the weekend. Not too crowded, although there were people here and there enjoying the weather.

Social distancing at Restaurang Horsfjärden

A weekend visit to the beach at Årsta Havsbad. This was the scene up at the square as I left the area on Saturday. A few people enjoying a bite to eat and drink while keeping the correct distance to other guests.

A tractor you say

Today this vehicle is categorized as an A-traktor. But ask anyone and they will tell you that it is, in fact, an EPA-traktor. I guess that didn't help you much? Spotted it parked near the commuter station in Tungelsta.

Cherry Blossom

The Dark Road

The gravel road leading up to the old tree on a chilly and overcast day in late April.