2008 Cruiser Meet

Every year Raggare from all over Sweden meet at Vegabaren for a get together. There's live music and hundreds of cars and much more. On the wind shield you can read: Dare to be disgusting. They misspelled it, but I'm sure you get the picture. These guys were hoping to win the category for worst "Råttsoffa". The worst rat seat if you translate it to English. They were already drunk when I arrived. The TV crews were drawn to them and that made them very proud and even more drunk. Not sure if they won but they got my vote. I talked to another photographer who said that the car had all it's paper in order and that they had driven all the way from Värmland without any problems. If so that is very impressive! From the 2008 Cruiser Meet at Vegabaren in Handen on Saturday. 2008 Cruiser Meet at Vegabaren. I will probably show a few more photo in the coming week so stay tuned!

Steamtastic!

Earlier today. The steam train leaves Tungelsta and heads for Nynäshamn. A few times every year the Museum in Nynäshamn arrange a couple of trips with their steam train. More photos here.

Loulou

Loulou performing on the big stage at Poseidon's square in Handen during the recent Haninge Day celebrations. More photos from this event in my flickr set.

Acrobatics

The acrobatic members of the Stockholm's Variety Theatre Group entertaining kids of all ages during the Haninge Day celebrations in Handen last Saturday.

Matti Norlin

Matti Norlin performing at Poseidon's square in Handen during Haninge Day on Saturday. He is a Blues Man. He played his own material and one Elvis song. The theme for this year was Country & Western.

Haninge Dance Studio

As I walk around the Poseidon's square in Handen Saturday, during Haninge day, I suddenly see a group of young women dressed as cowgirls and I decide to check them out and perhaps get my first group photo for this project. I ask who they are and they explain that they are members of the Haninge Dance Studio. We are going on stage in a few minutes one of the girls tell me. I quickly explain about the 100 Strangers Project and they line up for a group portrait. So here we go. Starting from the left, this is Fredrik, Kimmie, Caroline, Karin, Jenny, Philip, My and Sofie. The guys are not dancers, we just needed two cowboys for this act. And as they wanted two really cool guys, they picked us said Fredrik. The girls have been dancing together since 2001, but this constellation have only been together for six months. Their ages range from 17 to 23.Today we will perform a modern jazz dance act with influences of western dance they tell me as they mention that you can hire the group for a dance show via ther web site. A few minutes later they are performing on the big stage. I'm no dance expert but I liked what I saw and the audience looked very impressed and gave them a big hand of appluads.

This is my 76th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

A Cowboy

Saturday was Haninge Day. Which was celebrated around Poseidon's Square and in the Cultural Centre at Handen. The theme this year was Country & Western, so I went looking for a suitable stranger. And found one close to the big stage. This is Kent Olofsson. He is my second stranger from Värmland, the first one was Spik-Anders. Kent was here to perform with a group of friends. They call themselfes Åldtimers (Oldtimers). A bit of a word pun. They do all sorts of western things with lasso's, axes and CAS shooting. They have been touring Värmland and Sweden for 7 years. He told me that they normally visit High Chaparral six times every year.In his professional life Kent is a plåtslagare (something for you to translate). At the moment his working on a construction site in Oslo, Norway, so he spends 5 days of the week in Norway, living in an apartment paid for by the company he works for. On weekends he enjoyes western riding with his mates.

This is my 75th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

The face of a clown

Something for the kids of all ages. I met this clown yesterday at Poseidon's Square in Handen. Yesterday was Haninge Day and I spent a few hours listening to music, looking at different type of performers ant took some photos.

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.

That old tree

Yesterday I took my 150th photo of the old tree at Välsta. Flickr announced a new way to share slideshows today so I thought I would give it a go. So here are all photos in a cool slideshow, just sit back and enjoy!

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.

