We had just a few miles left until we’d reach the final destination of our summer vacation sail, our home harbor in Turku. The children were all out on the deck, looking quite happy, but also a bit anxious. It had been a long journey (well by our standards at least), and while getting home was a good, and dearly anticipated thing, it would also mean the end of our great adventure.
Category: Summer 2020
From Klaipėda to Kuressaare
Geographically, when we left Poland and headed for Klaipėda, we had already gone from sailing farther away, to getting closer to home. Our hearts and minds joined in on this turnaround one step later, though. Only now, when we were sailing north from Lithuania towards Estonia, it started to feel like return trips do. Less of the ‘to boldly go where no family of six— with dog!— has gone before’. More of ‘how far is it? are we there soon?’
Jūros Šventė!
After our exciting sail from Poland to Lithuania, we were dearly appreciating the feeling of some firm Lithuanian ground under our feet. And the urge to walk some with these feet, as well!
Three Meter Waves
After a few days in Hel, we were now out on the sea again, and heading in the general direction of Lithuania and its seaport city Klaipeda. Not too directly, though, to avoid all encounters with potentially unfriendly Russian warships and submarines.
A Weekend in Hel
Arriving in Hel on a Saturday was a bit like jumping into a tourist beehive. It was sunny and warm, and the small weekend beach resort town was absolutely brimmed with people, all there to spend fun summertime together with their friends and family. For us, though, coming from the delicately anxious, and carefully social distancing north, the contrast was quite striking.
Sailing to Hel
After our wonderful stay on the island of Bornholm, we were now set to sail towards a country and a place none of us had ever visited before.
Charlotte Meets Cameo
“So, when will Christian come?” O asked for maybe the fifth time in twenty minutes.
“I think they are an hour or so away, so soon, very soon!” I replied, knowing that I’d probably have to answer the same question a few more times before they’d actually arrive.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves!
To Rønne
Up and away! We had been in Kårehamn for what seemed like ages, but now, finally, the weather had changed for the better, allowing us to scoot off towards our next destination: happy Denmark and the island of Bornholm.
Five Days in Kårehamn
Having spent a beautiful day on our sunny paradise beach, it was time to sail onwards. The weather forecasts were quite threatening, showing gale-force winds arriving the following day, so we set sail for shelter in the nearby fishing harbor of Kårehamn.
Paradise Beach
After quite a few happy and days on Gotland, it was time to once again take to the seas and sail onward. But where to?