We asked some members of the press to describe this year’s OAS in their own words:
Issio Ehrich from Welt Online, Germany
I like the fact that you get to try many different activities in one trip.
For me, personally, it’s a great opportunity to get to know the area of west Sweden.
Sabine Schiner from Darmstädter Echo, Germany
For me it’s been a great experience. I liked how we got to try different activities such as hiking, biking and kayaking.
The amount of time spent on each activity was great
Here’s a few words from Bob Carter, Nature Travels:
OAS is very much an experience of contrasts. Since arriving on Tuesday the 23rd, I’ve been bathed in sunlight filtering through the morning mist, drenched by seaspray out kayaking in the archipelago, sweted and squelched my way across swamps and through thich forest on an orienteering exercise and camped wild on an uninhabited island beneath a perfect night sky peppered with stars.
I’ve been soothed by calm lake breezes and buffeted by wasted gales. I’ve squatted tired and stiff (but happy!) on the damp grass eating instant porridge from a plastic bag and dined on wild chantarell mushrooms picked fresh from the autumn woods.
I’ve tossed and turned during a sleepless night as the ocean winds slammed into my tent and slept like a baby on a soft mattress in a waterside cabin.
And it’s only Sunday!
Today (for the tour operators at least), it was down to business, with a chance to meet some of the companies from the area. Some of them have been working very hard guiding, cajoling, feeding, thrilling and transporting us about for the last few days. For the journalists among us the day started at the crack of dawn with a RIB ride bouncing across the waves to the islands of Koster, Sweden’s most westerly inhabited islands and the site of the country’s first marine national park.
After lunch we all met up at Smögen’s picturesque harbour for a trip out into the bay on the hunt for lobsters.
Jenny had force fed everyone with sea sickness tablets an hour earlier so even the quesiest tummy was at peace as we followed the local fishermen out into the waters to theck the lobster cages.
Two hours later we returned with our bounty. Now it’s time for both lobsters and OAS “students” to prepare for dinner though I suspect we’re going to enjoy the evening more than the lobsters…
Tomorrow it’s time to head for home. In one way it’s all gone by far too fast. But we’ve certainly had the chance to make enough good memories to keep us going until next year’s OAS!
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