The day started out well. It was sunny and warm enough to have a nice
breakfast outside Mariehäll this morning at about 7:00. A quick look at
the weather showed that it would be another nice and sunny day, so a
tour on bike and some lounging by the sea seemed like an excellent plan.Last year, I left out many sights to see on Utö, because I only had 4 days on the island. One of the destinations that I neglected was the mines (Gruvor).
My first stop after dropping by the general store for some stuff) would therefore be the abandoned mines.
You can get to the mines by walking or riding your bike up the road that starts at the guest harbor and goes up the hill, past the notice boards, the restaurant, etc.
There is a little path that follows the contour of the XXX mine pit, which is on your right as you reach the mines, and walking around it, while not spectacular, is nonetheless interesting.
Rävstavik
Being already halfway across Utö, I decided to go to Rävstavik, which is on the Eastern coast of the island.
Going there was easy, and all downhill, passing through a nice stretch of forest.
The forest suddenly stops and is replaced with the typical rounded rock that is so typical of the Stockholm arpicheligio.
Going over the hill you are then presented with the sea.
Rocks (again)
Ok, decidedly it is very important to follow the buoys here! This afternoon I was boating about, because I needed to get some gas for the boat. Once filled up, I was curious to see what was past the island of Tallholmen, so I headed out of the channel. Once I hit the open sea, I was uncomfortable with the size of the waves with regards to how my boat was rolling, and so I decided to head back.
Well, just at that time, the Silverpilen ferry was on its way to leafing the harbor on its way to Spränga Brygga, and was going to go through the channel, which was only big enough for one of us.
Following the rules of navigation as I learned in France, I therefore continued my way into the harbor peacefully, though outside the channel, with the idea of entering the channel once Silverpilen passed.
What the pilot of the Silverpilen saw from his vantage point, that I did not, was that I was heading right for some rocks that were about 30 centimeters under the surface of the water.
The Silverpilen sounded two warning horns for me, but about 3 seconds later I heard that gut-wrenching sound that a boat and its motor make when they ride over rocks. I immediately went to raise the motor out of the water, while at the same time keeping the boat pointed towards the safety of the channel, but right when I was ready to lift the motor out, I cleared the rocks. More of a scare than damage, though could tell by the change in vibrations that the prop blades were one again chewed up. Decidedly I will be buying a new prop for Göran .
Upon returning to the stuga, I checked out the navigation map, and saw with much embarrassment that the rocks I had hit were indeed noted on the map, and that I should have passed on the other side of the channel.
On an interesting note, there are no tides in Sweden's waters. Because of this, there is very little if any ocean currents (versus those encountered off the Atlantic coast of France). Consequently, whereas in France you can see the rocks just under the surface of the water by how the waves change just over the danger areas, here in Sweden, you have no way of knowing, other than by the maps and the buoys.
There is a little path that follows the contour of the XXX mine pit, which is on your right as you reach the mines, and walking around it, while not spectacular, is nonetheless interesting.
Rävstavik
Being already halfway across Utö, I decided to go to Rävstavik, which is on the Eastern coast of the island.
Going there was easy, and all downhill, passing through a nice stretch of forest.
The forest suddenly stops and is replaced with the typical rounded rock that is so typical of the Stockholm arpicheligio.
Going over the hill you are then presented with the sea.
Rocks (again)
Ok, decidedly it is very important to follow the buoys here! This afternoon I was boating about, because I needed to get some gas for the boat. Once filled up, I was curious to see what was past the island of Tallholmen, so I headed out of the channel. Once I hit the open sea, I was uncomfortable with the size of the waves with regards to how my boat was rolling, and so I decided to head back.
Well, just at that time, the Silverpilen ferry was on its way to leafing the harbor on its way to Spränga Brygga, and was going to go through the channel, which was only big enough for one of us.
Following the rules of navigation as I learned in France, I therefore continued my way into the harbor peacefully, though outside the channel, with the idea of entering the channel once Silverpilen passed.
What the pilot of the Silverpilen saw from his vantage point, that I did not, was that I was heading right for some rocks that were about 30 centimeters under the surface of the water.
The Silverpilen sounded two warning horns for me, but about 3 seconds later I heard that gut-wrenching sound that a boat and its motor make when they ride over rocks. I immediately went to raise the motor out of the water, while at the same time keeping the boat pointed towards the safety of the channel, but right when I was ready to lift the motor out, I cleared the rocks. More of a scare than damage, though could tell by the change in vibrations that the prop blades were one again chewed up. Decidedly I will be buying a new prop for Göran .
Upon returning to the stuga, I checked out the navigation map, and saw with much embarrassment that the rocks I had hit were indeed noted on the map, and that I should have passed on the other side of the channel.
On an interesting note, there are no tides in Sweden's waters. Because of this, there is very little if any ocean currents (versus those encountered off the Atlantic coast of France). Consequently, whereas in France you can see the rocks just under the surface of the water by how the waves change just over the danger areas, here in Sweden, you have no way of knowing, other than by the maps and the buoys.
