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DAY 11
25km Into Helsinki.
With a steady tail wind it took just 3 hours to Helsinki. Then it took another 2 to find Bear &Water a local kayak shop for some help to the ferry.
But in the end after finding the shop we paddled back across Town, took up the kayaks in front of the ferry. Trollied them around, and managed to get one of the last cabins.. Home soon.

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Day 11
Approx 35km
14m/s Southerly and rain left us in the tent till mid day, when the sun did made an appearance and got us out.
With the weather forecast for more southerly winds the next days, we saw little chance for the 40km crossing to Estonia, let alone time to Riga, due to the poor weather. Should be the most stable now!!!
So we did paddle till 9pm and are just 20km from Helsinki and a ferry home.
So it will have to be Helsinki to Riga next year.

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DAY 9
40 km approx.
(picture:lunch after it stopped raining).
This morning was a wee bit depressing, we were probably paddling through one of the most scenic parts of Finland, IN THE RAIN!
After lunch the sun started to come out and having a 15km crossing late in the afternoon, we left it to the morning.
After that we can cross to Estonia, weather permitting?

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DAY 9
60 km approx.
Yes! Tail winds today! 7am start & a open crossing of 15km and we landed at Hangð guest harbour for lunch + a shower.
We found some gas for the stove.
Left at 4pm with sun + wind on our backs, paddling till 8pm. We meet a local rubbish collector on the way (see picture).
Couscous & vegies for dinner.

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DAY 8
Approx 30km
Babs had hoped for fine sunny, no wind weather after her NewZealand trip, nope, not this time it seems. Another day of strong southerlies & rain made for some tough paddling. We even ended up surfing in to the north as it became rough with 2m steep swells.Not pretty!
So our chances of making Riga are fading, but I hear Tallin is a nice place!

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DAY 7
Approx 40km
Had a short paddle into Utð, major millitary fortifications, plus large radar station with nice local village built around it all.
Weather turned ugly before lunch, pushed on till 4pm, and just before were to land, I saw a building that looked potential comfort out of the horizontal rain!
Well its not luxury, but dry, put up our tent inside what seems to be an emergency bunk house for fisherman?
Forgot to say yesterday we saw a Grey Seal & Sea Otter nice! :-)

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DAY 6
Utð 60-70km?
Up at 4am, breakfast packed and on our way to Kðkar for lunch. Arrived at the guest harbour dead on lunch at 1pm.
Tricky navigating today, hard to judge distance and orientate with so many low islands, challenging!
We did another 25 odd km through a labyrinth of islands.
Cool but better weather today. Decided to camp 8km before Utð. Hope to find some Primus gas cannisters there, or it will be cold dehydrated meals, yummy!

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DAY 5
Even harder winds over 20m/s and constant rain kept us indoors again today. We even lifted the kayaks up further so they wouldnt blow away.
But forecast is more positive & tonight the winds are easing. The plan is for us to get up at 4am & head 40km east to Kðkar harbour, because we need more gas & Babs has eaten all our chocolate!
Hope to get a bit further later in the day.

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.DAY 4
Strong head winds whipping up a sa of white caps have kept us at Saltkaring. Walked around the island, picked some berries.
Hope the weather is better tomorrow, I've nearly finished my book! :-o

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Day 3
Woke up to horizontal rain from the direction we want to go. But our new comfortable surrounding helped us stay warm dry & sheltered at Saltingkar. Rain did stop at lunch but the winds picked up. Hope for better weather tomorrow, but forecast isnt so optimistic as myself. :S

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DAY 2
We passed Mariehamn today & took the time to visited the old pilot house museum & cafe. We meet Christian who gave us a tip to goto Saltingkar & sleep in the old fisherman huts. And its great, not just beautiful but its raining. So a bit of comfort after 40km with a steady head wind. Thanks Christian! Also thanks to the ÅSS ladies at Rödhamn for the feed of panckes & laughter. :-)

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DAY1 55km
2am last nite my infected ear was playing up, so I had resigned to not going. 5am my ear felt great and it did all the way to Åland.
0730 we left Grisslehamn with a steady side wind for the 30km open crossing to the first Finnish islads. Had a hot lunch and did another 25km, 10 hours in the kayak. Time to eat & sleep!