Ice skating on Lake Vättern 19 February 2011, 183 km.

Vättern is Sweden's second largest lake. We left Stockholm by car at 4.15 am and entered the ice at Motala short after 7 am. Our intention was to skate to Karlsborg on the west shore, continue down to Jönköping and than skate back to Motala on the east shore. Strong headwind and moving ice forced us to turn around after 1/4 on the way back to Motala. We ended up with 183 km.

Start short after 7 am. (Photo: me) (Photo: me) Skating towards the islands Fjuk and Mellön. (Photo: me) Short stop at Fjuk. (Photo: me) Continuing towards Karlsborg. (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) Water supply south of Karlsborg. (Photo: me) Not only a bad hair day. (Photo: me) First lunch outside Hjo. (Photo: me) I have skated on nice ice on lake Vättern before, the difference this time was that the area with wonderful ice was enormous. (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) Erik is filming Sven, Patrik is stretching his back. (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) Second lunch in Jönköping at about 12.20 pm. (Photo: me) Leaving Jönköping, starting our attempt to go back to Motala on the east shore. (Photo: me) (Photo: me) The weather forecast had predicted side wind, instead we had head wind from the north. (Photo: me) (Photo: me) On the east shore, just below the European route E4. (Photo: me) The strong wind made the ice breake and it started moving to the south. I don't know how to handle movie formats but if you have Quick Time you can see a short sequence of moving ice here. (Film: me) So we gave up and turned back towards Jönköping again. (Photo: me) Sometimes it has to get worse before it gets better. (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) (Photo: me) Me, Erik Rosengren, Sven Rudberg and Patrik Permats. (Photo: me) Jönköping, the end. (Photo: me)