Kalle

The summer break is over for the kids in Haninge. So I figured I'd find me a happy school kid for the 100 strangers project. And I did, sort of. I forgot to ask about the happy part. This is Kalle. He is fifteen and lives in Handen, where I met him yesterday. It was his first day back to school. He's a ninth grader at Rudanskolan in Handen. On his free time he enjoys hanging out with his friends. Kalle used to play tennis at Torvalla but had to give up the sport as it became to expensive. Just like me you can often find him down at Lake Rudan where he will go for a ride on the mountain bike trail. One time I hit a tree and ended up at the hospital from where I came home with 8 stitches he told me. Who ever said it's easy to be a teenager these days?

This is my 74th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

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!

Karin & Jens

Meet Karin and Jens. And Elvira, who didn't want to be photographed, but who will be 3 years old in September. They live at Hammarby Sjöstad in Stockholm.They were on their way to the Kyrkskolan Gallery for a look at this years Art Promenade when I met them at the ancient grave field in Jordbro. I gave them directions and we started to talk. We are on our way to the island of Utö where we will spend the night in our tent, something Elvira is looking forward to, they told me. Other pastimes that the family enjoys include trekking in Jämtland. Karin is a psychology student, with one year left before graduating from Stockholm University. Jens is a Member of the European Parliament in Brussels where he works for global justice, animal rights and environmental issues. He is a member of the The Left Party of Sweden, as they call them selves.

This is my 72th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

Johan

At the charcoal kiln on the Gålö peninsula the other day, I decided to find me a stranger among the burners to photograph. This guy stood out a bit with his t-shirt (they were all wearing the same type of hat). Meet Johan Borg. He invited me into the burner's hut for a chat. The temperature in the hut to me felt like something you would experience in a sauna ( I had a 20 km bike ride behind me and it was 20C from a clear blue sky). So it was kinda warm in there with a fire burning! Johan is of course one of the members of the Gålö historical association that built the kiln. As I started to sweat I asked Johan some questions. Bonde means Farmer in Swedish and that's his occupation. His family operates the Stegsholm farm that I happened to visit earlier this summer. Three generations of his family still lives at the farm. Johan has lived there all his life. Today he is married to Åse and they have a couple of kids, the son Victor and their newborn daughter Emma, who the charcoal kiln was named after. I asked if he and Åse had any fun hobbies or any interesting holidays to tell me about. They just laughed and said: we work 22 hours every day and have been away on vacation one time over the last six years. Running the big farm take all our time! And then there's the kids. And the café and bakery that they opened eight years ago. As Stegsholm is a part of the nature reserve, they get many visitors and the café is a huge success.

This is my 73th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

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.

The Zodiac Man

Not sure what this guy is doing. From Lower Lake Rudan in Handen yesterday. I have never seen a boat in this little lake before. Looks like he could be testing the water quality or something. This is a fishing lake and during the summer months it's also popular with swimmers and sunbathers. Although I didn't see anyone swimming here today.

A very upset squirrel

Hey, where's the bird food? I'm hungry!

Every day this summer, this squirrel and one of his buddy's have been visiting as I'm feeding the birds.During the summer there really isn't necessary to give the birds anything to eat, but when I quit filling the bird feeders they flew in and landed on the veranda table, trying to steal my breakfast. So I gave up and now the squirrels take advantage of that!

Lotta

This is Lotta. I met her at the Gullringskärrets nature reserve today. She was out riding on one of the family's horses, Wille. The horse seemed a bit nervous (they were fixing a gravel road nearby), so I called out to let them know I was there, and that's how we started talking. Lotta comes from Stockholm and has her horses at the Lövhagen stable at Kalvsvik. She's been show jumping with her other horse, Cheila Rose with some good results. Lotta works as a dentist in a private practice. She told me that she's always been interested in different sports, and these days the horses took up most of her free time. Lotta got a scholarship to the University of South Carolina where she took the Pre-Med course and during that time she also played tennis for the school.

This is my 71th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

Hello!

A visitor from the Orthoptera Family drops by for a visit.

Queueing Tourists

Tourists waiting at Årsta Brygga to get aboard the ferry to Utö. An island in the Haninge archipelago. During the summer months the island sees a lot of visitors. It's a great place to rent a bike, paddle a canoe, or just find a beach and do absolutely nothing.Or you could visit the old mill or the old mine. Read more here.

