Finnhamn, Sept 16-17, 2006

Decided to do a Fall tour from Östra Lagnö to Finnhamn and back.



Drove for the east end of Lagnö to park in the reserve. Found a parking space, but a kilometer from the water. Tried Rävsnäsudden but couldn't find a place to park legally. Ended up at the gas station at Klint sundet after having wasted two hours in vain. Irritating, but the weather was great.


It was Ulf, Peter L and George Truly.


An amazingly beautiful albeit chilli day.


Peter ckecking out the quality.


While Ulf seems to enjoy being captured.


Continued round Husarö and Lillskäret and touched St Halsholmen before heading to Finnhamn and the hut.


Piia and a friend joined us, arriving with the boat. We enjoyed a wonderful sauna and cold waters and later a nice dinner in the local restaurant.

Sunday was overcast, but still nice. We passed between Ingmarsö and Svartsö. Here at the lunch break at Nässlingen.


Before heading back to the car.

Föglö Åland, Aug 18-22, 2006

We timed it perfectly, again. Pouring down and stormy both before and after our first international expedition. Ferried over to Åland from Grisslehamn late on the 17th and slept the night in Eckerö. Drove across to Föglö the next day after shopping all the food we would need.

At our starting point in Degerby village, as we were packing the kayaks, we met two kayakers who just finished their tour. They told us they'd had a less satisfying trip due to very hard winds and rain. Had to keep close to shore all week. As they looked so fit, a bit worrying.

We went south through the canal between Hummersolandet and Kyrklandet, looked good on the map but proved very shallow at times - even for kayaks.


We paddled south and around Hakonskär and Flatskär were the southernly wind and waves came as a small shock, at least to me.


We continued east and found a campsite at Stora Estö. Took a bit of searching around as good landing places are not that easy to find in this part of the archipelago.




The next day was calm and well suited for open waters...


...so - heading into the rising sun and straight for Stora Sandören.


We lunched and swam on a small island west of Stora Sandören.


Peter L waiting for Peter N and George Truly to finish lunch. I said it was a calm day.


We went north now. This is very we spotted eagle (well we saw them every day on our trip), but here five of them rose from behind a small island. Didn't have a lens good enough to capture them however.


Peter N...


...in the wake of Peter L.


Found a nice camping spot...


...had dinner...


...and then prepared for the night.


The third day started with a fog. We emptied our waste at the the fishing camp near Örskärsfjärden and found this wall decorated with pike heads.


We continued eastward in the morning and then turned north and around Finnö before returning westwards. Stop for the night in a drizzle which continued for most of the night.


The next day took us back to Föglö and around the northern part of it.


The weather improved.




Equipped with the Åland kanoing map, water and the GPS.


Lunched at a small lagoon were the cruise ships passed by. Proved interesting as the the lagoon emptied (almost taking our kayaks with it) when the ships closed in and then gave us a mild tsunami wave when it passed. Had to save our kayaks again. We also met two of the locals - cows. They were very curious and watched us throughout our stay, but didn't dare to come close.


We paddled north of Krokskär and through the seemingly open canal there. Half way through showed to be very shallow and we had to push our way through as there wasn't enough water to paddle. Eventually we had to get out and drag the kayaks through the mud. Not the best of experiences and took a while to clean paddles and kayaks from the clay.

Then headed south for Bredskär where we put up for the night.


As this was close to the shipping lane, we had to save Peter Ns kayak and lots of gear after another unexpected "tsunami".


But the evening was beautiful and swimming pleasant.


We heard about severe thunderstorms over Sweden and could watch them over the horizon. An enchanting last night.


Woke early the last day, has become a habit.


Finishing the trip in deteriorating, but dry weather.


After having packed the car we headed for the Seagrams restaurant. The skies opened and rain was thrown down. Wet to the bone we reached the restaurant and had a nice meal cooked by others than ourselves.

Fejan, July 27, 2006

A short daytrip around the Fejan island.


Magnus avoid me - barely...


...and breaks for a chat.


Out towards the shipping highway to Finland.


Lunch and swim break at unnamed islet.


Another too short day - as we head back to Rävsnäs.

Gryt Archipelago, Aug 17-21, 2005

From Fyrudden via Harstena, around Lammskär and back. Peter L, Peter N, Per, Magnus and myself, "George Truly" enjoyed this wonderful trip.

Drove down in the afternoon and packed the kajaks at Fyrudden. Here is my Calypso and Peters Buccaneer.

After a nice evening we camped south of Fångö, got there just in time before darkness.

Heavily loaded, and edged(?), kayak with George Truly at helm.


The second day provided beautiful calm seas. The ripple below is how bad it got.


Here's brother Magnus struggling in the waves - not much. I hadn't learnt to clear off drops of water on the lens at this time - thought I could rely on the water tight protection, stupid me.


Said so, not that deep in the water without edging.


After a couple of hours we reach Harstena...


...and have a chat with the locals.


It doesn't get much better than this.




After lunch at Harstena we continued north with nothing but the sea eastward. And, well alright, there was a bit of sea.


Night camp at Kupa Klint.


Nutritious and well tasting dinner being prepared.


Peter N hacking away at some poor vegetable...


..while Magnus enjoys the show...


...and Per and Peter L relaxes.


As so often, a scenic evening in baltic archipelagos.








Here's Peter N in his see-through Prijon Kodiak. We countinue north and keep in the outer parts of the archipelago, well off the highways.


Per, the aussie, enjoys life in the old country.


Peter L is preparing a snapshot, or is that a candy bar?


Closing in on Långa Skäret...


...where I tried out my sail in that good aft wind. Great fun.


Then we headed east for Arp-sund and lunch and the mandatory swim. Here we are on the east side of Skögsböte.


Per contemplating were we should put up for the night.


Friday night, a workweek is finished, so Ulf and Piia joined us for the finale.


Rested and young, Ulf and Piia racing, or?


Last night, nice camp site - huh?


Relaxing on the cliff, too early for dinner - Piia, Peter, Magnus and Per.


Magnus is the chef tonight.


"The early bird catches the worm", sun rise of the last day.


Towards civilization.