A Man and his Art

This is Johnny Svensson. He is an artist and painter. I took this portrait last week at his studio. He lives in a former school building at Gålö. The school was built back in 1914 and belonged to the nearby Stegsholm farm. The school closed in 1968. Johnny has had a studio here behind the school since 1986. And he has lived here since 1997. He got his education from an art school in Stockholm at the Pernby School of Painting. He averages a couple of exhibitions every year, either at Dalarö here in Haninge, or at Fjäderholmarna in Stockholm. His watercolors often depicts local motives and I recognised quite a few familiar buildings, castles and even the S/V Ariel that I have shown you a photo of before. It was framed and hung on a wall, but Johnny kindly removed the glass and frame so that I could get a photo of his painting. After I had taken my photos we walked out into the garden where there were a few more paintings to look at. Finally we had a look inside the old class room that still has the traditional big windows. That room, which was very beautiful, is today the Svensson's living room. On my way out I noticed a painting of a naked woman (hard to miss I know). I didn't take a photo of it. It depicted an attractive young woman and Johnny informed me that it was a girlfriend from his youth.

The Dairy Farm

I visited the only remaining farm on the Gålö peninsula a few days ago. It is called Stegsholm. The farm goes back more than 300 years. It's a leasehold estate and for many years the Borg family have been living and working here. Today they run a dairy farm and they have their own bakery, and a popular cafe. The landscape out here is fantastic and the peninsula was declared a nature reserve a couple of years ago. Starting from the cafe you can choose to take the three kilometre long nature path. It will take you through a forest with majestic old oak trees and down to the bay. Along the way you will walk through the cow pastures. A few times every year there are guided tours if you want to learn more about the local fauna. On a visit to Gålö last summer I met the farmer Johan Borg, and if you are interested, here is that story.

Maidenhead

I'm guessing it's the only island in the world with that name, Maidenhead or Hymen if you like. In Swedish it's called Mödomen and it is part of a bird protection area at Gålö in Haninge.From my recent walk along the trail in the nature reserve.

Apple Cove Peninsula

This is Apelviksudd at Skälåker on the Gålö peninsula in Haninge. A nature reserve with lots of trails in the forest and a camping area close to the beach. On my visit I only met a few people, and the beach was nearly deserted as you can see here. The weather was perfect, a bit windy, around 20 C and a clear blue sky with a few small clouds here and there. There's a few islets here with funny names including The Friday, The Saturday, The Chickens and one called Hymen all part of a bird protection area.

Museum

This is the museum at Morarna on the Gålö peninsula. Run by Gålö Gärsar , the local homestead society. I met some of the members when I visited the charcoal kiln thing last week. Gärsar was a nickname given to the men that grew up at Gålö, and it's also the name of a fish. And now you know that! At the museum you can see how people lived here in the archipelago at Gålö many years ago. Obviously it was closed on my visit!

Charcoal Burner's Hut

As promised yesterday here is the Charcoal Burner's Hut where the burners stays 24/7 for as long as the kiln is burning. This kiln can be seen at the Gålö peninsula in Haninge where the historical association will tell you the history about the charcoal kiln.

Charcoal Kiln

The craft of charcoal burning recreated at Gålö. The local history association Gålö Gärsar has made a charcoal kiln that was ready to be fired yesterday. It will burn for a few days and will have to be watched by the burners 24/7. To keep it burning you need to make small holes for some air to get in and also repair any part of the kiln that slips. When the charcoal is ready the burning is extinguished by water and the kiln is then opened up. During this lengthy process the burners live nearby in a typical charcoal burner's hut that I will show you tomorrow. This years kiln has been named Emma. Emma is the youngest daughter of Johan and Åse, two members of the history association that I met and talked to. For the next few days everyone is welcome to visit. You can sit down and enjoy some food and there will be live music and other entertainment from Friday to Sunday. And anyone of the burners will tell you the history of the charcoal kiln.

