Ice Skating Through Stockholm Lakes- It's Always Better Than You Think!

This was perhaps our best excursion. Two years ago in the beginning of February, it had snowed on the Wednesday and Thursday the temperature was between minus 5 and 10 degrees with a blanket of snow everywhere.

After we had collected our Dutch guests from Arlanda airport on the Friday, we skated a couple of laps on a ploughed track in Norrviken. Afterwards, we took a trip through Edsberg to Edsviken, for a journey on a cleared trail to Ulriksdal. Then further by foot to Brunnsviken and Stallmästaregården. Weather conditions consisted of sun, no wind and a couple of degrees below freezing. After 40km in our legs, and everyone happy the days skating came to a close.

The hotel for the first night was the charming Krusenbergs Herrgård near Ekoln, as we had no idea where we were to go on the Saturday; the hotel had to be central. After a sauna and a dip in Mälaren and fantastic food Anders received good news that Vättern had frozen. This was too good to miss, an early breakfast and we were on our way.

At 10.30 we step out onto the ice in Motala. An endless mirror of glistening ice welcomed us in glorious sunshine. The water in Vätttern is very clear making the ice nice and clear, one can see the bottom at 10m, a strange sensation. There's an inner cheer of joy, as we carve our way forward and listen to the ice talking back to us. The early start and the bus journey are quickly forgotten.

After the bus back to Södertune Castle there was an after-skate with songs and laughter. Anders doesn’t give in and tells us all that tomorrow's trip will be on the newly frozen ice outside Arkösund.

In Södertune we used a wonderfully sauna. Set in historical surrounding, words cannot describe the atmosphere here. We shared wonderful food and conversation together after which we retired to a welcomed sleep.

The following morning after breakfast we took the bus to Kolmården, followed by the car ferry over to Arkösund. What a day this was! Perfect ice to the outer most ice edge of the farthest skerries, lunch bathed by glorious sunshine, and a view over the sea and beyond, how good can it get!

Who would of thought it? An experience such as this. The fact is, that we ourselves are surprised by just how good it can get.

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