Photo gallery

Showing glimpses from Lars Strömbäcks and Mårten Oretorps excellent holiday of the summer of 2002, featuring appearances in Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and Belgium.

Some more pictures from Samoëns, taken by our good friends Laurence and Sophie.

(Large, Medium, Small) We are very much ready to go!	(Large, Medium, Small) For some reason we started taking pictures of bridges. This is a terrible picture of the bridge between Malmö in Sweden and Copenhagen in Denmark.	(Large, Medium, Small) Another almost as bad picture of the same bridge.	(Large, Medium, Small) Half way to Copenhagen the bridge goes down under the water and becomes a tunnel instead.
(Large, Medium, Small) This photo, from the same tunnel, is one of the best during the hole trip, and it got to adorne the cover of this holiday's party music CD. It shows the pace of the entire trip in a very illustrative way.	(Large, Medium, Small) So does this...	(Large, Medium, Small) This is the morning in Copenhagen after having slept about three hours. Rise and shine!	(Large, Medium, Small) Another bridge.
(Large, Medium, Small) Yet another bridge. I don't know why we are doing this. No more bridges!	(Large, Medium, Small) This picture doesn't look like much, but in fact it's a very good picture. The tower in the background helped us finding the car again after we got lost when we were out looking for a hotel.	(Large, Medium, Small) During our quest for a reasonably cheap hotel that wasn't full, we ran into Checkpoint Charlie. Of course we had to take a picture...	(Large, Medium, Small) Me too.
(Large, Medium, Small) No hotel, but food and beer. Almost as good. Better actually.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars holding the camera after the beer...	(Large, Medium, Small) The compulsory high speed speedometer picture. I actually got it up 10 km/h more, but where was the camera then?	(Large, Medium, Small) We just entered Switzerland and were amazed by the scenery. It would get better...
(Large, Medium, Small) The mountain roads are wonderful.	(Large, Medium, Small) Same place, the other direction.	(Large, Medium, Small) Hm, same place again from inside the car. Enough here now?	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, there are a lot of pictures from the mountain roads, but you just had to be there. It was so amazingly beautiful.
(Large, Medium, Small) It might look cold, but it's really quite hot, maybe 25-30 degrees.	(Large, Medium, Small) You have to be more than a little crazy to go up here on a bicycle. Nice car up ahead.	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, standing in the snow is actually a bit cold.	(Large, Medium, Small) Waterfalls are nice.
(Large, Medium, Small) People skiing just next to the waterfall.	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, summer heat, skiing and waterfall in the same picture. This is now officially the most beautful place in the world.	(Large, Medium, Small) Same place.	(Large, Medium, Small) The waterfall again.
(Large, Medium, Small) More mountains.	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, this is the last picture from the mountains of Switzerland. I promise.	(Large, Medium, Small) Finally in Samoëns. The place is deserted, the bar is closed and we don't know where to sleep. After breaking in to the sleeping quarters we open the bar. :) As you might remember, the French got kicked out of the football world cup very early, hence my t-shirt.	(Large, Medium, Small) On the way up to have a look at the take-off area.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars adjusting his harness. Looking good.	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, it's not funny any more. Let me down.	(Large, Medium, Small) The view from our practise slope. Note the high mountain in the background, it's Criou, and a lot of people were talking about going up to the top. As far as I know, only two did. :-)	(Large, Medium, Small) Untangling the lines and attaching the harness to the glider.
(Large, Medium, Small) Everyone together. Me and Lars taking the lead of course. ;-)	(Large, Medium, Small) A few seconds later. You can see the tip of my gliders wing in the top right corner of the picture. The other guy in the picture is Lars.	(Large, Medium, Small) The rest of the field seems a bit uncoordinated.	(Large, Medium, Small) There is a large landing area at the bottom of the practise slope, and beside it there is one (1) tree. Markus managed not only to hit the tree, but also to land in the rivulet beside it at the same time. Unfortunately there was very little water in it at the moment. ;-)
(Large, Medium, Small) Here we go again. Lars first and me second this time. Faster Lars, I'm almost in your wing, and you know I won't back down. :-)	(Large, Medium, Small) That's better.	(Large, Medium, Small) Stay away from the tree Markus.	(Large, Medium, Small) Criou again. From the landing site this time. Note to self: The south side seems easier to climb.
(Large, Medium, Small) View from the take-off area. This is 800 meters higher than the landing site.	(Large, Medium, Small) Alain and Laurence doing a tandem flight the day before the big day when we all take off.	(Large, Medium, Small) Off you go!	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars taking picture just after take-off.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars playing with the camera...	(Large, Medium, Small) The view as you get out over the valley. The landing site is just behind the lake. The white dot you see in the middle of the green field is the bulls eye.	(Large, Medium, Small) The road leading up to the UCPA center.	(Large, Medium, Small) Looking west.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars up in the skye.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars up in the skye.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars up in the skye.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars up in the skye.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars up in the skye.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars up in the skye.	(Large, Medium, Small) Another view over the valley. With more legs this time.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars and a ... forrest.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars. do you have to take the picture over the same spot every time?	(Large, Medium, Small) Again? And not one closeup over the UCPA center.	(Large, Medium, Small) Today we are flying from the other side of the valley. You have to walk for 20 minuters the last bit, but you get up a bit higher. About one kilometer above the valley.	(Large, Medium, Small) At the top. One step back, and I will go a long way...
