So we took our time stopping for lunch and a nice walk in Jönköping before arriving in Trelleborg at the harbour around 20 o´clock.. The ferry wasn't leaving until 22.30 so I took the opportunity to try to get some sleep. Unfortunately that didn't go to well, not extremely comfortable and not that warm either...
So when we got to get on the ferry I was happy to find our cabin were we could rest for the four hours that they ferry would take between Trelleborg and Sassnitz in Germany.
Yaya all set in the car ready to go!
Salmonlunch in Jönköping
Our little cabin on the ferry
We arrived in Sassnitz at 3 am and I was unfortunately not rested... But I started our drive trough Germany towards Czech. During the first 2½ hours of the drive I had to stop 3 times to sleep... So we didn't get very far during the night, but I rather have it like that!
When I woke up at our third stop the sun had rised and it turned out that I had stopped at a perfect place just by a gorgeous forest. So a nice morningwalk there and some breakfast before we continued.
Early morningwalk in Germany
Oh you know you think I am cute!
And how about now?!
And I can sit pretty too!
Yaya enjoying her breakfast on the road!
After a few more hours on autobahn we entered into Czech and you could notice the change of standard in this country. The roads were not as good as in Germany and the houses and towns looked more rough. But still a very beautiful country!
Not the best quality of roads...
But oh so pretty!
Funny advertisement in Prague!
After some more hours behind the wheel we finally entered into Slovakia in the late afternoon. Now we did not have that much longer to go before we reached Trnava and Zlovkce were Milada and Tom Krachnava lived, and were Akala was!
After being guided into a big field on a very muddy dirtroad I was picked up and guided to Miladas house by her and we arrived at about 19 o'clock. This meant about 33 hours after we left our house in Stockholm... (17 hours driving, four on the ferry and the rest stopped for sleep, eating or walking!)
I did not expect Yaya to be ready for a mating already on Thursday but I of course wanted to let her meet Akala and see how they would act. And when I say that it was love at first sight I am not kidding or exaggerating!
As she saw him she just showed him her bum and moving her tail saying she was ready for some action! So we took them into the garden and within minutes they were stuck together!
We got a hanging for 30 minutes and after that it was time for dinner! Thank you Milada for that! Very very nice, even though I was by then quite stuffed with sweets that I had been eating to stay alert during the 17 hour long drive...
After a little walk with Yaya it was time for bed, I was privligued to be able to spend the first night at Milada and Tom's house and both me and Yaya slept very very well!
(I did not get any pictures from this first mating since we were not really prepared and it was also wark outside...)
Beautiful road in Slovakia
The sun is going down
Waking up on Friday morning I felt a lot better than the evening before, rested and happy about the fact that Yaya had been mated already! So I started the day with a nice morning walk around the fields outside the house while the sun rised. It was gorgeous!
Later in the morning Milada with her dog Ani and me and Yaya headed towards Trnava and the veterinary. It was time to get a bloodtest from each of the girls to check their progesterone levels.
The results came back good and Yaya had a good level showing that the mating the night before was in good timing. After this we did some grocery shopping before heading towards the place were Yaya and I would be staying. In Slovakia they have a lot of sausages... At this desk in the store they had probably a million different kinds! Of course pictures below!
After being shown around Milada and me headed to a lake nearby for a little photosession of Yaya. Later in the evening we headed to another Ridgeback breeder were Milada was doing a 5 weeks check on them. It is silly how easy you get puppysick from spending just an hour or so near a group of puppies!
After a nice evening there me and Yaya headed towards our accomodation at a school and went to bed, tired once again!
Our view during our morning walk
Yaya in our room at the school
Yaya is tired...
My beautiful girl thinking of her prince Akala?
A very small part of the sausage disk in the grocerystore!
Saturday morning we spend relaxing at our place, reading books and walking in the nearby park. At lunchtime Milada and Akala came to meet us and we went to a nice place near us to try a second mating between Yaya and Akala.
As we parked the cars and let the dogs out it was obvious that they were both still very much interested in eachother! Akala just had to look at Yaya to get her all excited!
So we litterly dragged them to a grass area and away from the parkingspots to let them have a second date. And Yaya acts like she hasn't done anything but this in her entire life... Can you call her a natural?! Within minutes they were once again stuck together and this time for 21 minutes.
They both acted so well and I am so happy that both their matings went so incredile smooth. Even Milada said she had never seen such a "easy" girl before... We take that as a compliment! ;o)
Yaya seeing Akala by the cars and showing him she is ready to go!
A quick smell
And Akala is ready to go
And Yaya stood like a statue!
All done but stuck together
Cutest couple!
Love!
Akala showing what you have girlfriends for!
How happy can two dogs stuck together look?!
Akala and Yaya
After the mating Milada helped me to stack and hold Akala so I could take some pictures of him. Below are some of them, ALL THE NEW PICTURES can be found in his own photogallery HERE.
Akala stacked
Akala's gorgeous expression
And again
So sweet!
And handsome!
Playtime!
Yaya trying to seduce Akala
Time for some kisses
Yaya looking like she is playing hard to get... So not true...
The beautiful couple
Yaya and Akala
Yaya and Akala
The adorable couple!
Yaya 2 ½ years old
After a nice and relaxing afternoon in the company of Milada and Akala Yaya and I got back to our accommodations and got ourself packed and ready for our long drive back home the next day. So we went to bed early and I got up before 6 am and started our drive towards Sassnitz and the ferry. It was easier to drive this time, probably because I had driven the way before and also because I had a full night sleep behind me instead of a few hours on the ferry or in the car...
So not as much or as long stops on the way home, but I had time for some stops for pictures in beautiful surroundings and I was also happy to find the same place in Germany for a walk in the afternon.
It was a windy morning on our way from Slovakia
But with a gorgeous sunrise
Do you recognize the place? Same as pictured on our way down!
Yaya enjoying our walk
Are you coming or what?!
Oh you want me to pose for the camera?!
This is my best side...
Right after this of course!
There we got to spend the night at friends of my parents and that was very appreciated. Waking up in the morning feeling pretty good Yaya and I went for a nice long walk near the coastline. Unfortunately not great weather but still nice to be back home in Sweden.
After some breakfast we started the last drive towards home and we arrived in the afternoon and picked up superhappy Moa and Dando!
To summerize this trip I have to first say that it is probably good that I do things without overthinking them first, because then I would probably never have done this!
Now afterwards I realize it wasn't all that bad. Yes of course 35 hours driving you do feel in your body afterwards, but that is nothing that a good massage won't cure!
Akala was just as great as I had hoped for. An absolutely wonderful dog with excellent temperament. Friendly, happy and as I had been told, always smiling and wagging his tail, just like Yaya!
I want to say first of all thank you to Akala's owner Gayle for letting me use your special boy and bring his pedigree and bloodlines into Scandivia and north Europe. I hope these future puppies will make you proud!
And perhaps even more I want to thank Milada Krachnava at Luanda Ridgebacks in Slovakia for everything! Making this possible for me and assisting me with absolutely everything! It was great to get to know you and I hope we will meet again some day!
Yaya during our morningwalk in Mölle