Road To Tyresta

This is the road to Tyresta National Park. I took the bike for a visit on Friday. The colours are slowly changing here. I visited the new bird tower in the wetland and I will show you a panorama from there in my next post. My Interenet has been down for a few days but I have a temporary mobile connection at the moment.

Autumn Cycling

Nice Autumn weather for cycling. This is the gravel road through the National Park leading to the old Tyresta village.

In Disguise

There was an article in the local paper last week about the bad/poor mobile connection at the Tyresta national park. That problem has already been solved. On my most recent visit I spotted this mobile antenna in disguise. Placed on the top of the hill in the old village. Fourteen meters high and designed as a flag pole. I talked to one of the people that run the park, Anders something, and he told me that we will soon see the Tyresta flag blowing in the wind here. The old and much smaller flag pole to the right, will soon be removed.

National Park Living

A winter visit to Tyresta. To the right the Jansson Farm house at the old village in the National Park. This is where the caretaker of the farm usually lives. The last caretaker was Göran Egerhamn. He had been working on a new museum but last I heard there had been some controversy regarding the museum and Egerhamn is no longer around. Second photo shows the farm and surrounding buildings. To see a very large version of the panorama press here and wait for the photo to load.

Autumn Promenade

I took the bike to Tyresta national park three days ago. Grey skies with some rain,maybe 10C, but the colors were great. This is the old gravel road near the Tyresta Village. I showed the photo to the girls and they seemed to like it.

Picnic by the lake

Always something happening at the National Park. During the Tyresta Day the park was crowded, and that was an unusual feeling. I headed over to Bylsjön where a couple of rangers from the park were answering questions from visitors, next to a campfire where people were roasting hot dogs. The rangers showed off their 4 wheeler and also offered everyone a free beverage.

A Dedicated Photographer

This is Jonas Adner. He is a graphic designer. And a very good photographer. I met him at the National Park Tyresta on Sunday during the Tyresta Day. He was selling his new book outside the information centre. It is called Hiking at Tyresta and is the perfect book to bring with you to the park. Jonas told me that he took 16 000 photos for the book. That is dedication! The text in the book is written by Lars Bergström and Mats Lundqvist. More facts in Swedish about the book here. And if you want to buy a copy you can do that here.

Lost in the Woods

This was a pleasant surprise. I visited Småhamra the other day. It's where they found that runestone last year,and I will tell you some updated news about that in a day or three. Anyway,from Småhamra you can take a short-cut through the forest to get to the little village at the Tyresta national park, and that's what I did. I was on the bike and the path is mostly for horses, but you can manage on a bike. Half way through the forest I took a wrong turn. I realised my mistake when the path ended. And this is where it ended. At a little tarn. And next to it a little cabin. I guess it is something belonging to the national park, but I'm not sure. What I do know is that I was very tired when I arrived here, but sitting down by the water for a few minutes, enjoying the silence and the view made all the difference. Skywatch Friday.

A Future Museum

Another photo from my visit to the Tyresta national park earlier in the week. The building in the middle is called the Dubbelloftboden. It is the oldest structure in the Tyresta village. It dates back four hundred years and it was used for storing food and clothing. It is part of the Janssongården, one of the old farms in the national park. The main farm house is just to the right. The caretaker has restored the storage building and is hoping to open a museum there some time in the near future. The building to the left is the stable. The fence is the traditional roundpole fence that has been used in Sweden since the Viking Era. We call it Hankgärdsgård. The second photo gives you a better view of the beautiful storage building, I shot that photo two years ago.

The Traditional Way

This is a gärdesgård, a traditional Swedish fence that was the norm at all farms 100 years ago. This type is called hankgärdsgård. To enhance the feel of how it used to be, there are now some 1,5 kilometre of this wooden fence surrounding the farm at Tyresta. When the fence was built eleven years ago, they used old maps and photos to get it to look as close to the original as possible. The tree used is Norway Spruce. In the background one of the old farm buildings. Some facts about Tyresta. Only 20 km south of Stockholm. A Natural Reserve with lakes, primeval forests and the wildlife to match. And an old farm with animals. More photos here. This was where I met Carola from yesterday's post.


Skywatch Friday.

There's always a story waiting to be told

So I'm at the national park. Taking spring photos and enjoying the sunshine. A woman with a horse walks by. I ask if I can take a photo of the horse. I snap a few and that's that. But after shooting some 130 portraits over the last year, I know that there's always a story to be told. And here it is. This is Carola, she is from Stockholm. A successful business woman. With her own company. Worked in the advertising industry for many years. Made a lot of money. But then she felt that something was missing from her life. By chance she and her husband visited Tyresta, a place she didn't know existed, despite living only 20 km away. And as she walked around the farm, it hit her. This was the life she wanted to lead. Working at a farm, with all the animals. So she sold the business. Asked the caretaker at the farm if she could work there, sure he said, but I can't pay you anything. That was 14 years ago. When I met her two days ago Carola was on her way back to the stable after she and Buster had been visiting the kindergarten up the road. As they often do. And guess if the kids loves Buster! And now 14 years later Carola still loves life at the farm, despite not having as much money any more. Thanks for the story Carola!

Tyresta National Park

Continuing with photos from my visit to the National Park. Next to the caretakers building (where you can read the runic inscription), you will find this cottage overlooking the Dahlgrensgården. All the farm buildings here at Tyresta are at least 200 years old. Bigger photo.

Springtastic!

On my recent bike ride to the national park I did see a few proof of spring. Bigger proof. Winter Aconite growing in a garden at the old farm.

Tyresta National Park

I managed to delete my post from a few days ago so I'm re writing it. This is Tyresta national Park. Only 20 km south of Stockholm. A Natural Reserve with lakes, primeval forests and the wildlife to match. I try to visit every year but missed to do so last year. It's a fantastic place, If you ever visit Stockholm don't miss this place.