After the last few days of warm weather, it feels like summer has finally arrived. Previously it has been beautiful in the sunshine, but once the sun slips behind a cloud you feel the chill in the air. However, on both Thursday and Friday the breeze has been warm and it seems that it is time to set sail again.

Saturday morning dawned bright and sunny with a few fluffy clouds and a brisk north-easterly breeze, so we took off in the morning and headed up Mysignen with no particular destination in mind but a determination to simply enjoy the sailing experience. As we got further north, we wondered where to head for a night harbour. With 25,000 islands to choose from in the Stockholm archipelago, there is always somewhere close by when you feel the need to stop for the day. We studied the sea charts and discussed a couple of options, but looking up to the sky, we got inspiration from the heavens. A Lambi Cloud drifted into view:



Now tell me does that or does that not look like Lambi seated on a soft quilt! So it was perfectly obvious to us that we should “follow that cloud” to see where it led us. It turned out to be an interesting experience. Lambi led us through a narrow, shallow, rock-filled channel between the islands of Utö and Ornö at a knuckle-whitening 6-7 knots and through into Gåsstensfjärden. That gave us a few options for a night harbour and we wondered whether to head north to Fjärdlång or east to Huvudskär, but in the end the wind decided for us and we eased into a bay between the islands of Valön and the bird sanctuary of Ängsön and dropped anchor in a beautiful, peaceful bay with a view across the outer skerries.



It is hard to believe that this is not a lake, but the Baltic Sea we are looking at. The water was almost mirror like and ideal for a small exploration of the nearby islands with the dinghy. Even though it is quite a harsh environment, there are still a lot of flowers and plants blooming on these small rocks.



The dog loves to explore around and check out the new smells and she was happy to potter around by the shore line where you can see the reeds and rocks glimmering in the evening sun just below the surface of the water. It creates a really cool dappled effect.



The island west of us (Ängsön) is a protected area for birds and you are not allowed to go to the islands, nor be closer than 100m from the shore between February and August. So we contented ourselves with the small rocks and islets around Valön. We could see and hear the birds from the other islands – gulls, ducks, terns and a myriad of forest birds twittering away, much to the joy of our two birds who were sitting in the cockpit sunning themselves and enjoying the surroundings. Even though it is nine at night, it is still broad daylight outside.



In the morning, another short row with the dinghy gave us a view of the other side of the island, out towards Huvudskär in the distance. The sea is blue and inviting and we are going to continue once the wind picks up a little.



Meanwhile, it is a perfect way to start the day. We ate breakfast in the cockpit, watching terns and gulls fishing in the water nearby. A short time later, a moose came down to shore and grazed on the new shoots of the reeds for several minutes. It was so great to sit there quietly and see the “king of the forest” wading in the water foraging for his breakfast. Unfortunately it was a little too far away for a photo and they are so shy that it would have fled if we tried to get closer. I also spotted some nesting herons in the reeds. You don’t often get to see them because they are so shy and also blend in really well with the environment. But it was interesting to watch them patiently waiting, watching and then spearing the fish with such accuracy.

Around mid-morning as the air started to warm up, a pair of sea eagles took to the sky, effortlessly circling overhead on the thermals above Valön searching for food. It is difficult to believe that they can see anything from so high up, but I suppose that is where the phrase eagle eyed came from. I am always a little worried when I see the sea eagles overhead as I know that Lambi looks like a tasty meal for them and it has been known for them to carry off small dogs and cats, so I keep a careful watch over her. I also noted that Bruce and Sheila were not comfortable with the eagles out and about, so I stowed them safely inside and said a final farewell to this lovely bay – one I know we will visit again.



So, a big thank you to Lambi Cloud for showing us a new anchoring place. Today we are headed north again, to who knows where. Perhaps we will again get some inspiration from the clouds.