A wonderful Fall/Winter with Lots of Hunting

And its done! Bamboo rod complete!

Bamboo Rod Building

After looking at how I could get ahold of bamboo blanks to build a rod, I decided...."why not build one myself." So I found a course, and I am doing just that, and....it is awesome! I love this type of project. It takes a while, it requires discipline and skill and the tolerances are crucial. I've been to two sessions and making progress. After splitting, filing, straightening and twisting the bamboo into nice pieces, I started to plane the typical "triangle" shape of the strips. Lots of work! But it was really cool. Can't wait till next time.

Hunting 2012: From Ptarmigan to Pheasants

Its been quite some time again since my last posts. The life of a researcher/PhD candidate doesn't allow much free time, coupled with lots of training and hunting. However, I thought it would be of interest to you all to share some pics/videos of some hunting adventures in Sweden this Fall (up to now, with more to come).

After returning home from my trip the US we began getting ready for our trip to the mountains to hunt Ptarmigan. The stock of Ptarmigan was expected to be quite low, and it showed when we arrived. After 5 days hunting we shot only 5, and saw possibly 10 birds the whole time, but Nivos did an excellent job finding them!

Nivos proudly showing a Ptarmigan (Ripa)

Checking out the view on top of a mountain

Johan with a nice Ptarmigan!

The trip was an experience to say the least. Great friends, great hunting and a great dog! We are going again, even with a "bad year" under our belts. 

We continued during the Fall training Nivos and after some field trials, training and a couple hunts in the woods, we returned to our favorite Pheasant hunting area. This time Davie, Johan and I were out for the day to find birds....and yes we found many! Nivos did a great job pointing, though some of us didnt do that good shooting =) We eventually returned home with 3 pheasants and lots of good memories from our pheasant adventure. 

 The eventual 3 pheasants!

Nivos doing a little retrieving training

And here is a video of Nivos during some training with pheasants

Nivos in Action!

Hunting and Fishing....This is Fall after all!

I dont get on here as much as I used to, but I thought I would put up some pics of Nivos and I hunting, fishing, etc. Its been a great Fall so far! We've been out for black grouse, capercallie, pheasants, etc. Not too many birds shot, but we did see quite a few birds.

Early in the fall Nivos, Sofia and I spent 4 days hunting black grouse...we didnt see anything....=( After that Nivos completed his hunting certification and did great! He is a great hunter and got 1st prize!

We then went on an awesome pheasant hunt and got to see Nivos in action! He was amazing, and I actually shot 2 birds with one shot! Nivos and I have then been up hunting black grouse, and unfortunately didn't get any good shots at them (flew up a bit too far) After that we've been up another time and kicked up even more....with a few missed shots...=( But a great fall.

I've also been out to fish for sea trout...and wouldn't you know....I got one!

Training for Roxen Runt

After many hours of working on my bike after shipping it from USA...it works! Yes, and some friends and I have been out training for a race we will do August 28th. It is an 84 km (52 mile) race around Lake Roxen in Linköping. Here are some pics of the updated bike.

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.