Thursday, August 30, 2012

Summer Vacation 2012 - Kemi - Part 1

After a very pleasant sunset sailing we arrived in Kemi, just before midnight. I had rested well as the later part of the sailing was in calming tail wind. On our way trough Kemi industrial harbor we saw an idle ice breaker Sampo, waiting for winter and ice to break. I was ready to enjoy fresh night air and the views of the new marina - a harbor without any windmills. And I really enjoyed it until 2 o'clock - the crew become hyperactive about the sailing after several days of staying in marinas and stayed awake much longer than usual.







Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Summer Vacation 2012 - Kuivaniemen Vatunginnokka

Describing this harbor I had to delegate to my crew - I did not leave the vessel at all, not even visited the cockpit, because of the windmills. I described the situation in my earlier post "Cape of the Giants" and how I changed my mental view on them in the other post "Winning the windmills".

The wind was blowing at 15 m/s and we again waited for weather to calm continue our journey. My crew has time to take pics and I have to say that next time I want leave the vessel and study the environment. I can imagine how pleasant the sand on the beach would feel in my paws when digging - except pets are not allowed on the beach says the crew... 

After the wind has calmed down we continued to Kemi which will be my next post in the vacation destination series.





Info on the destination (note no cafe this summer) http://venenetti.fi/satamat/perameri/ryoskarinkalla-iin-roytta/1938-vatunginnokka/vatunginnokka.

Sunday, August 26, 2012

Coming soon...

... next part of Summer Vacation 2012 - Kuivaniemen Vatunginnokka...


Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Summer Vacation 2012 - Destination Iin Röyttä

This harbor I had heard about a lot during the winter. My crew has spent there countless number of weekends and it sounds that it is really important place for them. I looked forward seeing it. 

I contemplated my observations on my crew and concluded: The culmination of Röyttä for my crew is here: the swimming ladder. My crew is into swimming. I do not plan to swim even I liked to play with water in my lair on land when I was younger.


We stayed in Röyttä both on our way to north and on our way back to Oulu. 

The first visit was about waiting for the weather window. The captain checked weather forecast data every second hour. I did not feel like going outside. The first mate was concerned about the waves. You can see in this pic how foam lines form on the water - it means that sailing would not be suitable for a sea feline in his first season.


  The clouds really looked scary.


Still they were beautiful in the sunset.


Next morning it was nice and we could continue in tailwind. I started to suspect that sailing is lot about waiting for the weather and I got to notice that I was right.



On our way back to Oulu we relaxed more. I of course had to take care of my responsibilities: I took the captain for a walk on the dock, he is the person on leash. Some technical checks were on agenda too.






Then I wanted to have some time to myself and my day time nap. I sent my crew to get some exercise on the island. They had photographed some flora on the beaches.






I think I will approve Röyttä weekend plans my crew may propose in future.

For more info on Röyttä: http://venenetti.fi/satamat/perameri/ryoskarinkalla-iin-roytta/1927-iin-roytta/iin-roytta.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Personal data

Today I want to tell you more about myself.

My formal name is Tuiskutassun Huru-ukkoTuiskutassun being my home cattery. I am now 13 months old meaning that I am an adult male, not a kitten anymore. I am pleased that my crew has started calling me Chief, or Päällikkö in Finnish, it is more appropriate than Kitte.

Here is a link to my family tree. I was born in Oulu like my parents, but the forefathers are from several countries: Poland, Russia, Sweden... To me this is natural but the first mate fusses about my international relatives. And, I am SIB n 22, my coloring being brown classic tabby.


Saturday, August 18, 2012

Kesäloma 2012 - Destination Kellon Kiviniemi

This morning I was really disappointed on my crew: They woke up at 9.39, can you believe it? This is unacceptable as I had to start my morning nap before breakfast and without brushing. It is not an excuse that it is weekend!

I think that my crew tried to make my disappointment vanish by serving shrimp for dinner as if I would remove this morning's incident from the crew performance notes just for having my favorite meal! I hope this case will be the only one I will have in my feedback in their 2H12 performance reviews.

Anyway this pink delicacy made me feel creative and I now post my next piece of the summer vacation production: Kellon Kiviniemi.

More about this destination in my earlier post "Daily Responsibilities". Here I share with you some sunset views in the marina (today I will not allow the first mate to become lyrical about the magical light of the northern summer nights but I believe I need to allow her to do that some time during the summer vacation post series).






Couple of links my crew asks me to include: They always visit Kiviniemi's Kalapuohi selling excellent fish, both fresh and smoked.

And the marina info available at http://venenetti.fi/satamat/perameri/kropsu-polla/1920-kiviniemi/kiviniemi.

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Kesäloma 2012 Destinations - Varjakansaari

This post is the first part of my new production: our summer vacation destinations. 

The first destination was very familiar for me, Varjakansaari, that I had visited with my crew quite many times already. Our journey started quite late in the evening and it was cloudy. My crew was tired on running around to prepare the vessel for travel and did not have enough energy to entertain me.


 

So in the morning, with all the energy I had in reserve, I immediately climbed up to check the environment. It was sunny and there was some interesting activity: There is a little manual ferry for transport between Varjakka island and Varjakka marina.   



As said it was nice and sunny and my crew did, one at the time, something I was appalled: They went to the water and moved around in it! It is called swimming - I was horrified that only their heads were visible! I can tell you that this was frequent action during the journey and I had to got used to it. 

