winter sea kayak to Suomenlinnna

I previously held the view that sea kayaking in winter was an extreme hardship only suitable for pain-seeking people. I was wrong. I put on a magic suit: the dry suit and was ready for my first trip around Helsinki just after the first snow. Direction Suomenlinna! 

So first myth: I was not cold at all during the four hours on the water. Apart from that, the waterways are very quiet, the whole seaside feels sleepy. The first snow transformed completely the landscape and brought a lot of sought-after light in this month of November. The arrival in Suomenlinna had also a particular feeling, perfectly still water, wrapped up boats, everything seems to be waiting for the next summer. We enjoyed some pulla at the cafe of the museum and head back to the base through Länsisatama. Beautiful day!

23.11.2014

Kayak trip and the art of making a stove.

Kayak trip with Stefano Friday after work. We headed to Torra Lövö on Friday with very easy sea conditions. Stefano being a gourmet, he had planned a three-course dinner, bruschetta, tomato-mozzarella salad and leak risotto. Unfortunately my stove decided to be incompatible with my new fuel which made the long simmering of the risotto a challenge. We ended up doing that on a wood fire. Old technologies work too.
On the morning, I failed again to light up my stove. Exasperated, I picked up a can from the trash to improvise a DIY stove for the morning tea. How that tea tasted like never tea did before. Warmed up from the stove made by my little hands!
The second day, the sea got more playful with us, half-meter waves and 6 m/s wind. We made some islands hoping to take brakes at shelter and ended up having our lunch on Mäntykari. (My improvised stove managed the cooking and 20-minute simmering of the lentils-proud!).
Should I repeat it? Again the Helsinki archipelago was a delight, the light of the nightless night is amazing and this city has so much to offer to outdoor enthusiasts. 7-8.06.2013

Visiting Käärmeluoto

 And what about paying a visit to the archipelago? It is just there, always laying in the background that we forget it.

So here I am, loading the kayak with tent and food for a day and hop. On the way, some small talk with other kayakers, greeting some fishermen trying hard to get the zanders and some colonies of seabirds. They reproduce our human society on tiny rocky island. Not 20 m long but separated in three zones for three different species. And what a fuss when a goose goes in the tern district! It feels then war in the sky.

I went to Käärmeluoto, selected with so much care the camping spot and enjoy my menu: pasta, sunset and view on the archipelago.
09.06.2012

For sure we find fine accomodation in Helsinki.