Weekend 35

We took a short trip to one of the locks nearby this weekend. It was pretty amazing to see just how far the view goes from atop the hill when all the land and water is totally flat. There was a small summerhouse neighborhood on the side of the river that was created by the lock. They are such quaint little places. Quite close together, but you could tell that they all feel very cozy and relaxing.
Such a beautiful sailboat waiting for its next adventure!

 Even though it was only about a half-hour in the car, the boys were excited to get out and run once we arrived. The lock is there in the background, the bridge across it was for cars to continue. People could climb the steps and walk across a very narrow bridge just to the left of the watchtower.

 I thought I'd taken a better angle of all the summerhouses along the left side of the river, but it appears I did not. There were about thirty or so, maybe more. Two rows deep, so one was right on the river, and the other was back behind it, facing the opposite direction. A small stone path divided them. We walked down the path for a bit, to see if it went anywhere, but it was just the back doors of summerhouses.

 This series of signs explained the entire process of building the lock here. It took about 4 years, between 1911 and 1915. I'm not sure if we can read them or not! The text at the bottom in the grey boxes is in English, but it might be too small and out of focus.

 It was interesting that they told you not only how and why it was created, but how it works. It really is meant to inform people of how the systems work.

 Svea wasn't quite as excited about it as the boys were. But she enjoyed the warmth of her hat and blanket! It was pretty windy here.

 This is the view from on top of the structure. It just seems to go on forever!

 Anders had fun climbing the stairs to look from the top. They were quite steep and narrow, though, so we didn't take Svea up. Torben went up, and promptly came back down again.

 Anders and Jeff crossed the footbridge and came down the other side.

 From this side of the river, you can see the restaurant. Jeff took a picture with his phone, and got a message saying "here's the restaurant, why don't you tag it in your picture" so obviously the GPS works!

 After we crossed the river, we took a short walk down the road, just to see the scenery. The boys enjoy being out in nature, and it was a nice -albeit breezy- day for a walk.

 Quite a breezy day, in fact.

 Here's Anders on one side of the footbridge, with the entire public viewing area behind him, including the little suspended footbridge. It was very narrow, and swung when you walked across.

 It was a very nice and calm place to visit! I'd be interested to see what it is like when the weather is warmer and brighter, and people are staying in the summerhouses and eating in the restaurant. I imagine it's a bustling little place.

These pictures seem like Svea was talking a long walk in the woods, just as spring was starting to emerge. I hope we will still be able to get a picture of the boys and her together on this trail before the trees all start blooming. It seems sort of story-book magical.

 The lenses have long been lost from these heart-shape sunglasses, but that doesn't stop Svea from wanting to put them on everyone! Anders was slightly perturbed at this picture, but I think it's cute. Usually when she puts the glasses on me, they are upside down and crooked.