Our first stop was at Tönnebro near Gävle. The dogs got to stretch out and play at the beach. Unfortunately it was a lot of mosqitos there and I got the biggest bite I have ever had! Half my forehead was swollen for about two days!
Yaya helping Dad to keep an eye on the road
Moa and Yaya playing in the water
Moa showing off her moves!
They are very acrobatic!
Yaya has bulldozed Moa into the sand...
This is how huge my misqito bite was after two days! From top to bottom of my forehead!
You have a lovely home and I am jellous of how close you had to the water! Well, at least warm days like this one! Yaya and Boston had a nice time playing and I got to take some new stacks of him aswell.
Happy breeder getting to cuddle her puppy!
Happy puppy getting to cuddle his breeder!
Boston and Yaya playing with the ball
Yaya, Boston and Moa
Sweet Boston resting in the shade, it was almost 30 degrees today!
Kadamo This is Boston 13 weeks old
After that we walked along the water to the Holiday Club where we enjoyed a lovely dinner with a very south European feel to it. No offense to the north of Sweden, but sitting out in 30 degrees by the water, enjoying a dinner, music, a lot of happy people and easy atmosphere, to me that felt like Båstad! Not Åre! ;o)
Arriving at Åre
Dando, Yaya and Moa enjoying themselves
Moa out fishing
Yaya and Moa sharing a stick
Yaya heading out to sea! (Well, not really, but out in the lake!)
Moa, Dando, Yaya and me relaxing in the "harbor" before dinner
Dad ready to dig in! BBQ and potatoesallad! Yummie!
Dando still keeping an eye on the plate... now empty though...
I have fallen in love with my mosquito spray. The only weird thing is that it says clearly on the package that it doesn't smell... and well, I could hardly breath for a few minutes after putting it on... Weird... Wonder what that scente is coming from then?!
On Friday morning we had a good steady breakfast and got ready for our first day of walking in the mountains. We drove to Storulvån where we parked our car and started walking. We started off "gently" walking a 12 kilometer track... More then I normally walk in a day...
The weather was amazing everyday, sun and blue skyes! We stopped at the small springs and the dogs got to drink water and us to. It is quite amazing to drink water straight from the spring, cold and fresh! That's what I call natural spring water! ;o)
Up here there were still some snow left here and there. And the dogs was so happy about that! Especially Yaya (who else...) She went nuts everytime we walked over or near snow and she just had to run around in it...
This day we started walking at about 10 am along Getryggen to Ulvåtjärn were we stopped for lunch and sunbathing. We walked back along Stor-Ulvåfjället and were back at Storulvån around 5 pm and had an icecream to top the day off!
There we also met the raindeer Leif! He is allowed eveywhere except indoors! He wasn't bothered by the dogs at all but they all found him very amusing.
The lovely view over Enaforsholm with the mountain.... in the background
The rapid outside where we lived
Yaya taking a cold and refreshing evening swim
This is what I call gorgeous surroundings!
The mountain... with it's reflextion in the water
Just beautiful
And even more beautiful!
Dad out fishing, or at least trying!
Our room occupied by the dogs!
Yaya hunting mosquitos under the bed...
Yaya outside the next morning
Dad enjoyign a sip of water
Yaya's first encounter with snow up here...
Do I need to say she looooved it!
The girls chasing Dando
Yaya has found a hiding place in the snow
No one can pose like Yaya can!
Yaya keeping her eyes closed for the bright sun!
Blueberries in the making!
Small pink flowers, don't ask me their name...
Dad checking how much further we have to walk...
One of the fresh water springs
Dando looking out over the mountains
Moa having a blast! After some water new energy just burst trough the dogs!
Me and the dogs has just gotten ourselves over a rapid and are now taking a well deserved break
Just pretty!
Cute little plant!
Yaya and Dando playing in the snow
Moa just cooling off her paws
Beautiful Yaya
Some more cute pink flowers
Moa, Yaya and Dando thinking I walk to slow...
Moa infront of one of all the amazing views!
Vide...Osier
A cave under the thick snow
Typical snowcovered rapid
Follow the red crossesin the winter and you will get there!
Silly Yaya cooling off in the freezing water!
No words needed!
Yaya looking out over the mountains
A herd of raindeer on the other side of the valley
Yaya posing again
Dando showing off his muddy paws...
Moa and Dando keeping their balance... Yaya is off running somewhere else...
Beautiful sight!
Yaya in the lead (as always, she had to be first all the time) then Dando and Moa
Leif the tame raindeer
When we arrived at the showground the first thing I did was so look trough the catalogue to check out our competition. It was 36 ridgebacks entered and one bitch I feared the most...
This was Ridgedogs Attractive Goldie who was Best of Breed for todays judge Per Iversen, Norway earlier this year. A very nice looking dog!
Her very nice owner Ann-Kristin from Ridgedogs Kennel and Anne-Karin from Chanjamaa's Kennel kept us company at ringside. Thank you both for a very nice day in the heat (and of course congratulations to great showresults)!
Since we got there quite early we had time to relax for a few hours before it was our turn. The weather was still amazing and almost to good. It was very sunny and warm so my Dad and I took turns to take the dog away into the shade.
Moa and I entered the openclass with 9 bitches. Moa managed to win this and sweet Goldie was placed as second. In Championclass it was 7 very nice looking bitches but luckily that didn't bother me since my only goal was the CAC.
