agto ta sa Padasjoki river

five years ago, daddy, fasu and i spent a boat trip along Padasjoki river. i just recalled it a few days ago and i mentioned it to Jukka. he said, someday, we'll go back there. i didn't expect that someday would be too soon. 

i got out of work at 4, drove back home to pick up Amanda, then drove to Vääksy where daddy and fasu were waiting. that was my first time to drive to Vääksy alone, and of course, i got lost and drove at least three times around the centrum before i finally found daddy and fasu waving to me at the end of the street. phew!

we left Vääksy harbor towards Kelvenne. it was about an hour and a half drive with Vaski. this time, we docked on the other side of the island which is called Kirkkosalmi. i was quite skeptical about staying there because there were a few boats and one ship already docked by the shore. i just wanted to have a very quiet couple of days on the island. surprisingly, our neighbors were very quiet. retired people who also want to spend some relaxing days out of the city.

we had sauna and went to sleep.

the next day, we had breakfast at the back of the ship. we had pancakes and fresh strawberries. i swear, strawberries have never tasted that sweet! it was the ambiance and the company of daddy that just made breakfast to tasty.

after breakfast, daddy prepared the motorboat, and off we went to Padasjoki! it's so exciting to be in a fast boat! when we found the mouth of the river, we slowed down. the limit is 10km/hr. 

oh, it was just as magical as the first time that we were there. the waterlilies, the grass, the trees, the houses on the side of the river, dragonflies and the sunshine. it was a perfect river cruise!

we found the small bridge where we docked the boat. then we walked to the centrum to buy somethings. apparently, five years have been a long time. the store where we once bought some groceries is now closed. or has been closed for four years now, as we were informed by one restaurant owner where we stopped by to get some refreshment. she told us the stores are a few hundred meters away from the centrum. so we went to the shop and bought what we needed.

the feeling that i got when we were cruising back to the lake was just pure happiness. nature does that to me. it gives me that certain glow inside, that keeps me alive for days.

on the boat to Padasjoki

Padasjoki harbour

Padasjoki river

the friendly dragonfly

we docked the boat under this bridge

i just love this tiny old bridge

my sunset view

watching the sunset from the rooftop

feeding time for ducks

midnight view after sauna

strawberries and pancakes for breakfast

this summer heat makes you want to be in the water all the time

p.s. i hope you're having a warm summer, too!