In this picture the situation is luckily over, only the captains swimming pants left drying on the railing are disturbing my view and reminding about this incident.



My crew asked me to add this link, information about this destination in Finnish: http://venenetti.fi/satamat/perameri/kropsu-polla/1910-varjakansaari/varjakansaari

Monday, August 13, 2012

Daily hunting and food gathering has resumed


Today I realized that kesäloma, the Summer vacation, is now totally over. In the morning I was left alone at home (my lair on land) and my crew left for their daily activities. I am of course upset. However I can use now couple of days for relaxing. And the captain plans some sailing for the weekend.

(To inform you about the meaning of the weekend: daily hunting and food gathering is not performed but my crew's activities are random and quite often the boat is involved.)

To get over this transition I will start now a production of new set of posts: I will cover all the destinations on our vacation sailing route, and maybe even include some sailing too.

This was our route: Oulu, Oulunsalon Varjakka, Kellon Kiviniemi, Iin Röyttä,  Kuivaniemen Vatunginnokka, Kemi, Kemin Iso-Huikuri, Tornion Puotikari, Haparanda hamn, Sorttisviken i Seskarö, Huvön i Kalix, Getskär-Renskär i Kalix, Sammakkalahti i Seskarö, Kemi, Iin Röyttä, Oulu.


Anyway this evening I am going to relax... I want to share one of my recommendations for a good relaxation pose in this pic.


Fast objects in my mast

I was relaxing (the first mate performed my daily morning fur combing) after my night watch that was preceded by tough day of sailing - we had to motor four hours of the seven hour journey and thats unpleasantly noisy during my daily nap time. 

My relaxation was interrupted by sudden activity in my and in the neighboring boat's masts: There were several very fast objects. I reached first via the hatch but situation required me to move to the deck. It took at least an hour to make sure the situation calmed down. The first mate informed me that these fast flying birds were swallows that congregate to prepare for their travel to the South for the winter. 







Thursday, August 9, 2012

Winning the windmills (at Port of Puotikari)

One day we had to taken off very early as the wind started to raise and we had to leave our anchoring position on an island close to Kemi. Our Plan B destination in case of sudden weather change was Puotikari where these pics are from.

The weather looked threathening and we could hear thunder in the distance... 


There was fog in the air. Still I had to go ahead with my routine check on the deck. I entered the cockpit, took the first glance around and froze in to that position... In the fog there was one of those...


Fortunately it was only one, and then I suddenly realized that when they come in ones they can be managed. I continued my deck walk-around, in confidence.  

(Later when I calmed down for my nap I contemplated this incident and took a conclusion: Whatever seems impossible or too large to handle just take one thing at a time, concentrate, and before you notice you have the giant won.)

But there were other worries in this marina: the handsome dog. I was little bit worried about the situation because the first mate showed a lot of interest in him, even rubbed his shoulders thoroughly. I think only I deserve that kind of interest.



Later I extended my walk to the dock. And checked the other boats. This one looks really fast...


... and this one looked very utilitarian and powerful...


I wanted to get more familiar into its features but the first mate did not allow me further that this. Maybe she was worried that I would like to enlist to this boat's crew...


Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Concept of Kesäloma, the Summer Vacation - Observations


My blogging activity has been lately limited due to data transceiving capabilities of the vessel. I expected to be connected during the voyage. Naturally, I have filed improvement request to the captain on the issue.

In today's post my purpose is to reflect the kesäloma spent so far and give my insight on successful and relaxing day of summer holiday. I also have observed my crew's preferences and will compare those with mine.

For my perfect summer vacation day on board following are the incredients:

  • My crew attends my needs without limitations between 6.00 - 12.00 and 20.00 - 00.00. For the rest of the time crew keeps quiet for my good sleep. 
  • My crew provides me with unlimited access for walkarounds on the deck and provides me with more rigorous excersise down below f.e. running with cat laser.
  • The views are changing but not too much. This is best achieved in anchoring in lovely natural harbor. If sailing happens before the anchoring the boat stays in upright position without sudden movements.
  • There are several types of birds for observations. Both the swimming ones and tree dwellers.
  • Insects are available in unlimited amounts for hunting and eating. The medium size paarma is the most enjoyable with its moderate hunting challenge and excellent texture and taste.
  • The water depth and clarity are suitable for observing the fish.


For my crew's perfect summer vacation day the incredients are based on my observations:

  • Daily routine does not exist. The activity may start anytime between 4.00 or 12.00. 
  • The crew likes to minimize its movements, to stay in the cockpit and just bath in the sun with random dips to refreshing water. Also, seemingly useless activity of toying around with the dinghy gets them exited. 
  • The views are changing. This is best achieved by sailing at 5.0 - 6.0 knots as much as possible and anchoring in lovely natural harbors for the nigth. 
  • There are several types of birds for observations. Both the swimming ones and tree dwellers.
  • Insects are not available.
  • The water depth and clarity are suitable for swimming. (I am lucky to have more sophisticated maintence system for my personal hygieny.) And for solid anchoring to stay calm.


As and example of suitable location for the optimal summer holiday day I add pics of Huvön in Kalix archipelago. (I can tell you that my crew was exited about this destination and my guess is they will ask me to allow more posts about it.)