WE WENT SAILING!!!

 There are many stories to share, but the pictures tell a lot.   We spent three days sailing on the archipelago this past weekend with the principal of the school where I am working.  He has been sailing since he was a boy and knows so much about the history, nature, landscape and peoples of the archipelago that it was much much more than a boat ride.  It was an immersion into an aspect of Finnish life and culture that we never would have had otherwise.  It was a special treat - and the first time sailing for both Ken and I.  And for those of you who know me well - also the first time I didn't get seasick on a boat.  Though I have to admit that the room is still rocking a bit. 

These first two pictures are from the marina where Vesa's boat is docked about 30 kilometres from Turku.

We stopped at this small island on the first day to buy smoked whitefish that we had for lunch.  There was just a small fisherman's shack and the Swedish speaking fisherman who had caught the fish that morning.

Leaving the "yacht club" where we spent the first night.  The small island has room for about 20 boats, some outhouses and of course a sauna.  It is part of the sailing life (and Finnish life) to partake in sauna as often as possible.  It was the real deal - wood burning stove, tank for boiling hot water for "showers" using pails, and dips into the Baltic Sea to cool off. The woman waving on the dock had gone mushroom gathering the day before, so we had chanterelles with dinner.  Mmmmm!

Managed not to fall in the water even once! 

View of the archipelago - there are literally 10s of 1000s of these islands, some quite big, others tiny, all beautiful.  As Vesa pointed out the vegetation and shape of the islands changes from the inner to the outer archipelago.  He organized the route so that we would experience both.

 A view from the stern.  This formation of the sails is call "the bible" an open book. 

 Typical of the scenery in and around the inhabited islands.  Note that nearly every building in the county side is painted red or yellow. Both paints are made from clay in the soil and are gaining renewed interest as an ecologically friendly alternative to modern paints.

 Part of the adventure of sailing is the hiking and exploring on the islands when you dock.

 This was an amazingly lovely and delicious restaurant tucked away on one of the islands.  Crowded on a splendid fall day - fish soup, salad and yummy berry cake for lunch and the coolest outhouse I have ever seen - two stories tall.  Again the archipelago is a large part of Swedish speaking Finland - thus the cafe's name. (Father's mother)

 Docked at the "yacht club"  soon off to sauna.

Amazingly, Vesa let us steer! All you sailors already know the incredible sense of exhilaration and calm that comes from silently making your way through the waters.  We experienced high winds and no winds through the course of the trip.

 

And I made a friend.  There were sheep grazing on both of the inhabited islands that we visited.

Passing by an inhabited island

Departure from the guest harbor on the island Helsinghom where we stayed the second night and then back home on a glorious sunny Sunday afternoon.  Vesa took down the sails as the sailing season is at an end, so we'll have to wait til next year to try once more (if he is so generous to invite us again).  Spring sailing is slightly different because of the temperature of the water and the look of the islands not yet fully vegetated - but there are wildflowers.