Meet the Dentist

I took a walk around Stegsholm at the Gålö peninsula a few days ago. Half way round the 2,3 km path I met a photographer who I started to talk to. His name is Hans. A dentist from Saltsjöbaden. He shoots film. Whether in Rome or on the Swedish island Gotland or when trekking at Høvringen in Norway. We talked about photography and I then made a joke relating to an ad campaign which reminded Hans about a few (non-paying) photo gigs. A few years ago the coffee company Gevalia ran a lengthy and price-winning ad campaign called "when you have unexpected visitors" which was made by Ivar Klaesson, a friend of Hans. They were out scouting for locations and photo opportunities together. Another time he took a ferry to Åland and shot some photos on the boat that ended up in a campaign for the ferry company. Recently he visited a candy factory with a journalist friend, Cristina Aasa who was writing an article and Hans helped out by taking the the photos, but then I used a digital camera he told me. And he always gets a good deal on anything printed as one of hos patients are Håkan Holmberg, CEO of Crimson Photolab. Sounds like a friend I would like to have!

This is my 59th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set

The Stegsholm's Farm

This is Stegsholm. Today a a farm and a treatment centre for boys with addiction problems. Back in 1860 Prince Carl, who later became King Charles XV, bought Stegsholm and turned it into an education centre for poor and orphaned kids. An even earlier owner, Wilhelm Hellgren was responsible for turning the then island to the peninsula it is today. The whole peninsula is today a nature reserve and I took a walk around the footpath which starts here at a café close to the farm buildings.

Meeting with a World Champion

This is Anne Sundell. I ran into her at Gålö yesterday on my way to Sandemar. She was heading for Gålö, to visit a friend who lives on the peninsula. I asked if I could take a photo and she was all smiles. As we started to talk I realised that I knew who she was. Anne used to compete in modern pentathlon. And is a former World Champion! I remember seeing her on TV and reading about her in the sport pages. Anne grew up in Lida, not far from where I live. We went to the same school in Jordbro for three years, but not at the same time. After retiring from the pentathlon she has been into triathlon for the last thirteen years. And is a member of the Spif Triathlon club in Stockholm. Her next race will be the triathlon sprint (Swimming: 750 m, Cycling: 20 km, Running: 5 km), at Kalmar in a few weeks time. These days she lives in Handen. Professionally she works as a police officer and has competed in the World Police & Fire Games and won a total of six medals. I'm guessing she is the fittest of all my strangers!

This is my 57th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set

At the convenience store

The place to stop to buy a salad like I did (a bit pricey at 40SEK), and something to drink if you are out on a bike ride (like I was), before heading out to Gålö, (which I did). Bigger photo. There's a restaurant just to the right if you want a proper meal. If you continue on the Dalarö road, Dalarö is only 10 km away. If you do continue to Gålö you better come prepared because there are no other store to shop in.

Summer Thoughts

Is this it. Is this my holiday. No hanging out with my friends. Will I spend my vacation in this rowing boat, staring down at the water. Hour after hour? Bigger photo.

At least that is my interpretation of what this young girl is thinking. From my resent visit to Gålö, a nature reserve and popular recreational area in Haninge. This is Finkarudd. There's a marina, a camping, a restaurant and lots of nature. What more do you need to relax?

Two men and a dog

On a wooden boat. Heading for a marina at Finkarudd on Gålö. Bigger photo. If you follow the link below it's the marina at the top of the photo. Gålö is great place for a summer vacation. The Peninsula is a nature reserve in Haninge with lots of beaches. Tourists come here to fish or take long walks among the many oaks in the beautiful landscape. There's an old farm at Stegsholm that dates back a couple of hundred years. It was bought 200 years ago by Prince Carl who later became Charles XV of Sweden. People have been living at Gålö since the Viking era. There are lots of remains from that time including a few hill forts. More recently in 1719 the Russians attacked this area and not far from here there's a graveyard with buried russian soldiers.

marinas.com/view/marina/8932

New Nature Reserve

On my way to the new Nature Reserve, Gålö. I could live in that house. Nice sea view. PRESS HERE for a bigger photo. Gålö was declared a Nature Reserve last week. It's a beautiful place in the archipelago. I went for a walk on a small islet called Björkö. Had some lunch down at the water, strolled through the green fields and the many oaks. Took a few photos. Will upload them to my Gålö Set at flickr if you want to see some more of the place. There's a few marinas, a number of beaches, summer houses for rent, farms to visit and much more.