Our best time is now. July, when summer is at its very best. Lake Vänern, with its 33,000 islands, attracts many people out onto the water – us, our dogs and our visitors as well. Boat traffic is intense in Vålösundet, with everyone heading out to one of the many islands. There are boat buses, kayaks and motorboats available for rent. A stand-up paddleboard, however, is something you should bring yourself. We have four boards, but that is not enough for all the dogs, so some of them have to travel together on a tandem board. A kayak trip on a mirror-calm lake as large as the canton of Bern, almost 6,000 km², is a truly unique experience. There are many swimming spots to choose from, with both sandy beaches and rocky bathing areas. The evenings are bright and warm, inviting people to visit one of the many restaurants close to the water. Concerts, music quizzes and sing-along events follow one another throughout the summer. If the weather is not suitable for swimming, a shopping trip to charming Kristinehamn is easy and enjoyable. Everything is within walking distance, with plenty of parking spaces and lovely shops, cafés and restaurants to explore. Check out our summer films under Seasonal Videos. Link in the picture.

May was an eventful month in Kristinehamn. After an intensive start with all the dog activities, it was time for maintenance and garden work. Every spring, all the pine trees need pruning, and the wooden decks and jetty have to be scrubbed and oiled. There was also time for some enjoyable activities. We naturally got to know the new owners of Nock, the restaurant with its own marina close to Tallevika. Although they are enclosing part of the pier to make it more weatherproof for their guests, the restaurant remained open. We attended a rum tasting led by the highly knowledgeable "RomRobban," whose expertise in rum is truly impressive. At the end of May, the annual Food Walk (Matluffen) took place. Together with several hundred other participants, we visited all five archipelago restaurants in a single day. It was a fantastic event. One day we explored the Klarälven Delta in Karlstad. This active river delta has been shifting since around 1600 BC. Today it is a protected bird sanctuary where grazing cattle help keep the landscape open. Long boardwalks cross the wetlands, and curious cows occasionally join you along the way. Dogs are welcome, but they should be confident, calm, and responsive to their owners. We wrapped up our stay at the beginning of June, leaving Tallevika in the hands of local contractors for façade renovation and painting. We'll be back at the beginning of July, when our first visitors from Switzerland arrive. Links to all the videos can be found under "Seasonal Videos"

It is now May and we have arrived in Kristinehamn and Tallevika. This time we drove all the way across the bridges in Denmark because we had the little puppy Noya vom Seehain with us. The journey took 20 hours this time with many dog breaks. Film under “How we travel”. It is already much brighter in Sweden than in Switzerland and the sun feels warm even though the water is still cold. Noya’s first walk around Strandudden naturally became a film under Seasonal Videos. After Noya moved to her new family, we finally had some time for other things. And so much is happening in Kristinehamn. Plans, construction work and training activities are everywhere. Today the OK-fleet held a training camp ahead of the Nordic Championships this summer. The sailing vessel Christine af Bro is being heavily restored and showed visitors how far the work has progressed during open ship. At the working dog club there was a dog show where our dog Jawa vom Seehain participated. The day ended at Ölme Prästgård Gästgiveri with a fantastic 10-course menu and selected wines. What a start. Link in the picture to the film from this day.