the pineaway

i was invited along to sail to kylmäpihlaja lighthouse island today. the day could not have been more perfect. all summer long i was wishing for a chance to go out to sea and now it finally happened. it had been over twenty years since i was in a sailboat the last time, too.

my mother used to work at this lighthouse but i had never been there before myself. there is a hotel there these days, it would be lovely to stay for a few days (or weeks...)

a flock of birds and a terrified cloud

lichen on beach rubble

we had plenty of time to explore the place and admire the waves crashing against the cliffs from an open sea. i took about a million shots trying to capture the bottle-green backlit water in all its glory, not really succeeding. but i also just stood there, in a mist of sea spray, soaking it all in, the whole horizon. my face feels like i had been in ireland again, glowy and smooth. i need more island time in my life.

the reason to sail to kylmäpihlaja was namely to pick sea buckthorn. it grew everywhere in clusters of bright orange. i only picked about half a litre, not giving into the panic of not being able to gather all of it and enjoying the view and atmosphere instead. there was a huge, black caterpillar munching away on the leaves, too. there must be amazing moths around the beacon.

leaving the lighthouse island

rain clouds were chasing us

totally sea pro, me

afterwards, i had a cup of tea with my friends and then cycled 'home' to where i am catsitting, through a tricklingly rainy but warm autumn night and streets full of fallen maple leaves, feeling so good it was hard to even understand. i've had crisps and chocolate for supper and somehow stayed sane through the kitty's before-bedtime tantrums and now i think it's time i myself climb into bed, which i already know will feel like it's swaying.

hopefully i'll dream of irish sailors and salty air.