Meet the Groom

Being the day that it is, 080808 I set out to find me a fitting stranger. And I did! Thousands of couples are getting married in Sweden today, and I was lucky enough to met Jonne outside the Västerhaninge church. The lucky bride (who I didn't meet), is called Angeliqa. Jonne works as a dock laborer in Stockholm. On his free time he enjoys working out in the gym and he also plays handboll for Tungelsta. As we were talking, the wedding photographer showed up so I decided to speed up things with a few quick questions. What's the scariest or dumbest thing you have ever done? That must be driving my motorcycle at 280 km/h on the free way at Länna, he replied. Any other motorcycle stories? Yes, me and Angeliqa was holidaying in Norway, when suddenly we collided with a big bird, it hit me right in the face, that was a bit scary, but we got out of that without any injuries. Normally I would try to ask a few more questions but as the kids waiting in the car were shouting and the wedding photographer was getting ready I decided to take a few shots of Jonne in front of the church and be on my way. As for his red kilt I can only assume that his family comes from Scotland. (If I'm wrong email me when you read this Jonne). Good luck with life as a married man!

This is my 70th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

Clouds Over the Lake

I stopped at Lake Rudan yesterday. Surprisingly few people there but I did see some anglers at the lower lake from where this is shot.

Looking For That Perfect Shot

A photographer at the dog show at Skälåker on the Gålö peninsula that I visited last weekend. There was two types of people there. Dog owners and photographers. I didn't know about the event until I arrived, but decided to stay around for some photos.

The Judge

One of the judges at the 2008 Tollarspecialen at Skälåker last weekend.

Kerstin at the old tree

I guess you have all seen this scene before. This is my 149th photo of The Old Tree at Välsta. But it's the first time I have been able to combine it with the 100 Strangers Project. This is Kerstin. And Pypszo. They came walking towards me on the path, so all I had to do was wait a while. And after explaining about the project we talked a bit and I took some photos. The horse is a Polish Arabian that's been with her for 17 years. She had planned to compete with Pypszo in Endurance riding but sadly the horse had a leg injury. Kerstin is also a big fan of this tree, (she's originally from Öland where there are many Swedish Whitebeams) and she had also heard the rumours about the planned golf course here, and like me she's against it. These days she lives with her family at Skogås and teaches Swedish at the Farsta Gymnasium, a college-preparatory school. As we talked about the surrounding landscape and the people here in Tungelsta it didn't take me long to figure out that she knew a few people that I know, including Torbjörn, or Stranger #21, as I like to call him. I really like all these coincidences that has happened during this project.


This is my 65th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

Louise and Ludde

This is Louise. And her dog Ludde. He is a Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever. His real name is Rackaby´s Sir Paul McCartney. I met them today at Skälåker on the Gålö peninsula in Haninge. They were attending the 2008 Tollarspecialen. And they were not alone, as some 365 other Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers were taking part in the event. Louise is thirteen years old and comes from Härnösand. She was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago, and it was then the family decided to get her a dog. She's been competing in dog agility with Ludde for one year now. And as you can see won two prices this morning. Louise were travelling with her parents and the rest of the family in their caravan. This was their fifth event this year. Next week they are going to Åsele and Strömsund so they really have a full calendar. Next year Louise plans to compete in obedience trial. And also in freestyle where the dog dance to music! She also enjoys riding and playing floorball. If you understand Swedish you can check out her website.

This is my 69th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

Håkan Fohlin

It was nearly 30 C when I met Håkan Fohlin the other day. So stopping by the side of the road for a few minutes was just what we needed. He had been on a long bike ride, visiting a friend and was now heading back to Stockholm. Håkan is an actor with nearly 40 years experience. When he attended acting school in Malmö in the seventies it was the second most expensive education in the country. We visited New York, Berlin, London and Paris, I don't think they do that these days he said. Håkan was one of the founders of The Orion Theatre, (Wikipedia article), in Stockholm. He has toured around Sweden and Finland and today I am struggling really hard not to work, he said, which means that he has retired. One reason could be that he has always been a very physical actor in the same style as Gösta Ekman, a critic once wrote, and has fallen off a stage or three during his long career ! Will I find some info about you online I asked, probably not he said, but I have a daughter who works as a supermodel so you are very likely to find photos of her. So I Googled her and Håkan was right about that!

