SWEDEN, WEEK 1

Post by Michael Lichter

Written on May 28, 2008

What more can I say about the opportunity of a 3-week visit to Sweden. Catherine had been asking to go to Scandinavia for years, and here I'm invited to be a guest judge at the famous Twin Club Norrtelje custom bike show. Before I got to the club, we had an amazing 2-week tour of the country. Most of the time, we were typical tourists enjoying the amazing landscape and history of Stockholm, the interior area's of Värmland and Dalarna, and the island of Gotland in the Baltic Sea but motorcycles crept in. It was also an opportunity to take photos just for fun. We started out in Stockholm, based from an apartment I rented on the internet. We were taken out for a great dinner on our first night by Mark Wilhelm, the previous head of North American motorcycle tire sales at Metzeler, and now the head of Pirelli Tire sales for Scandanavia. By the end of the week, we met up with Sten and Jasmin Lundgren, the owners of a Hogtech custom Swedish chopper that was in my "One World Choppers" 2007 Sturgis exhibition. They hosted us for a weekend at their amazing home in Arboga and a great friendship was born. They took us to lunch at Carl Steimar's place where his Cala's High Performance custom shop is housed on the property of a several hundred year old castle in Eskilstuna. We also visited Peder and Visnja Johansson at Hogtech in Eskilstuna and toured the region around their home.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008, 17:05. On our first walk-about, a security detail reminds me of a Fellini film they wait for the King of Sweden, Carl XVI Gustaf, as he tours the Nobel Museum with visiting dignitaries. Stockholm, Sweden.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008, 20:42. We experience the beautiful light and colors of Stockholm as we walk back to our apartment after dinner in Gamla Stan. Stockholm, Sweden.

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 14:47. Catherine walks up to the entrance of the Kungliga Slottet (Royal Palace) & Museum. Gamla Stan, Stockholm, Sweden.

Thursday, May 22, 2008, 22:10. After dinner at Lena's apartment across the river, we were struck not only by the spectacular view of the city but how light the sky was after 10pm. Stockholm, Sweden.

Friday, May 23, 2008, 13:33. Carl Steimar' gave us a tour of the castle that his Cala's High Performance shop is on the property of. This could be the "Blue Room." Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Friday, May 23, 2008, 15:24. Inside of Cala's High Performance shop. The first bike shop I've ever visited at a "castle!" Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Saturday, May 24, 2008, 16:54. Sten & Jasmin with their Hogtech "New-Stalgia" chopper and one of his hotrods. Arboga, Sweden.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 12:07. Peder Johansson puts the finishing touches on his Hogtech S&S 50th Anniversary Panhead that he will show in Wisconsin. Eskilstuna, Sweden.

Sunday, May 25, 2008, 21:38. I had to stop on this empty road as we made our way back to our hotel after dinner, between Grythyttan and Loka Brunn, Sweden.

Monday, May 26, 2008, 08:54. Swedish hospitality! Catherine helps herself to breakfast in Loka Brunn. It is early in the season so we were two of the five guests staying at this resort, yet look how they put out a spread of fresh breads, pastry, meats, seafood, cheeses, fruits, fresh juices, eggs.... And candles to boot!!!