Day Fifty Seven Wednesday 14th September

With the day before us to explore the rest of Kokar we set off after a leisurely breakfast. First stop Karlby which is the only place resembling a town. The few buildings are scattered, but there is a school, library, cafe, and hotel. Down a little side road by the creek is the wooden building which is the only shop in the Kommune. There was just a tractor parked outside. The shop was well stocked, as we have come to expect.

We continued, along the one main road, turning off to explore the little side roads, all of which are dead ends. One of these excursions took us to Peders Apelbom, a farm shop with cafe, selling its own apples and all sorts of products made from them. The lady gave us severa tastings, and we duly succumbed and purchased various goodies, and some apples! And signed the visitors' book.

Geoff later explored the outside of the Kokar Museum ( closed ) and we stopped at the beginning of the path to the site of a Bronze Age dwelling. I'm afraid I let Geoff go on alone after scrambling up over the first rocky part.

At this point we had seen all that there is to see in Kokar and the little ferry port/harbour had as good views as any as a spot to cook and eat supper before catching the ferry at 6.30. The ferry, which had come from Langnas, hove into sight, and the several cars and one large motorhome on board disembarked. The embarkation is so swiftly done that we had hardly got the handbrake on before we were on the move. There is only one ferry a day which continues for the second leg of the crossing, and I am writing this in the lounge it is the sister ship of the one we sailed on yesterday. There are three vehicles and five passengers on board!! And absolutely no musak, I'm very pleased to say. We had chatted a bit to the other couple on board while waiting. They are Russian, from St Petersburg, and have very little English. We had seen them earlier, in Karlby, and they had also visited the Apple place just before us.

We have just been out on deck to watch the sunset, very pretty but not spectacular, and in about 30 minutes time should arrive at Galtby. Then we just have to find somewhere to park for the night!

A little later. Our arrival was done as speedily as everything else, and included reversing off the ferry, which was a bit daunting, then finding our bearings in the dark, and straight on to a very rough road ( signposted Turku 75km) which seems to be in the process of being repaired. Geoff was very pleased to turn off at the first available opportunity, and then he dived off again, onto a short rough track which led down beside a very new looking bridge crossing the water onto what we now see from the map is an island. At the end was a concrete slab by the water, with a low iron bar across, presumably the jetty for a ferry before the bridge was built. It is solid, and flat, and here we shall stay for the night. The camper is in reverse gear, with the handbrake firmly on, I hope. If this gets posted, then all was well!