When they were done it was time for Best bitch. I think we were 10 bitches who had recieved Championquality. It was the Top 2 from juniorclass, the winner from intermediateclass, Top three from openclass and Top four from Championclass.
After some running the judge picked out his Top 4, and me and Moa was one of them! With us was number 2 and 3 from Openclass and winner of Championclass. Happy as ever we ran around the ring again and if I say I was in ectasy it's an understatement when the judge pointed us out as number 1! This gave Moa the Norwegian CAC that we wanted but not only that, she also got her first CACIB!
After a short break it was time to compete for Best of Breed and we went up against the Best male who was Qiro Rules. Some more running and posing before the much wanted red and yellow ribbon was given to me!
Moa was Best of Breed! A very happy and amazing feeling!
The judge did say he recognized her from Tvååker last summer and he obviously still likes her! So, in a month we are off to Ransäter where he is judging again... Anyone surprised?! ;o)
Moas qritique (translated into Swedish since I can't do some Norweigan letters on the computer...):
"65 cm. En vacker och välbalanserad tik. Elegant och feminint huvud, god balans mellan skalle och nosparti. Mycket bra hals, utmärkt kropp, god balans mellan front och bakparti. Bra ridge, kraftfulla rörelser. Välvisad."
We had another wait and some lunch before it was time for group finals. In Norway they put group 6 and 4 together as one which gave a big class of 17 breeds. Moa was unfortunately not placed under judge Torbjorn Granheim, Norway. But it is still a very nice feeling to enter the Big ring with your own dog in the lead.
Happy and as saticfied as we could be we headed back towards Sweden. Of course we had to stop on the way home for some posing in the beautiful surroundings. All these pictures can be seen below.
Moa in Openclass (2nd dog from left on the picture)
Running towards the judge (yes, it was very warm...)
Running away from the judge
And around the ring
Moa stacked infront of the judge
The Top 3 placements in Openclass, Moa, Goldie and Djungelkattens Coolridged Chakira
Parts of the Best Bitch class
The Top 4 placements in Best Bitch
The judge pointing out Moa as number one!
BOS: Qiro Rules, Judge Per Iversen BOB: SVCH Hamnuddens Fischer "Moa" (Staked like crap I know...)
Half the dogs of the Best of Group 4/6, Moa and me 2nd from left.
The rest of the dogs in Best of Group 4/6.
Moa and me with all her ribbons
Victory kiss!
Beautiful Moa almost 3 years old
Moa with her CAC ribbon infront of the mountains
A last fanclub picture of Moa ;o) Haha...
We met a prince on our way up the mountain
A bridge we had to cross. We walked up to the top of the mountain you can see up ahead on this picture... far...
Dando working on his balance making sure he puts every feet right
Yaya looking out over the amazing views
Me ready to do some more walking
Moa keeping an eye on the people catching up on us
Moa and Yaya has found some more snow! On top of the mountain you can see Blåhammaren Fjällstation
Happy Yaya playing in the snow after walking 10 km... Still full of energy!
Yaya being chased by Moa
Time to rest and eat at Blåhammaren Fjällstation! Beutiful place, beautiful view!
I told you so, beautiful view!
Dando, Yaya and Moa getting some dried meat from Dad that he had with him for snack
Dando can even pose a little bit extra to get some more!
My two obedience (read "begging") dogs Yaya and Dando walking heal with Dad
Me, Yaya, Moa and Dando
Moa taking the lead, then Yaya and last Dando
And you can think that oh well, now it was just downhill from there... a peace of cake... Well, it did go faster... byt oh my god my legs! That's what I called a great work out! Who needs a gym when you can just go outside and climb hills!
Despite it being very tiring today it was of course lovely surroundings and a beautiful waterfall.
Yaya was of course never tired... When we had made it down the hill she had energy for a little ridgeback race in the bog with a huge stick in her mouth. I promise you that she is the silliest dog on the planet, but that is why I love her so much! She definetely lit up our walks with her little energy bursts here and there!
When we got back in the early afternoon we took the car and drove to Handöl. There we ate homemade waffles with jam and whipped cream! Yummie!
After that it was time for our last waterfall, luckily we now only had 300 m to walk! At the top there was a "hanging bridge" over it all. I first thought I could take the dogs over with me but very quickly changed my mind. It was scary to walk over but I still had to do it so Dad stayed with the dogs on one side when I walked over and back and then we swoped. It is a little bit of an adrenaline rush to stand over the water and all the power it it creating.
With this walk we ended our journey in Norrland. We left for home on Thuesday morning with tired legs and tired dogs. We made one last stop at the waterfall Ristafallet in Hålland. This was without a doubt the biggest of the once we had seen these days.
It was an amazing few days I had up north and I do recommend it to every single one of you out there!
Our Swedish mountains is wonderful and it is easy to take your dog with you and enjoy a lovely experience together. I am more than sure that I will do this many more times in the future.
Thank you Dad for yet another lovely trip in your great company, let's not wait over 5 years until we do something like this just the two of us again!
Beautiful Silverfall seen still from quite far down...
We are getting higher up, still pretty!
But now we are talking!
Me and the dogs happy to have made it to the Top!
Funny looking plant
There are stars growing up here!
The very scary bridge...
The view down the waterfall seen from the bridge
This was the biggest waterfall of them all, Ristafallet
THE END