This is my 68th photo for the 100 Strangers project. You can see the rest of my strangers in my Set.

My kind of transport

It's the first of the month again. Theme day, and for August the theme is Metal. I choose this beautiful old bike as it is my kind of transport. A classic 1950ths tandem bicycle with a help engine, probably made by Gefle Velocipedfabrik. I found it at the classic car event at Torvalla earlier this summer. Back in the 1950ths that engine would set you back some 425 SEK. I wouldn't mind having one of these cool rides. Although I did see a similar modern bicycle a while back. It's called Powabyke. Probably better for the environment as it runs on a 200 watt motor that you can use turn on if and when you get tired.

Click here to view thumbnails for all participants

Albuquerque (NM), USA by Helen, Aliso Viejo (CA), USA by Rodney, American Fork (UT), USA by Annie, Anderson (SC), USA by Lessie, Ararat, Australia by freefalling, Arradon, France by Alice, Aspen (CO), USA by IamMBB, Athens, Greece by Debbie, Auckland, New Zealand by Baruch, Auckland, New Zealand by Lachezar, Austin (TX), USA by LB, Bandung, Indonesia by Harry Makertia, Bandung, Indonesia by Eki Akhwan, Bandung, Indonesia by Bunyamin, Barrow-in-Furness, UK by Enitharmon, Barton (VT), USA by Andree, Bellefonte (PA), USA by Barb-n-PA, Bicheno, Australia by Greg, Birmingham (AL), USA by VJ, Bogor, Indonesia by Gagah, Boston (MA), USA by Cluelessinboston, Brantford (ON), Canada by Nancy, Bucharest, Romania by Malpraxis, Budapest, Hungary by Zannnie and Zsolt, Budapest, Hungary by agrajag, Budapest, Hungary by Isadora, Buenos Aires, Argentina by Karine, Canterbury, UK by Rose, Chandler (AZ), USA by Melindaduff, Château-Gontier, France by Laurent, Chateaubriant, France by Bergson, Cheltenham, UK by Marley, Chennai, India by Ram N, Chesapeake (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Cincinnati, USA by Erik Laursen, City of the Blue Mountains, Australia by Richard, Corsicana (TX), USA by Lake Lady, East Gwillimbury, Canada by Your EG Tour Guide, Edinburgh, UK by Dido, Edmonton (AL), Canada by , Evry, France by Olivier, Folkestone, UK by Piskie, Forks (WA), USA by Corinne, Fort Lauderdale (FL), USA by Gigi, Gabriola, Canada by Snapper, Geneva (IL), USA by Kelly, Greenville (SC), USA by Denton, Grenoble, France by Bleeding Orange, Gun Barrel City (TX), USA by Lake Lady, Hamilton, New Zealand by Sakiwi, Hampton (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Haninge, Sweden by Steffe, Hanoi, Vietnam by Jérôme, Helsinki, Finland by Kaa, Hobart, Australia by Greg, Hyde, UK by Old Hyde, Hyde, UK by Gerald, Jackson (MS), USA by Halcyon, Jefferson City (MO), USA by Chinamom2005, Jerusalem, Israel by Esther, Kansas City (MO), USA by Cate B, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia by Edwin, Kyoto, Japan by Tadamine, Lakewood (OH), USA by mouse, Larchmont (NY), USA by Marie-Noyale, Las Vegas (NV), USA by Mo, Leipzig, Germany by weltbeschreiber, Lisbon, Portugal by Sailor Girl, Lisbon, Portugal by Maria João, London, UK by Ham, London, UK by Mo, Lynchburg (VA), USA by June, Mainz, Germany by JB, Manila, Philippines by Heyokity, Mashhad, Iran by Meead, Melbourne, Australia by John, Melbourne, Australia by Mblamo, Menton, France by Jilly, Mesa (AZ), USA by Mesa Daily Photo, Mexico City, Mexico by Carraol, Middletown (MD), USA by Bernie, Milwaukee (WI), USA by