Lazy Outdoor Days on West Coast of Finland

November 2011

Spend Father's Day weekend on the west coast of Finland.  Continued slow outdoor activities, no real sports like running yet, but more slow hiking on the coast and local Nature Reserve and recreation areas.

Wanted to practice more about photographing the moon, as there was a full moon time. Unfortunately cloudy weather remained over the weekend, hiding the moon behind clouds. Temperature stayed above +5C, unusual of Nov weather in southern Finland.

Calm wind allowed to capture interesting photos near small lakes, reflections from the surface. Turned some of the into black and white. To me, they looked better as b&w than in colours.

Some photos in B&W

A woodpecker

On the coast

Splish Splash

Split

Figures on the rocks

Hooked

Kallo Lighthouse

Säppi Lighthouse (island in far distance)

Petrol leaked

On the lakes and forests

Calm

A route

A swan having a daily break

Curious white-tailed deer

Grand old pine tree

A willow

Getting heavy

45 and 90 degrees by nature

Sunday hike on Vaakkoi Recreation area, Southern Finland

November 2011

Continued being outdoors while still recovering from the flu. Unfortunately, condition didn't allow me to stay overnight outside, hence only a day hike.

This time, went to Vaakkoi recreation area, some 30km north from Helsinki. Helsingin Latu (which member I am), a member club for Suomen Latu, have got a Sauna on the Lake Vaakkoi.

The whole region is full of walking paths in the forest. Among forest, there are small lakes, bogs and stony hills. Popularity can be noticed on paths, lots of erosion. It's also perfect area for picking up berries and mushrooms.

There were some differences in altitudes between Lakes, i.e. even about 20m between lakes to each other. Thus there were lots of small brooks, like rivers in miniature size.

Ensuring my walk would be slow enough, took a camera and decided to shoot photos beyond normal amount. Worked well.

Started to walk from a parking lot near Vihdintie road, just opposite of Lake Saarijarvi. Headed first towards Lake Tuhkuri. From there, towards Lake Majalampi.  Although it has rained quite a lot this autumn, bogs were quite dry, you could walk through them. Well, a little bit jumps from here and there was required.

Sauna was warm when I arrived there. Without recent flu, I'd have enjoyed its services with quick castings in Lake Vaakkoi (its water temperature was +6C). However, had to skip it this time.

Here's hiked route (View Larger Map):

Green tones of moss

Underwater mushrooms

Captivated sickness

Typical small bog around Vaakkoi area

Kalatoin pond 

Lingonberries!

A tiny brook

I wonder who have made them?

Moss covering stones

Composition

Green Park

Double trouble

Skin's off

Typical large bog

Grand old Juniper tree

This is what a dog will see

Lake Iso-Lehmälampi

A dry fern can be nice, too

Overspeed

Leaning edge on Lake Vaakkoi

Experiencing longer shutter speed

I used 1" shutter speed, WB set to Cloudy. Set up camera on top of the stone near by, adjusted a zoom, focused and shot a photo. Next time need to try a bit shorter as well as much longer shutter speed times, just to see reference.

Hiking on Komio Nature Reserve, Southern Finland

November 2011

After having a flu over eight weeks, a doctor finally gave permission to start outdoor activities. Slow start only, was advice. Decided to have a day hike somewhere near of Helsinki, a max of one hour by car.

Browsed internet and found some candidates. 10 mins 'research' and winner was selected, Komio Nature Reserve, some 50km north from Helsinki (somewhere between cities of Karkkila and Riihimaki). Never been there before, not even heard of it.

In the morning, made some sandwiches and prepared some coffee into a thermo bottle. Picked other stuff, camera, water etc. and off I went.

Weather was cloudy, some wind and temperature stayed at about +8C.  Pretty good weather for being early November in southern Finland.

There were two ready made paths, one 3.5km long and another one 6.5km long. Decided to circle both of them. Both paths had many information signs along the routes. Well made from local people!

The area was full of steep ridges. Path circled them up and down, and I was getting wet soon after the start.  There were some small lakes and ponds, too. And of course mires (bogs), which were not opened for public (except a short route that the longer path shortly visited). All in all, one felt to be in the forest.

Thanks to nature there, I stopped for taking photos often.  Wanted to see some birds, but they didn't show up.  Terrain looked very good for mountain biking.

At this time of the year, most animals were either gone south or otherwise kept a lower profile. Well, maybe next time then.

Hiked route (View Larger Map):

Artificially burnt, as part of forest's restoration project

... although it looked like a terrain after war ...

Some mushrooms were at their best ...

... but some others were not

Some autumn colours were still left ...

... and some new stuff had started to grow due to warm temperature

Handmade excavation

Time for a break at Lukkolammi pond

Timber!

New skin

Up and down circled a path

Grand view towards region

A reindeer?

A shicane

A pine forest

Getting wet

Hiking path

A birch forest

Into a mire

Autumn's not over yet

Beard

Moss stealing place

Captured