Fjällvandring (Mountain Trekking), Fishing, USA and Hunting Preparations with Nivos!

Its been a busy summer!

Im back in Linköping, but soon to leave again. I wish the summer would last longer, but I have work to do, and have been working with Excel to revise some stuff for my course.

The trip to USA was great! San Francisco was very nice! Could definitely live there. Its a big city, but still feels nice and almost European (public transport!). Love it! And will go back and check out what more it has to offer again.

I was also back home for a few weeks, working, camping and relaxing. It was a welcomed period of relaxation, well when I was not shopping! Again everything is so cheap back at home, so I took advantage of the exchange rate and cheap prices and bought so much good stuff!

After getting back home I headed off to Ystad for a few days, then Linköping to work a bit and prepare for our hiking trip. All I can say is...AMAZING! BEAUTIFUL! FANTASTIC! With a 19kg pack, Sofia, Nivos and I hiked between Storulvån-Sylarna-Helags-Gåsen-Storulvån. It was breathtaking (both the view and the hard work it took). We were up in the moutains above the treeline, and I even got to fish quite a bit. Im going again!

Pics coming soon...

Industrial Symbiosis and a Trip to USA

It has been set up now...I'm coming home for a few weeks after a conference in San Francisco. It will be great to spend some time at home, but I will also do some work. What will I do...yes...Industrial Symbiosis research. I will look at an ethanol plant in Michigan and how the introduction of biogas (integrated production) could lead to reduced fossil fuel consumption and environmental performance benefits. This is what my research is all about! Reducing fossil fuel consumption and improving environmental performance! I work together with Swedish Biogas International to get some data to do scenario building to see if it is "actually" better.

Unfortunately the academic community has some different opinions about my research, and I will not be presenting anything at this year's conference...not the least bit bitter....;) I will have 2 posters however and get a free trip back home (well not till I get back to a better place, YES MICHIGAN)

Double Agent- Michael Martin

Yup, it's true...well not about being a double agent. But, now I have 2 passports.

Otherwise, everything is going good. I'm working hard with my research, fishing a lot and enjoying the spring weather. I'll also be coming home for a visit in June, but also to do some research on an integrated biogas-ethanol plant in Michigan. Cool!

I'm now a Swede....can you believe that!?

Yes it is true. This last week I received my Swedish Citizenship! I just have to go and get a passport now. Everything is going great here in Linköping. It is finally Spring!

As usual, I like to talk about my outdoor adventures and news. Well, some great things have happened. Sofia and I took our hunting exams, and now have Swedish hunting licences. Now we just have start collecting stuff for hunting. Ptarmigan hunting in the fall baby! On April 1st I even did my first fly fishing trip of the year to Silverån (no fish). It was a great trip and I checked out the "offerings" in the area for trout. Some great streams in the area!

Nivos is doing well as well. We've started a tracking course, and will do some more bird training with him. We've done a few training weekends and he is not gun-shy, does great at fetching (after lots of practice) and can track birds no problem. He's a great hunting dog! Moreover, a great fishing dog. He has calmed down a bit since last Fall and I can now take him with me on trips and he will just wait with me while I fish.

I haven't posted in a while, but here are some blended pics from some of our adventures this Winter/Spring.

Nivos Hunting and Playing

Not too much has happened here since X-mas. Most of the snow has disappeared and we've been off and on sick. Work is going good, and finally I can get some research done without worrying too much about other things. I am even coming home to USA in June!!!!! YEAH BABY! At that time I may be a Swedish citizen! I applied for citizenship about 3 weeks ago, and am awaiting the response from the Office of Immigration. And yes, I can have 2 passports and citizenships...I have checked!

Otherwise, here are some goodies to look at. Nivos hunting and playing. He loves sneaking up on stuff! We are waiting for Spring to do some more training on live birds, but old shirts will do for now!

Merry X-Mas Everyone!

Merry Christmas Everyone from Mike, Nivos and Sofia in Sweden!

We are celebrating X-mas this year with Sofia's family in Täby. After being here for a while, this is my first Christmas actually in Sweden. The last 3 years we have been in Germany and USA. Its a bit hard to see in the pictures, as some of them are old, but here in Linköping and Stockholm there is like over a meter of snow. That has packed down a bit, and now the snow is up to our knees. Nivos loves it! Here are some pics from our balcony in Linköping, and out in the woods with Nivos. This is a much needed Christmas break...especially for us PhD students after a stressful Fall. All is well though, and now the research is going good. I hope everyone also is able to take a break from working and eat lots of good food. We are mowing down on Lussekatter, pepparkakor, kola, glögg and many other Swedish treats! Love it!

Have a great X-mas everyone! And I will be back home in June for a little research and vacation!

Davie, Mike and Nivos out Ski Touring!

Here are a few pics from our latest adventure. Davie, Nivos and I were out for a back country ski touring trip north of Linköping. So much snow!!! Was a great trip, and was the maiden voyage for my new BC skis. However, not everything was perfect....My boots gave me bad blisters the day before while testing them (had to break 'em in a bit) then we had planned to build an igloo and stay the night, but it wasn't a good option for Nivos. Poor little guy was super cold! He has no hair on the underside of his body, and the snow comes up to his...you know what...junk. His poor little balls were so cold and red. We stopped at a cool cliff/rock and had lunch to warm up and Nivos used my jacket to warm up again. I guess it is too early for some long adventures for the little guy, but soon he'll be fine. Otherwise he loved it...oh and Davie and I loved it too! What a great trip!

Lunch at the Cliff

Davie Climbing an Ice Wall

Davie forcing his way through the snow!

Nivos and his pack! Awesome! Gore-Tex, Insulated Jacket and a Pack!

Nivos and I enjoying the view

Here's a vid of Davie Perfecting his Telemark Skills...or not! haha

And here I am showing you how to do it...or not! hahaha