Fall thoughts after a few weeks on land

I have now told you about my journey from Kokkola to Kalmar. So far longest sailing in my career as a sea cat.  This sailing was very meaningful me. It really showed that I am a capable sea cat. Coming back I am much stronger, more confident and of course more handsome. One might think that sailing is about sitting onboard and quite sedate activity but it really is not. I feel and look much stronger. I think I even got some new length centimeters - the first mate thinks that this is about healthy sea air! After returning I also have different attitude towards new places - I enjoy them and just take over them like siberian cats do! And my coat - it is shiny and soft. 

From Kalmar we had to return to Oulu. It was an adventure itself. Trains and a bigger boat or actually a ship was involved. I will tell you more about this transition and then I open up my blogging plans for the fall and winter. 

The big day - Enter Kalmar

The big day was here. Today we aimed to Kalmar, our vessel's wintery home for this year. We raised before the sun to avoid stronger winds expected later in the day. This included element of excitement as the first mate had learned that the Kalmar sound is a text book example on the wind funnel effect. Today it should be ok as the expected wind was 3-5 m/s W. Also the first mate was a little bit worried about potential ship traffic as the sound is really narrow.  We did not get the wind funnel effect but we got an other wind phenomenon example by couple of dark clouds that caused 10 m/s and quite strong waves. However as we entered the gates of Kalmar harbor it was all nice and calm and we could concentrate on admiring the Öland bridge. It was early afternoon as we arrived and in a second all the stress was gone. We just were totally relaxed and chilled in the cockpit for couple of hours. Mission completed! 

(We we got really busy to get everything done for the winter but that is an other story.)

Car show in Oskarshamn

The last stop before Kalmar

Blå Jungfru in horizon, we are getting close to Öland and Kalmar.

But before Kalmar we spent a night in Oskarshamn guarded by this mighty ship.

... that was so large that it had a carry-on vessel.

The coast guard base was close to guest harbor.

It made me feel like guarding my own vessel.

Yeah, this is mine....

Only mine...

Its getting quiet in the guest harbors, the fall is coming.

But there was entertainment in the evening...

I enjoyed the troubadour performing on the Blå Jungfru ship. 

The Sunset of Summer 2013

On the east coast this kind of sunset views are not typical. I have to admit it was not only the first mate getting excited about this one...

Great view in Idö

As we started early in the morning we arrived at Idö in early afternoon. The wind woke up an treated us with a nice velocity for last couple of hours. All in the vessel were happy: After lovely morning and some nice sailing I got to finish my afternoon sleep in Idö while the crew was lucky to get lunch at the krog on the top of the hill with the most beautiful view to the sea in afternoon sun shine. A practical tip: We learned that most of the harbors and at least restaurants are closing mid August as the schools start their fall semester. By calling before hand it might be possible to get your crew fed. On the other hand, for an omnivore crew its more healthy if they eat legumes and vegetables  in the vessel instead of hefty burgers in the krog ;-)

Towards Idö

It would have been lovely to stay a day, or two, or three in Bokö's pastoral perfection but we had our schedule to keep. We had to reach Kalmar, our destination and prepare the vessel for winter before traveling back to my lair on land and crew returning into their un-nautical daily routines. 

The day was windless and we motored away. It was a perfect day, exactly the kind of sunny day with deep blue skies of the ending summer that is perfect for absorbing energy of the sun for surviving the long and dark winter just below the Arctic Circle, in our sub-arctic winter home. Well this energy absorbing was a thing for crew, me, I slept very peacefully down below. There was one loud interruption, an interruption by the swedish air force helicopter. A lot of fuss in the cockpit...

Our evening target was Idö, a former pilot station close to Västervik entry. Oh, it become wonderful sunset and after that great view on stars and planets, even Milky Way. A post about that coming up.