First kayaking 2024
Today I took my first kayak tour in 2024. It was much too windy to do a longer tour (and proper photos) and my walking distance was larger then my paddling efforts but hey, at least I was outside. Now I’m eager to kayak more.
Welcome, open sea
When the plane flew above the Baltic Sea shortly before I landed in Umeå nine days ago I realised that it might take time, until I can paddle kayak. The whole sea by the coast was covered with ice.
Even yesterday the open sea was round about a kilometre away from shore. Then it got windy.
When I woke up this morning a lot of the sea ice had gone and I spotted the open water right behind the little islet Lillskär. I put on my waterproof survival suit and went there. The ice between the shore and the island was still solid.
Behind the island was a strip of ice with long cracks. I went to the edge to take some photos.
When I turned around I realised that one of the cracks – seen on the second photo above –has become broader, close to a metre. I preferred swimming the metre to jumping because the ice was slippery. Minutes later the ice floes were drifting away from land and then south. Good bye!
As soon as the wind dies down I want to take the first kayak tour of the year. The weather forecast here is not the best so I’ll have to wait and look.
A day cruise to Finland
A day cruise from Sweden to Finland and back.
Holmsund—Vaasa: 11:15–16:00. Vaasa—Holmsund: 16:30—19:00. The ferry is not faster on the way back but the Finnish time is one hour ahead.
Just some photos:
What a wonderful vårvinter kayak tour!
Yesterday the weather was calm and sunny. A perfect day for kayaking! Perhaps to Vitskärsudden, our favourite beach?
Chapter one – Bredskär
Kayaking needs a bit of preparation, especially in winter. After we have fixed a problem with Annika’s rudder, dressed ourself and went over the ice to the northern tip of the islet Lillskär we are ready to start our tour.
Annika goes first, I follow. We turn left and paddle along the edge of the ice.
Sometimes we cross fields with crushed ice. Many of the ice slices are thin and in the waves they sound like tuned bells.
We paddle along the island Bredskär. The waves are shallow and there is hardly and wind. I have to make a short stop to take a picture of the “ice monster”, then I follow Annika to the sandy bay in the northeast of the island.
We continue following the coastal line until we come to Bredskärssund, the sound between Bredskär and Obbola. As expected the sound is covered with ice and we have to return.
Time for …
Chapter two – Vitskärsudden
Slowly we paddle back enjoying the exceptionally beautiful weather and the ease of movement. Leaving Bredskär behind we cross the water heading for the rock that marks the entry to Vitskärsudden.
Arriving there more ice fields wait for us. Here are many layers of thin ice and it is not easy to find gaps to put the paddle in. Often it just glides and slides away.
It is not possible to paddle into the bay. It is covered with ice floes, many of them thick and large. But we do not want return home – too beautiful the day – and decide to paddle to the islands Obbolstenarna where we shortly have been two days ago.
Chapter three – Obbolstenarna
The way there is easy. No mentionable wind, just open water. In front of the islands there is another ice field, but it is small and easy to cross.
The next ice field is thicker. We try to break through but decide to go round. We just follow the coastal line.
In the south we go round an ice cap. According to the nautical map there is no island, just a shallow with some rocks.
Again I take a small detour to take a photo. This time to a large ice block.
Then we paddle north. First along the islands …
… then …
Chapter four – Home
we are leaving Obbolstenarna behind and head home. We enjoy the effortlessness of our today’s kayaking but we got a bit hungry. 10–15 minutes later we stand on the ice near our house.
We take a tour selfie then we drag our kayaks back home. First over the ice, then through the snow.
Thanks for the fabulously beautiful tour, Annika!
Annika tracked the tour with her smart watch. Here’s a small map. I added some names.
