Saturday 24th of April 2021 and I had not manage to get any sleep during the night so I slept until 6 o'clock and a little snooze on top of that. I had a shower and I checked out skipping breakfast and I was soon on my way leaving Marina Plaza and Helsingborg behind.
It is a gorgeous morning with a blue sky for long as I could see. Saturday morning and I was almost alone on the highway plunging through the landscape keeping 170-180 km/h. I will make it to my friend in Jönköping in time.
I have the car full of picnic food and we will make BBQ at Ullstämma Ekängssjön where I will give the Horned Grebe a second try.
A gorgeous morning on the highway
First time and it was getting late by the time I reached Ullstämma Ekängssjön from the Capercaillie Hide. Leaving the hide and I got the tip about the Horned Grebes at Ullstämma Ekängssjön so I drove here. But as it was overcast it was dark and too late. So I hope for better luck today and it looks good with the sunshine. So I hope for sun all day long.
I stop at my friend and we are soon on our way north driving on E4 along the eastern side of Lake Vättern.
Arriving to the Ullstämma Ekängssjön and when we rolled in on the parking, BOOOOOM! The sun disappeared and it started to snow. There is a roof over the BBQ area next to the car and we took cover. We prepared the food and it tasted very good!
BBQ area
The fire is started
Putting on the sausages
Putting on the sausages
Almost ready
Sausages are ready
Of course, eating the same at home would not have tasted as good. But out here in the cold nature it was wonderful and we felt good after the food. Packing up the food and we walked down to the lake to look for the Horned Grebe.
We could not see any grebes but when we approached the other side of the lake we spotted 1 pair of them. Too far away for any pictures.
We stayed to wait to see if the birds would come closer and we were lucky. We really did not want to stay too long in the snow and cold and they came after a few minutes.
We met two other bird watchers that had come for the Grebes as well and they were lucky as well, we all got pictures.
Going back to the car and my friend discovered another couple of Grebes from a platform. I was ahead of me as I had stayed behind to look for birds. He told me that there was another Grebe and when we went to look there was one pair.
We left and we will drive back to my friend's house in Jönköping for waffles before I continue to Öland. I have not had fresh waffles for a very long time so I was looking forward to it. Waffles topped with whipped cream and jam.
I had double checked and my friend have whipping cream at home.
We reached his house at 3 and he got right on to the waffle making while I booked hotel on Öland. I stayed at Skansen Hotel last time I was on Öland and they had room available and I booked for 8 nights.
My friend made the excellent “Göta Kanal” tea. The waffles was very good, but I had too many, and with the cloudberry jam it did no good for my diet.
Making waffles
Making waffles
It was 17 thirty when I left Jönköping and I expect it to take about 3 hours to reach the hotel on Öland. I reach the bridge to Öland around 8 o clock. There had not been much traffic on the roads coming here so I had hauled arse.
I cross the bridge and I found Färjestaden just south of the bridge on Öland.
I am in the reception at 8 thirty and I got the first room from the reception as I had asked for when I booked the room. And the room was like it was when I stayed here last time.
Reaching the Ölands Bridge
We can see Öland from the top of the Bridge
My room
My room
My room
It was very nice to step in to my room. I set up my laptop to check the pictures of the Horned Grebe and I was satisfied with the pictures. So no need to get back to Linköping. This was my back up plan to go back when I leave Öland next Sunday.
Anyway, bird watching on Öland tomorrow and you just need to click HERE to find out if I find any interesting birds. First place to visit will be Beijershamn.
OK, it has come to my knowledge that we have senior citizens visiting my web page. How hard can it be? So it's not very easy for them to see the blue coloured links to the next page.
Jiffy (also jiff)
noun [in SING.] informal a moment: we'll be back in a jiffy.
ORIGIN late 18th cent.: of unknown origin.
So as you understand, in a jiff pretty much depends on your internet.
So I put a “Next” button here and I hope that there isn't any problem to understand how to use that one. So just CLICK the “Next” button on your left hand side and you will be on the next page in a jiff!
Marunong ka mag-tagalog? Walang problema! Magpunta sa kabilang pahina pindutin ang “NEXT” button sa itaas
Faites vous parlez le français? Pas de problème! Pour arriver à la page suivante faites s'il vous plaît un déclic le bouton “Next” ci-dessus!
Haga usted dice el español? No hay problema! Ver la siguiente página sólo hacer clic el botón “Next” encima!
Farla parla l'italiano? Non problemi! Per vedere la prossima pagina lo scatto per favore giusto Il bottone “Next” sopra
Sprechen sie Deutsch! Kein problem! Wenn Sie die folgende Seite sehen wollen gerade klicken der Knopf “Next” oben!