Same place - different seasons

[scubaman]

This new year my family and myself got invited to our friends’ holiday home on the Lake Saimaa for the New Year celebrations. Whilst watching the kids skate on the ice, the view reminded me of our prior visit aboard our boat and a pic I took back then. The scenery was so different that I couldn’t help digging up the old pic and posting them here side by side. The first pic was taken on a Midsummer’s Eve and second on a New Year’s day, albeit a few years apart, but in terms of seasons almost exactly six months apart.

(Pic courtesy of my friend).

Since our previous visit, my friend had installed a hot tub on the terrace of his sauna. The tub has a wood burning stove which heats the water (pumped from the lake) to the right temperature. It was a fantastic experience to sit in the tub while a winter storm was gathering strength and it was snowing horizontally. We spent several hours enjoying the sauna and the tub and observing random fireworks from close by cabins as the year changed.



Counting in a glass-half-full way, one could say that its only three full months until the lake is good for boating again!

A great time was had in a great company! Thanks again guys and Happy New Year everyone!

 

[TheOrs]

Wow! That looks amazing.

Is Lake Saimaa in Finland?

 

[AndieMac]

Huge contrast indeed, such extreme's in weather. I guess you high latitude folks learn to embrace the very cold conditions and find ways to enjoy it. It looks quite spectacular with all that snow around.
All the best for NY, K

 

[longjohnsilver]

Lovely pics, what a contrast! And whilst I’m sure it’s not, that looks like ice in the hot tub

 

[scubaman]

Wow! That looks amazing.

Is Lake Saimaa in Finland?

It is, here to be more precise -> https://www.google.fi/maps/@61.4654814,27.3961509,2050m/data=!3m1!1e3

If you zoom out, you'll see the greater Saimaa area, which is connected to the Sea via Saimaa Canal. The whole area is actually very nice for boating. I realised I've missed it due to having been boating at the coast for the past few years.

The scenery was nice, especially now as the skies have cleared, everything is white and the sun is shining. -15 C, though...

LOL, no ice in the tub but a comfortable 38 C or so .

 

[TheOrs]

It is, here to be more precise -> https://www.google.fi/maps/@61.4654814,27.3961509,2050m/data=!3m1!1e3

If you zoom out, you'll see the greater Saimaa area, which is connected to the Sea via Saimaa Canal. The whole area is actually very nice for boating. I realised I've missed it due to having been boating at the coast for the past few years.

Thank you. When I looked yesterday, Google took me to the large expanse of water just to the South East of where you are. I was then trying to understand how you took your boat from the sea to this inland water. I couldn't see the canal.

I guess you left your port in Finland and then travelled through Russia to get back into Finland? It certainly is a very beautiful part of the world!

 

[MapisM]

I guess you left your port in Finland and then travelled through Russia to get back into Finland?

Exactly. You must enter Russian waters and reach Vyborg.
From there, you can access the Saimaa Canal, which through several locks brings you back to the Finland border and eventually to the huge Saimaa Lake, near Lappeenranta.
The Canal is a great experience in itself, highly recommended. And that's just for starter, because the lake, with plenty of secluded anchorages where you can enjoy freely available saunas, is even more attractive!
Just don't forget to add a chain saw to your usual boating equipment, as scubaman has on his boat.
Very handy for cutting wood for the sauna stove! :encouragement:

 

[scubaman]

Thank you. When I looked yesterday, Google took me to the large expanse of water just to the South East of where you are. I was then trying to understand how you took your boat from the sea to this inland water. I couldn't see the canal.

I guess you left your port in Finland and then travelled through Russia to get back into Finland? It certainly is a very beautiful part of the world!

You can see the canal's mouth in here -> https://www.google.fi/maps/@61.0731292,28.2981289,8334m/data=!3m1!1e3

If you follow it southeast, you'll se it exiting to the sea near Vyborg as MapisM mentioned. Saimaa is quite a vast area, you can take your boat all the way to Iisalmi and beyond -> https://www.google.fi/maps/place/Ii...090d669c4a1a90f!8m2!3d63.5694237!4d27.1826451

As a sidenote, some years back there was an incident involving a russian pleasure boat and human trafficking. Friend's of mine who have since passed through the canal told me that the previously relaxed border control has gotten considerably stricter going through every inch of ones boat.

 

[Hardmy]

Very cool pics, Scuba! I have very fond memories about the Saimaa lake region. I've never been there in the winter though. Beside de scenery and the snow, it must be quite fun to drive your car on those frozen lakes?

 

[alt]

WOW, no words, K... amazing! Wishing you all a Happy New Year.

 

[scubaman]

... Beside de scenery and the snow, it must be quite fun to drive your car on those frozen lakes?

It is great fun. Especially on the rare occasion when there is enough ice, but not much snow. You can then drive around freely and do piruettes... .

 

[MrB]

Stunning pictures as usual. :encouragement:

 

[Eren]

Three years ago I was in Finland to check for a boat that I was planning to buy and ship to Turkey. It was end of May. Although the boat/opportunity was very good, I did not finalise the deal as the seller was not able to catch the transport vessel on time and I would miss the season. What a mistake it was!!! I should have bought that boat there and spent that summer in Finland/Scandinavia and should have visited all of these beautiful places. Then I would have all the winter to load the boat and bring it home. It was a very good chance that I will always regret of missing it.