Great weekend on the water (plenty of pics)

[scubaman]

I've always enjoyed your posts with pics so I decided to contribute with some of mine. I hope you don't find these boring. Last time I got a bit carried away with boat pictures, so less of those this time.

We had wonderful weather here all weekend. +25C temperatures and calm winds. Some of you may recall my earlier post regarding taking the boat to Lappeenranta. I drove her back to our home 'port' on saturday, here are some pics:

View of the bay of Lappeenranta (google map) from a restaurant terrace

Nicely restored old torpedoship

Exiting Lappeenranta the boat route goes through a 'timber warehouse'. There is speed limit on the area, which is a good thing because there are a good number of runaway logs floating around. A couple of years ago I hit a partially submerged one, but luckily it missed the vital parts dangling from the bottom.

Forest industry is still big in Finland

Going into the open waters of greater Saimaa

The wakeshot

Light at Kyläniemi

The area in question is a large ridge formed during the ice age, which means that there are plenty of nice beaches

A public small marina along the way

Going further north, the landscape changes and waters become tighter to navigate. Lot's of '+'-signs on the plotter.

Approaching our home 'port' at Anttola (google map)

Our pontoon with the local life boat in the middle

Enjoying the nice evening

The boat on the right was a brand new Targa 44 GT on IPS. It belongs to a very nice chap who had only taken delivery of it a few weeks back. Beautiful boat.

Sunday morning was best for ages. +29 C forecasted and delivered.

The weather was absolutely fantastic and we had a great time on water.

 

[Cliveshep]

Very nice, I especially like the shot of the ML no. 7!

 

[paultallett]

Hi Scubaman,

Great pictures, thanks for posting them. Your part of the world looks beautiful. I've never been over but this inspires me to find out more.

Regards Paul.

 

[jhr]

Fabulous. You can never post too many pictures! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[B175Chris]

Aaaaah... that's just what I needed! Thanks /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I think they should upgrade boats to a class B drug - I'm addicted! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[strakeryrius]

Great post - the whole area looks fabulous for boating.

 

[Hardmy]

Hi Scubaman !

Your pictures are great.

I recognise your boat. We met in Varkaus and in Savonlinna. I remember that you had some problems with your Volvo engine like us.

This year again we will be on a Tristan 345 from 1st to 11th July between Savonlinna-Oravi-Joensuu-Koli-Heinävesi-Savonlinna.

And you ?

Here are some souvenirs of 2008 :

 

[Firefly625]

wonderful post, great pictures. I think we are all looking at these dreaming of such tranquil settings...

for some strange reason I especially liked the picture of the small marina "along the way...", by the looks of it there are tables and chairs set out at the end of the pontoon so people can have a bit of a get together.... how lovely!

 

[AndieMac]

Absolutely fabulous Scubaman..... Thanks for sharing, what fantastic scenery. I was wondering why you added the plus (+) sign on the front of the temp. reading, I haven't seen that before on posts, then I noticed the Lat. and Long. you were operating in. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[scubaman]

[ QUOTE ]
I was wondering why you added the plus (+) sign on the front of the temp. reading,

[/ QUOTE ]
/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

It's a habit you get used to in these latitudes. Although you would expect it to be above zero at this time of the year, people often use the '+' in spoken language, even in the middle of summer.

You sometimes get -29 C in the winter as well...

Your observation made me smile. Looking from here it seems a far away dream to live in an area where you don't need to worry about temperatures below zero /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[scubaman]

Hi Hardmy! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Yes, I remember you! I do hope your holiday wasn't totally ruined by the engine problem /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

Our's took 5 minuter to fix, the problem was a detached lead at the alternator.

You've picked a fantastic area for you coming cruise. Route to Koli, I'm told, is very beautiful. I've only gone as far as Joensuu myself.

I'll be starting my holiday from the july 15th, but you may see our boat in Savonlinna with my brother at the helm.

I wish you best of luck with your cruise, hopefully everything goes to plan this year!

BTW, what was the problem with your engine?

 

[AndieMac]

We are at 41 deg. south in northern Tasmania, and just starting winter. It can get to zero over-night in the months ahead. Our boats are away now, so make sure you keep those great pics. and stories coming to help me through! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[Dave_Snelson]

And I believe we have something to thank you guys for - the high pressure built up from your area and we benefitted from it. Great pics and it just shows that the new season really is upon us.

 

[Hardmy]

Finland - Saimaa lake 2009

Hi Scubaman !

Here I am again. We were in Finland in July 2009 but I didn't see your brother with your boat. This time we had no engine problems but the weather was not sooo nice. Locals told us that normally the water should have been much warmer also... This was the last time we spent there, but we definitively will miss the colors and the peaceful landscapes.

And about our engines problem in 2008. There was something with the common rail injection. Randomly some cylinder wouldn't get fuel. Volvo said they never faced such problems before, and then the local mech in Savonlinna had to contact directly Bosch in Germany in order to fix it.

So here are some souvenirs of 2009 :

Evening ambiance S of Savonlinna

Savonlinna castle

Landscape S of Savonlinna

Passenger boats which design I am not used to

Locks and bridges

From the top of Koli

Linnasaari National Park

Some of the visited islands. The procedure was always the same. Launched stern anchor with 30m., then pulled the Z up. We tied also some moorings on the side of the boat in order not strand laterally. We spend most nights like this.

There can also be choppy weather on Saimaa lakes

Minutes before my mum's concert at Savonlinna cathedral (the initial reason why we went to Finland) :

If somebody wants the position of the nicest places, just ask me.

 

[scubaman]

Well hello Hardmy!

You have taken some great shots! Pity about the weather. It did improve on the second half of the July, but overall it can be a bit unpredictable at the best.

Still it seems that you made the most of anchoring and got to enjoy the nature.

One of your shots was taken at Koli. Did you go there by boat? That would have meant going up the Pielinen-river.

 

[Hardmy]

Koli

Yes, we went to Koli by boat through de canal. The long way up there was really worth. We have seen only 2 (!) boats during the 5-6 days spent on Pielinen lake. It was a wonderful feeling to be alone.

At this time we went there was only one possibility for taking fuel, when they have some...

 

[Kawasaki]

Great Post Scubaman!
The temp thing threw me too.
I thought the Global Warming brigade had got it right for a moment!

 

[AndieMac]

Thanks for bringing this post back and adding some more great shots Hardmy.

What is the brand of your boat....it looks very nice......

 

[Hardmy]

Tristan 345

Thank you AndieMac,

It was a Tristan 345, a finnish boat built in Varkaus (situated on the shore of the Saimaa lake).

http://www.tristanboats.fi/e_default.asp

We where very happy with her, even if the design is a bit dated but she was solidly built. They managed to do the maximum with this given length. She was doing 50l/h at 20 kts. Top speed about 31+ kts.