Friday June 23, 2017

Photo: Our group assembled around a beautiful Swedish Midsummer pole

At 0830 the men return to the path to help Lars transport the tables and benches to his home to set up for the Midsummer lunch and festivities. It takes 3 trips to move everything. Meanwhile the women on the cruise gather ferns and flowers to decorate the bare pole and the cross bar and to fashion two wreaths that hang from the ends of the cross bar. The ferns are secured with wire and then the flowers are worked in. The wreaths are a bit more delicate needing extra wire to secure the flowers. The men then bring the pole to a upright position and secure it to a stone pillar. Most of the cruise members had never decorated a pole or may not have even seen one, but we follow directions well and what a beautiful success! Lars said it is the best Midsummer pole on Kalvo ever!

Our lunch was an authentic Swedish Midsummer meal: bread, krackerbord, cheese, meatballs, herring, cheese pie, fruit and of course Aquavit! It was dry until close to the start of the lunch and then a light drizzle. The food was in a small 3-sided tent. Lars and Ulla invited us into their home for dessert because the rain was getting heavier. Dessert was like a tart with almonds, butter cream and a cake like base—very delicious. And coffee.

We went back to our boats that has been dressed with signal flags for the holiday and took naps. Doug and Dale went back to help set up things in Lars’s barn for dinner—hamburgers, hot dogs, fruit, potato salad & tomatoes. The drizzle has ended but we squeeze into the old barn and have another wonderful party. Per expressed everyone’s thanks to Lars & Ulla and presented him with a plaque to express appreciation. Lars said he thoroughly enjoyed sharing the holiday with the Americans, Danes, Swedes and Norwegians on the cruise. Doug Adkins on Aloha, is a great raconteur, telling stories and jokes with great flare

What a wonderful day!