Woke to cold weather - about 10 degrees and it is supposed to be mid-SUMMER!

Two years ago, David and Maria Holford dined with us at Tamworth and invited us to Dalarna for mid-summer . Here we are! Did not bargain on the freezing weather.

First up , dressed in all our winter clothes, we went with Rob and Robyn to the Orsa Bear Park. Up on the ski mountain above Orsa, wonderfully set out, we saw polar bears, brown bears, wolves, wolverines, Persian leopards and Siberian tigers. Almost needed to be treated for altitude sickness, we climbed so high to the top, to the cafe! They have a fantastic venue, including a snow making machine for the polar bears. Much involved in conservation in the Arctic regions and research projects, tracking etc. Watched Mamma bear and her three cubs being fed, the enormous polar bear playing ball in the lake, and a wolf carrying its cub by the scruff of its neck.

We were warm when the wind dropped, about 10 minutes of our whole visit.

Back in town we joined the throng to watch the mid-summer parade. Numerous folk in local national dress, black skirts with aprons etc . of brilliant greens and reds, the local band, and the parade led by a girl, also in national dress, on a horse decorated with flowers in its mane.

Left the event to go up into the hills to Slattberg to join David and Maria's extended family for a typical mid-summer outdoor meal, including herring and Schnapps. Saw a fox cross their paddock just before we left.

Walked up the road to the village to watch the local folk hoist the maypole (actually called the midsummer pole or Midsommarstang) from the ground up into its cradle (it is 50 feet long),
where it stays until next year. Accompanied by much music and followed by dancing on the green.

Back to camp, where everyone was still up and about at 11.30 and very noisy through the night, being still daylight! The Midsommarstang had been hoisted here too, in our absence.

The lake looked beautiful but far too cold for a swim.