Navy seal
Calm and chilly evenings - perfect for rowing a small wooden boat.
We live in a place where people come for vacations. After the season it’s empty and very calm here. Especially disappearance of motorboat enthusiasts is making huge difference - silence and lack of idiotic swell is nerve calming.
I took Glypto to launching ramp, this time to leave her in water for some time. Since boat-guests no longer visit the harbour it’s emptier here.
I want to check if my renovation goes in the right direction - if she swells enough to be fully watertight.
Well - at least as much as 100-year old wooden dinghy can.
Launching with my modified cart went perfect - tube extensions worked as planed and I didn’t have to step into water to launch Glypto.
I started rowing towards Vätöbron. Exploring the shoreline on the way was indeed the purpose.
As often close to harbours one can find boat fenders which went lose. I don’t remember buying fenders for Meritaten - all of them were found in the water!
Water is cold and clear.
As when I was a boy — I enjoyed floating slowly above shallows and watching underlying worlds as if from the airship.
This boat rows like a dream! I might add just a bit more skegg for directional stability.
Rubber dinghy is a curse compared to this boat!
There was no other people in the vicinity and wind died before the evening. I was floating calmly close to the shore, watching clouds and rock constellations. I was totally silent and still.
Suddenly, about 20 meters from me water surface broke and something big emerged. At first I thought it was a big fish but no - it was much bigger. A seal!
She emerged with her back towards me so she probably was not aware I was behind her. She was breathing heavily, obviously after long dive.
I started, slowly, reaching for my camera, trying not to make any sound nor move the boat. The seal was floating and catching its breath, still not seeing me. By the time I finally reached the camera she took a few deep breaths and disappeared under water.
I waited, not moving, for the next 10 minutes, with the hope she will emerge again somewhere close but no, never saw her again this evening.
I rowed further and found a good place to land, for a short walk.
These places are almost inaccessible from land as Vätö is very high here and sharply descending into the sea.
It started to get dark when I rowed back into the harbour. The day was ending with clear Sunset.
Glypto was left on shallow water in the bushes. Mud bottom should protect her from swell movements. I’ll check her in coming days if planks swell to close her entirely.