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars also wants to live on the edge	(Large, Medium, Small) There is a board showing the horizon, and the names and hights of all mountains around.	(Large, Medium, Small) The starting place is very small up here, so we have to prepare our gliders first, and then carry it over to the edge.	(Large, Medium, Small) Not a tree in sight, so you should be ok.
(Large, Medium, Small) Yeah!	(Large, Medium, Small) Waiting for our turn to go. As you can see, the wind is perfect.	(Large, Medium, Small) Well, still waiting.	(Large, Medium, Small) Yes...
(Large, Medium, Small) Here we see the other side of the valley.	(Large, Medium, Small) Dark Lars up in the skye.	(Large, Medium, Small) Serious Lars up in the skye. Yeah, right...	(Large, Medium, Small) Happy Lars up in the skye.
(Large, Medium, Small) Criou in the background. From this perspective you can see that it's a lot higher than the other mountains in the area.	(Large, Medium, Small) Preparing for take-off.	(Large, Medium, Small) Martin waiting. There was no vind, so we had to wait for a long time.	(Large, Medium, Small) Grégory sorting out his tangled lines.
(Large, Medium, Small) Mattias smiling in the sunshine.	(Large, Medium, Small) The cows seemed a bit annoyed by being driven away from perfectly good grass, but they left without a fight.	(Large, Medium, Small) The camera flying with me for once. The houses below the large open area above my right foot, and the houses at the end of the trail going to the right from there, is the UCPA center.	(Large, Medium, Small) View down the valley to the west. In the foreground, my boots.
(Large, Medium, Small) The most serious injury of the entire week. Marcus, of course.	(Large, Medium, Small) The dream team!	(Large, Medium, Small) Yes, we are still here.	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, one more.
(Large, Medium, Small) At the top of Criou. Some talk, some do...	(Large, Medium, Small) It's really far down there. Especially after walking/climbing from the valley at 800 meters to the top at 2227 meters in 35 degree Celcius.	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, I'm not going down there to pick you up if you fall.	(Large, Medium, Small) Time for my little surprise for Lars. I brought beer! :-)
(Large, Medium, Small) Relaxing in the sun with the crest in the background. Not too bad!	(Large, Medium, Small) I think we stay a little while longer.	(Large, Medium, Small) It's a good thing there were no clouds surrounding the top, walking over the edge would have been a very bad idea.	(Large, Medium, Small) Base jump, anyone?
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars, did you get paid by Heineken for this?	(Large, Medium, Small) Those are large spruces down there...	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars found an excellent walking stick on the mountain. It followed him all the way back to Linköping.	(Large, Medium, Small) Just for a few minutes...
(Large, Medium, Small) Time to go down again.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars and me standing by a very old cross.	(Large, Medium, Small) The very old cross.	(Large, Medium, Small) Cloud surrounding the top. No flying today. :-(
(Large, Medium, Small) Pictures of ...	(Large, Medium, Small) ... the horizon ...	(Large, Medium, Small) ... from the ...	(Large, Medium, Small) ... practice slope.
(Large, Medium, Small) Ready to go?	(Large, Medium, Small) Coming in for landing. When you are autonom, it's important to know where you have other gliders, can you spot both the other gliders in this picture?	(Large, Medium, Small) Another glider in the distance. It's more fun when you are close enough to see the expression in the other persons face as you circle around in the thermals.	(Large, Medium, Small) A glider with Criou in the background.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars up in the skye.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars from another angle.	(Large, Medium, Small) Closeup on Lars.	(Large, Medium, Small) I didn't know that you had this long arms, Lars.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars showing the terrain behind him.	(Large, Medium, Small) Closeup on ... I have no idea.	(Large, Medium, Small) More angle experiments.	(Large, Medium, Small) At first I thought the entire picture was out of focus, but the strap for the radio is actually in focus.
(Large, Medium, Small) Trick shot. Braking hard, then quickly taking the picture before he swings back.	(Large, Medium, Small) Weight steering. Good for turning without loosing to much speed.	(Large, Medium, Small) Going down.	(Large, Medium, Small) Looking good, just a little bit higher before it's time to hit the brakes.
(Large, Medium, Small) And off you go.	(Large, Medium, Small) Two gliders, the farther is a tandem flight.	(Large, Medium, Small) François about to send another pilot up.	(Large, Medium, Small) Me and my friend Sandrine. It's a good thing I stayed another week. :-)
(Large, Medium, Small) My only injury in two weeks. I thought this was supposed to be dangerous.	(Large, Medium, Small) Lars is no better. Pathetic.	(Large, Medium, Small) When we were looking for a petrol station we found this. Back at UCPA, Lucy told Lars and me that we were "Just too bizarre", I think this is by far more bizarre...	(Large, Medium, Small) The yellow one taking the other lawnmower on the outside was the fastest one of all.
(Large, Medium, Small) Lars new car.	(Large, Medium, Small) I actually managed not only to get my big car out of here again, I got out at the right exit and without damaging the car. I still wonder how they ever came up with the idea of building a roundabout with like seven lanes, 15 exits and no lines marking the lanes. It must have started out as a bad joke that somehow got stuck in the bureaucracy, and therefor was impossible to change.	(Large, Medium, Small) The eiffel tower. We have now been officially cultural, can we go get a beer now?	(Large, Medium, Small) Nope, first one more picture with me in front of the tower.
(Large, Medium, Small) And one with Lars as well.	(Large, Medium, Small) Here I'm dumping Lars at a petrol station outside Brussels. He goes to visit Laurence and Sophie.	(Large, Medium, Small) First he visited a birthday party.	(Large, Medium, Small) Birthday present?
(Large, Medium, Small) Then a concert with this singer.	(Large, Medium, Small) Here she is again.	(Large, Medium, Small) Many pictures, he must have liked her...	(Large, Medium, Small) Ok, enough for this time.