Monday 11 January 2016

Icy pleasures

Another try, another location on the Ruissalo island. This time it was ‘only’ about -13°C (9°F) and rather calm, which was bearable except that we arrived too late. The sun had already disappeared behind the wall of clouds in the distance that was not supposed to be there.





The frosty ten days or so had done their trick. The sea views had turned arctic and were for the most part ice covered. A hole in the ice by the pier was being kept open with a water pump. Inviting, eh? There were no crazy ice swimmers around that time of the day. The most insane daredevils prefer to dip themselves into the hole in the ice before sunrise just like that even without any warming up in a sauna. And they have the nerve to call it a pleasure.





While I was walking on the frozen beach quivering, hubby who had marched on to another bay phoned me encouraging me to carry on to a sight I wouldn’t want to miss.





There were swans gliding on an open patch in the ice off the Kolkka cape. Some of them were resting with their long neck curled against their body, looking like rocks sticking out of the water. This is not the kind of a place you would expect to be suitable for anyone’s afternoon nap. As long as there is some open sea these poor things will manage, though.




The last sea views below make me chilled to the bone. At the same time I feel the memory of freezing fingers being transformed into something faintly pleasant as my appetite for winter photos is growing. With a little bit of luck, we might actually get the timing right one of these days.




6 comments:

  1. You did a pretty good job even tho the light wasn't perfect. I like sea swimming from plus 10 degrees and above. How anyone can go in when the sea is frozen over I will never know. I feel for those swans. I look forward to more icy photos :) Barbara X

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. Actually, it is not that bad once you are in the water as it is only around freezing point and will feel much 'warmer' than the frosty air. It is the walk from the hot sauna to the first dip that is the hardest part.

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  2. I didn't have to wait long to see it looking more Artic! The colours are amazing and you were so lucky to capture the swans too! Surely it is even colder taking a dip at sunrise? I often find that I have not turned up at the right moment especially at sunrise or sunset, at least it is not freezing while I am looking! Sarah x

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    1. The enthusiasts believe it is only a dip into the icy water that will properly wake them and provide energy for the day. They are probably right but I am not going to find out.

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  3. It is so incredibly beautiful, but you can also tell that it is so incredibly cold. There is absolutely no way that I would be dipping into that water at any time of the day! xx

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    1. There was a winter once when we used to do that on Saturdays from a hot sauna to a hole in the ice but that was inland on a lake. Now that we live by the sea where the wind blows more fiercely I wouldn't be too surprised if I never tried that again.

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