Xmas Season begins

It's November, it's the start for Xmas season in the first mate's time domain. 

No, it was not me who adjusted the declination of the Xmas light house last year... 

Yet another night watch

Winter coat

If the first mate arrives from her daily hunting and gathering routine fifteen minutes late with a bag I know she has been shopping clothes. Then in the evening she will try on the new clothes and ask the captain to comment. The comments have certain requirement, their being too short and not descriptive enough the first mate requests the captain improve the commenting. I feel sorry for the captain to have such duty after long day of hunting and gathering so I help him by checking the purchases and giving my seal of approval, or rejection, by leaving few of my luxurious hair on the goods.

Talking about my luxe fur. I am lucky to have more sophisticated system for changing to winter warderobe, it just happens gradually and I really don't have need to shop. I believe that the captain wished that the first mate, and himself, would be like that too. I shed slowly the summer coat and there it is - three layers of functional warmness perfectly suitable for near-arctic winters of latitudes beyond 64 degrees. In the pics I show off my gorgeous muffler.

Venetian night in Tankar

The second stop on our Oulu-Kokkola transfer was our beloved Tankar. The old wise lighthouse welcomed us as we glided into Tankar harbor pool in afternoon sunshine, on glittering sea.  In the sunset the lighthouse surounded us with its softly sweeping light and the Moon appeared from the southern side of the island to wish us joyful Venetian evening, the traditional summer ending 

celebration in Kokkola and Pietarsaari archipelago. 

As the blanket of night slowly covered us we could see Kokkola harbor lights, including the lights of our winter boat yard, and the fireworks that lasted for hours. We participated the celebration by setting the colorful mini-hurricans in our cockpit.  The first mate was very happy that the venetian happened exactly this weekend, she had been talking about wanting to join 

the celebration in its originating neighborhood. 

Well, the evening ended a bit unpleasantly for me - there were some fireworks on the island too. I did not like the loudness and I stayed with the first mate under the saloon table as long the fireworks lasted. 

PS If you wonder what the heck can be Venetian in Bothnian Bay its the fireworks. According to our source fireworks have been called "venetian" as they first arrived at Europe in Venice.

New perspective

Morning in Maakalla

We enjoyed the morning in Maakalla after the sailing from Oulu to Kalajoki, on our way to Kokkola.

 As we managed most of the distance on Friday we could cruise leisurely 

to Tankar, with no hurry. 

Riding with the Storm