karl, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Scott, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Mitch, Minneapolis (MN), USA by Greg, Misawa, Japan by misawa mama, Molfetta, Italy by saretta, Monte Carlo, Monaco by Jilly, Monterrey, Mexico by rafa, Mumbai, India by MumbaiiteAnu, Mumbai, India by Magiceye, Nancy, France by yoshi, Nashville (TN), USA by Chris, Nelson, New Zealand by Meg and Ben, New Delhi, India by Delhi Photo Diary, New Orleans (LA), USA by steve buser, New York City (NY), USA by Ming the Merciless, New York City (NY), USA by • Eliane •, New York City (NY), USA by Kitty, Newport News (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norfolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Norwich, UK by Goddess888, Ocean Township (NJ), USA by Josy, Oklahoma City (OK), USA by ananda.tashie, Orlando (FL), USA by OrlFla, Owasso (OK), USA by Jennifer, Palos Verdes (CA), USA by tash, Paris, France by Eric, Pasadena (CA), USA by Can8ianben, Pasadena (CA), USA by Petrea, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia by Murphy_jay, Petoskey (MI), USA by Christie, Philadelphia (PA), USA by Stephanie Craig, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Cheryl, Phoenix (AZ), USA by Sharon, Pilisvörösvár, Hungary by Elise, Port Angeles (WA), USA by Jelvistar, Port Vila, Vanuatu by Mblamo, Portsmouth (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Prague, Czech Republic by Honza03, Pretoria, South Africa by Sam-Ruth, Quezon City, Philippines by ann pablo, Quincy (MA), USA by slim, Ramsey, Isle of Man by babooshka, Rancho Palos Verdes (CA), USA by Sarah Adams, Riga, Latvia by Riga Photos, Rotterdam, Netherlands by Ineke, Rouen, France by Bbsato, Saigon, Vietnam by Simon, Saint Louis (MO), USA by Strangetastes, Saint Paul (MN), USA by Kate, Salem (OR), USA by jill, Salt Lake City (UT), USA by atc, San Antonio (TX), USA by Kramer, San Diego (CA), USA by Felicia, San Francisco (CA), USA by PFranson, Schenectady (NY), USA by Buck, Seattle (WA), USA by Kim, Seattle (WA), USA by Chuck, Seguin (TX), USA by Thien, Selma (AL), USA by RamblingRound, Sequim (WA), USA by Eponabri, Sesimbra, Portugal by Aldeia, Setúbal, Portugal by Maria Elisa, Sharon (CT), USA by Jenny, Singapore, Singapore by Zannnie, Singapore, Singapore by Keropok, Sofia, Bulgaria by Antonia, South Pasadena (CA), USA by Laurie, Springfield (IL), USA by Aubrey, Stanwood (WA), USA by MaryBeth, Stavanger, Norway by Tanty, Stayton (OR), USA by Celine, Stockholm, Sweden by Stromsjo, Stouffville, Canada by Ken, Subang Jaya, Malaysia by JC, Suffolk (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Sunshine Coast, Australia by bitingmidge, Sydney, Australia by Ann, Sydney, Australia by Sally, Sydney, Australia by Julie, Székesfehérvár, Hungary by Teomo, Tamarindo, Costa Rica by David, Tempe (AZ), USA by angie, Terrell (TX), USA by Jim K, Tokyo, Japan by Tadamine, Torun, Poland by Torun Observer, Torun, Poland by Glenn, Tuzla, Bosnia and Herzegovina by Jazzy, Twin Cities (MN), USA by Slinger, Victoria, Canada by Benjamin Madison, Vienna, Austria by G_mirage2, Villigen, Switzerland by z, Virginia Beach (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Wailea (HI), USA by Kuanyin, Washington (DC), USA by D.C. Confidential, Wellington, New Zealand by Jeremyb, West Paris (ME), USA by crittoria, West Sacramento (CA), USA by Barbara, Weston (FL), USA by WestonDailyPhoto, Williamsburg (VA), USA by ptowngirl, Willits (CA), USA by Elaine, Yardley (PA), USA by Mrlynn,