Shhh…

After yet another amazing and especially adventurous outdoor trip to Sweden I have got plenty to tell and share with all of you. This time I went to the Stockholm Archipelago, a lovely bunch of islands near Stockholm where you can find yourself in pure nature with the possibility to go for loads of sportive activities that will make you connect even more with the Swedish mother nature. However, a couple of things I really wish to share are perhaps a bit of the record… And so this means we cannot really discuss it face to face, but I can absolutely write about it and you can comment below to continue the gossip or solve the mystery 😉

Happy camping and waking up at the Utö island while brushing my teeth… Photo by Henrik Trygg

So, after this GREAT and especially very charming photo of myself during this outdoor academy in Sweden – my new Facebook profile pic for sure – here’s my top 10 secret stories of the Outdoor Academy of Sweden 2014!

#10 in love with fire

I realized that one of the guys was completely obsessed with fire. Why? I don’t really know, but he did say he loved romantic candle light and campfires, so perhaps since a lot of us were busy with our not so cozy technology he had to show his passion for fire and the effect of it. Well, I can confirm that his passion for fire truly sparked over to many of us and that I became a new big fan of fire. Still, I just can’t really say who it was that was so obsessed with the possibility of creating fire at every single steady rock or table. Do you know who it is that was so obsessed by fire?

Was it Norbert?

#9 Where did the pick nick table go?

Upon arrival to the private island, after kayaking to it, there were two places to sit and eat properly. One was near the dock and another one was near the tent area. However, as I woke up I noticed that two tables were now standing very close to each other and I can simply not remember the moving. Also, there were plenty of empty beer bottles surrounding the area… (which were later on brought to a container of course). Glad I still have the photos! Busted guys!

When did this happen?

#8 Who kept us awake at camp again?

There always has to be one person within all those happy campers that sleeps on his back. We love the belly sleepers whenever sharing a tentipi, but sometimes you just don’t get all the luck. Who was it that kept some of us awake at night with his sounds of a bear, snoring to the bright stars? And, who was it that eventually slept on the beach? Was this because of the non-belly sleeper or because he or she had a few to many schnapps and did not make it to the tent anymore?

Is that the guy? Sleeping in a tent next to mine?

#7 Losing it all!

One blue or green coffee cup got replaced by a black coffee cup from the Light My Fire brand at night, but in the morning someone had to replace the black cup too… no one knows what happened and where these cups went to, but they kept on disappearing. Perhaps someone really likes the Light My Fire gear and started a secret collection. Could it be? Anyway, the question remains who is it that kept on losing his belongings?

My own coffecup, or in my case, winecup

#6 Elky the alcoholic

Well, well, well. There is always someone that has to hide our favorite little fluffy friend Elky. As all the girls and even some guys are totally in love with Elky and everyone is a big fan it is always a problem for Elky to share the attention. He seemed to hide himself a in someone’s backpack, but maybe he was simply held in there so that this person was not having to share our dear Elky… Hmmm… Curious situation! Who tried to keep elky to himself? It might have for a specific reason though. Elky just couldn’t keep his hands of the beers and perhaps one person was responsible enough to make sure Elky could control his lust for the Swedish beers… Did you already watch Elky’s movie?

Elky finished another beer!

Elky was secretly trying to hide to beers from the rest of us

Elky having diner…

Putting up his innocent face… yeah right!

#5 Who ate the biggest crayfish?

As day turned into night and the dining room of Grinda got filled with hungry party people, all wearing party hats for the Swedish party, the crayfish soon started to disappear. The most curious thing was that there was someone who secretly took the biggest and probably most tasteful crayfish (which he should really have shared I think) and we never saw it back again. He must have eaten it all by himself. Who are you, you naughty food hiding I-eat-it-all-myself kind of guy? I am the only one who’s allowed to not share food you know.

Njumm… njumm!

#4 Who did the sailor man charm?

I was told someone got carried away… ehmm I mean off board… In a very romantic kind of way, after exploring the sailing possibilities at the Stockholm Archipelago. I don’t blame you, I mean, a tall, handsome, blond – okay, that’s not really my thing – probably very strong, viking-man… Yes, don’t tell me that this is just gossip, because I could see one of the ladies wearing his scarf… whoops! Lucky lady, who are you?

Photo by Henrik Trygg

#3 Who drank all the schnapps?

On the first night there was enough to eat and drink at Utö, but somehow all the Schnapps that were standing on the table never got moved. However, on the second night we got a another chance… Actually the second night wasn’t really that bad, but it was the last night that made me think about the Schnapps again right now. As mentioned earlier, the Swedish like to put a lot of people together in one room, eat at a dining table and then they start to sing the popular Swedish drinking song “Helan Går” while standing up, leaving their fork and knife on the table and replacing it for a glass of schnapps in their hand. Thing is, they enjoy doing this, for like, definitely three times and by then you just keep on singing and pouring yourself another glass of Schnapps… Yet every time I wanted to join the song my glass was empty and I’m not sure if I just was not supposed to drink the entire thing at once or if people were finishing the Schnapps bottle before I noticed it. Who drank my Schnapps?!

#2 Which country represented the shy non-singers?

After the Swedish drinking song it was time for other nationalities to show off their singing (and drinking) talent. I think I don’t even have to explain this one. Como on… I think you still owe us a video with some singing! Now I know you could not come up with any English spoken drinking song, but it must be out there. That Wanderlust is waiting for a video and I will put it right at the empty part below this piece of text 🙂   — space for your video…?—

#1 Living the beer

And then there was this Sauna thingy at the isle of Grinda. Guess what happened! A sauna, hot and steamy, ready to receive the guests of the Grinda Inn hotel with in the middle of the place a couple of cold beers was completely empty! Okay, maybe two persons were inside the sauna, but the actual hotspot was on the deck of the hot wooden creation. What happened to the beers in the sauna?   Now I need your help to solve these mysteries by leaving a message in the comments below. Let’s get those Outdoor Academy of Sweden stories out there in the open! Ah yes, and if you still have some doubts about what happened last year at the OAS, then please read this piece of writing with photos and videos!

About Renate Rigters

Ever since I left my home country I felt at home at any other place I went to. I enjoy getting to know more cultures by talking to strangers and hearing their philosophy about life. Speaking with gestures when you can not find a shared language, finding places only the locals go to and learn about their customs and values. Hanging out with local people makes me happy. The experience of every new place is a step out of your comfort zone where I like to wander around until it feels like a second home.

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