On the boat home..

Had a good nights sleep at the harbour entrance, cruised past all the cranes and various docks for all sorts of cargo ships.

As we came into the small guest harbour next to the Tallink ferry terminal we saw it was also the entrance to the canal through old Riga, so we paddled another 2km through the heart of the old city and its parks.



People were friendly in the harbour and we soon found ourselves on the ferry drinking a cold beer on the sun deck.

Was an excellent trip.

James & Babs

Riga!

Had a full on day, had the wind at 45degres behind us, so there was some serious waves to contend with, and some surf action!

After 25km and 4hours we went in with a big surf landing, so big we were suprised, I even managed to snap my rudder blade! Should have lifted it up but the surf zone came quicker than expected! But managed to make a quick fix that saw us to Riga!


Now sitting just inside the harbour watching the boat traffic.

Cya later James & Babs

1 day till Riga....

It took a little coaxing to get us out of the tent this morning after making breakfast in the absiden out of the rain. But we managed to cruise along, at first at 3km/h but as the day went it became 5-6km/h, finishing after 28km.



Found a more sheltered spot but still a strong westerly this evening, should become a strong northerly by tomorrow morning! Yehah, we'll be just out Riga in no time :-)

Cheers James & Babs

18km and no beer!

Still waiting out the wind at the same nature reserve. Walked 17 km in hope of a shop on the map, but I guess at my disapointment of finding an empty ruined service station shouldnt have been too suprising, nor any cold beer! :-0



But it killed the better half of the day, the rest just sitting on the beach watching the waves roll in. Maybe we get some paddling in after lunch tomorrow?

Cheers James & Babs

Chilling out of the wind

As predicted, strong SW winds that would make paddling south miserable. So we had a good sleep in, Babs is out taking photo's, & I'm just pottering around.

Seems we could be here till wednesday, but then there is strong northerly to blow us prob almost all the way to Riga :-)


It's nice to have some rest days before coming home to regular life.

Cheers James

Latvian paradise

Today we crossed into Latvia from Estonia. We know there are southerly winds against us tomorrow & maybe till tuesday. So we are very happy to find a great camp site behind a beautiful beach.



A good chance to dry out all our gear & relax after 8 days of paddling 40 to 60 km per day. Its ony 3 days easy paddling to Riga :-)

J&B

Haunted lighthouse.

This morning was two islands Maniland, with a naked Estonian swimmer who was suprised he suddenly wasnt alone.

The second island Sorgu had a beautiful but haunted looking lighthouse and buildings overgrown with plants, an ideal thriller / horror film location...

As we left Sorgu the weather started turning nasty but we figured with the SW wind we could at worse surf our way NE to Pärnu!



But we made it into a small obscure fishing harbour 18km on the far side and the locals gave us their working quarters to shelter in. So now we have eaten a late lunch & wait to see if the wind changes?

Cheers James & Babs

Its all about timing...

Its all about timing and a little patience, and then some long hours in the kajak.

We had some tricky winds with side/head winds yesterday and a rough crossing for 3 hours for 10km , so we slept in the tent till the winds died. Tjen today we had heavy rain all morning but winds blowing us in the right direction, so after coxing ourselves out of the tent into the rain we made a long 60km day of it.




Hope to cross close to the latvian coast tomorrow as weather forecast is not good next week :-(

Cya James & Babs

Happy Haapsalu!

Made an early start for Haapsalu at 6:00 and stopped for breakfast at a point halfway to avoid the mosquito's.



Made it by lunch, took a shower at the yacht club before wandering the old town with it castle dating back to 1200. Very nice place, old Estonian houses and a calm peaceful feel to it.



Now waiting for winds to die before 1-2 hours paddling then camping.

Cheers James & Babs

Head winds and mosquito's

A bit of a tough day with a steady head wind until 30 minutes before camping, which gave the mosquitos every opportunity. Paddled from 7am till 9pm, but we did stop gor lunch on a nice sandy beach and for 2 hours at marina for a beer & pizza ;-) So it wasnt all so bad.

Cheers J & B

Välke Pakri (island west of Paldiski)

Had a cruisy day despit feeling tired from yesterdays six hour straight paddle. Cruised in the good weather exploring some small harbours and a ship wreck along the way.

Meet Jakob at the port in Paldiski who helped us with water and buy some fresh bread, then we meet two Estonian paddlers on the pictured beach, and decided to stay after hearing the local history Swedes lived here till before the war.

Cya J&B


On the move

Estonia! Approx.55km.

6:30 this morning we left Lilla Traskön and slight head wind all the way to Naissar island 39 km. But the head wind was nice as it never became to hot with not a cloud. It was sad to see how much algae bloom was all the way, scary, you coildnt take a swim!



Now we are on the mainland at deserted beach and Babs is collecting berries for desert :-)

Paldiski an ex soviet naval base tomorrow.

Chow J&B

A great day on the water

Got off the ferry and found our way to the market where we could get into the kayaks easily. Mixture of sun rain and a little wind today brought us to the outer islands before the 45km crossing to Estonia. And its a red sky tonight, giving us paddlers delight (for tomorrow I hope).

Cheers J&B

Stage two begins.

We are now finally sitting on the Mariella drinking a cold beer waiting to depart for where we last paddled to, Helsinki.

Been busy the last week with many small jobs and a great day at a waterpark with daughter Mikaela. Babs was busy with a quick trip to a great seakayak symposium in Denmark last week



Special thanks to Bjarne for driving us to the Ferry terminal in Stockholm. We werent sure how getting on with just the kayaks as the booking office became very confused! So I booked online with two bicycles and it went perfectly, thanks Viking Line :-)

A good days paddling tomorrow from Helsinki so watch for our first spot message on the live map.

Cya James & Babs

One week till we go.

Today I have been fixing copies of our maps, checking the long term weather forecats and even getting our gear sorted ready to go.

Looks like we will drive for Stockholm this thursday after lunch and arrive in Helsinki Friday morning. Then its around 50 km to the outer islands before the 40 km crossing towards Tallin. All depends on the weather.

Lets hope we get a few good weeks of weather as opposed to the last month in Scandinavia and even last years leg to Helsinki.

Cheers

James