Tuesday
My aunt Terttu heads back to Germany today and I head back to the U.S. next Tuesday. Summer vacation is flying by!
Mirja got up early…she had another 12+ hour workday ahead. I went back to sleep until around 10. Had some breakfast and glanced at the paper.
Harri ironed his work clothes while Sindi the cat played with the shirt sleeves. I took a shower, then Harri showed me the status of the ships in Lake Saimaa. He is a sea pilot who handles freight ships as they pass through the Saimaa Canal. I may have the chance to go along on a freighter if they don’t go into Russia.
Our plans worked out! We left the house around 3:30, then drove to the pilot station. Hung out there awhile, then we took a company car to a nearby canal lock. We boarded the Russian freighter Lezhevo around 5:30PM (you can see where we boarded in the center of the map above).
Our journey lasted nearly 5 hours. There were a number of other ships in the canal so we had to take turns passing through. I took over 200 pictures before and during the trip…some of my faves are posted below. Hint: you can click on any photo and it will open a slideshow. I’m diggin’ this new WordPress format!
We arrived in port around 10:15PM. The ship was hauling timber from Russia, which will be transported to a nearby paper mill.
As we left the ship, members of the crew yelled for Harri to return. The ship’s female cook had prepared some barbequed pork and wrapped some up for Harri to take home. FYI the ship is from St. Petersburg Russia and has a crew of 8 men and 1 woman.
Harri and I drove back to the pilot station and did some paperwork. We stopped at the ABC! rest stop where we got some hamburgers.
We got back to the house by 11PM. I had a burger and a couple brews, then went to bed around midnight.
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- Harris checks the ship schedule on his home computer
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- Tasty lunch
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- On our way to the pilot station. Notice how the electronic sign shows the Ilma (Air) and Tie (Road) temperatures. These signs are common around Finland
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- Harri poses outside the pilot station
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- Harri’s private quarters at the pilot station
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- Harris checks the latest ship status
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- The Russian freighter approaches
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- The bridge rises to accomodate the approaching ship
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- Car traffic is halted
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- Stay off the bridge, unless you are Spiderman
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- The ship gets closer
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- The freighter enters the lock
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- Harri watches the ship as the bridge lowers
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- Car traffic is backing up. This too shall pass
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- The huge lock doors begin to close
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- The ship is in the lock and water is pumped in.
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- Harri checks paperwork on the ship
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- The ship’s crew provided us coffee and sandwiches for dinner
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- The ship’s name is Lezhevo, home port St. Petersburg Russia
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- Don’t put your cans and bottles here! Food waste only, comrade!
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- The Lezhevo
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- The bridge
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- The ship is a hauling a large load of timber from Russia
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- Just two ships passing in the night, errr…evening
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- Approaching the next lock, Mälkiä
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- Entering the lock
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- One of the many expensive new cottages built along the banks of Lake Saimaa, Finland’s largest lake
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- Hey you! Don’t throw your trash overboard. If you do, you’ll be sleepin’ with the fishes!
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- A sightseeing cruise approaches
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- The crew fires up their barbeque
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- Don’t ask what it means, just do it!
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- A closer look at the cargo
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- Learning the ropes
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- Glancing through a porthole
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- A view of the ship’s bridge
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- Walking along the port side of Lezhevo
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- Harri enjoys an evening snack
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- Yours truly and the first mate
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- Sunset on Lake Saimaa
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- A passing motorboat
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- Gone with the wind
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- The new Holiday Club Saimaa resort
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- Attention, attention!
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- Flying the Finnish flag through Finnish waters
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- Approaching the port
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- Disembarking the ship
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- Harri grabbed the car keys from this lock box
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- The company car we’ll take back to the pilot station
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- Ahh! A classic Carrols burger from Hesburger…mmm good!
