Obbola – moving in

I do not live in Skelleftehamn any longer. Yesterday Annika and I got the keys to our house in Obbola that we bought in March. And we directly moved in with three car loads filled with two mattresses, cloths, Annika’s guinea pigs Helene and Audrey, computer, camera, tools and kitchen stuff.

Our house is directly by the Baltic Sea that I can see through the window of my future office room when I look up from the screen of my laptop. Feels like starting a long term holiday.

Moving in IMoving in IIMoving in IIIMoving in IV

Annika and I already had visitors. A woodpecker yesterday and two deer this morning. Not to mention the many water birds.

Now I’ll take my bike and the camera and check the surroundings.

See you soon.

 

Vitskärsudden – a short cycle tour with holiday feelings

Moving in into our house yesterday felt more like starting a holiday. More like having hired a cabin by the sea for a week. And so it still felt, when I made a short bicycle tour this morning. All motifs shown below lie max 1.5 km from our house.

Around IAround IIAround IIIAround IVAround VAround VIAround VIIAround VIIIAround IXAround XAround XIAround XIIAround XIIIAround XIV

I love the diversity of landscapes you can find here within a short distance. And I like all of them. The last image however is a bit special: It shows the shallow bay right behind our house. Here I’ll plan to have my kayak somewhere.

 

Our House in Obbola – the neighbours

DeerMountain hareCanada geese(Probably a ) red breasted merganser

Yesterday evening behind the tiny bay: two deer, a mountain hare, two Canada geese and some red breasted mergansers (probably). A nice neighbourhood.

Some photos are a bit blurred. A focal length of 600mm is not made for handheld snapshots. I guess I will have many opportunities to make better photos in the future.

Our house in Obbola – some ships

While I sit at my temporary desk I can watch the Baltic Sea. There are not many boats and ships passing by, but some are. The ferry to Finland far in the distance, a boat towing a raft with an excavator or the SCA Ortviken, a cargo ship on its way to Holmsund.

It’s nice to watch the ships but it’s not without risk, because the view could awaken the desire to travel.

Wasalinesca-ortvikenboat-towing-a-raft

 

Two kayak premieres

10 o’clock in the evening– it is still bright daylight because sunset was a quarter of an hour ago. A good time for two kayak premieres.

On the one hand it’s the first time I paddle this year. Last time was in November, more than half a year ago.

On the other hand it’s the first time I start a kayak tour from my new home in Obbola. Yesterday the furniture lorry made my move. Not only my Yamaha grand piano and more than 150 boxes (mostly books) but also my kayak moved from Skelleftehamn to Obbola.

I had it quite near to the coast in Skelleftehamn, but here I have it much nearer.

Behind the garden of Annika’s and my new house there is a small edge of wetland – frequently visited by deers and many sea birds – and then there is the Baltic Sea.

I draw the kayak to our fireplace and then through the puddles of the wetland. There I let the boat into the water, enter it and circle the islet Lillskär*, that lies less than 250 metres from our property.

It doesn’t take much time – the islet is tiny and soon I’m back at the wetlands where I lean the kayak against the wall.

While I sit at my computer it has grown dark. But when I look through the window I still can see the Baltic Sea, the islet Lillskär and when I stand up even the place where I left my kayak. How lucky I am, that Annika and I not only have moved together but found this awesome place by the sea.

Still on own landReady for takeoffThe island Lillskär aheadBehind the islet

* by the way: officially the islet seems to by nameless. It’s too small. According to our neighbour some people call it Lillskär – small skerry.

Farewell Skelleftehamn

A central place for many years

Sweden. Somewhere in the north. A little town called Skelleftehamn. A small street called Tallvägen. Street number 35. My house, that I named flygelvillan. The large living room. The left half with the grand piano and the computer. That has been a central place to me for many years.

At this place I wrote most of the blog articles of way-up-north.com. I worked. I planned my travels. I communicated. I looked out of the window when it snowed. I played on my grand piano. I rehearsed with a jazz trio and an opera singer. I composed and arranged for big band and chamber choir.

A central place.

Two days ago, on 15 May 2020 I left my house for good. It’s still mine but I’ll sell it this year.

Two days ago at 8 o’clock the large moving lorry arrived and five people started to carry all my belongings into the large car. First some furniture, then more than 150 boxes, pulka, kayak, skis and large bags with sleeping bags and down jackets. And finally my Yamaha grand piano.

Twelve piano movements – part 1Twelve piano movements – part 2Twelve piano movements – part 3Twelve piano movements – part 4Twelve piano movements – part 5Twelve piano movements – part 6Twelve piano movements – part 7Twelve piano movements – part 8Twelve piano movements – part 9Twelve piano movements – part 10Twelve piano movements – part 11Twelve piano movements – part 12

The whole move took less than eight hours. Then my grand piano stood erected in the living room of Annika’s and my new house by the sea.

Shall I be sad because I left Skelleftehamn? Perhaps I should, but I’m not. The positive feelings about living together with Annika and having found such an extraordinary place to live dominate. I really have been looking forward to this new life and now it has become reality.

Two short kayak tours

Two short kayak tours from the new home by the sea.

The first one morning last week. Just round the island Bredskär. The water surface smooth as silk and in beautiful pastel colours. Everything was quiet beside of the complaining sea birds.

The second one the day before yesterday in the afternoon. Just to the beach at Vitskärsudden. Through tiny waves and a lot of rocks. At the sandy beach I met Annika for a bath. She came by bike. The Baltic Sea not as cold as last time. Summer is coming.

Tour I – liquid silkTour I – HolmsundTour I – rocky coast at BredskärTour I – sea birdsTour I – Dynan lighthouseTour I – two terns
Tour II – startTour II – under wayTour II – arrivalTour II – at-the-beachTour II – bathing togetherTour II – returning home

Both tours were equally fun and both of them made me very grateful that I may live here at this fantastic place.