Woody

Breakfast took a while this morning as dad spotted around 80 goosanders heading into our bay. I've seen them before but never in this number and never this behaviour. They seemed to be forming a line and swimming in a huge arc, sometimes scooting across the water, seemingly to round up fish before diving for their breakfast. They were perhaps more successful than me as each time they came round close again, I'd scoot outside to see if I could catch a photo. 

Luckily, they headed off around the corner and we got in the car to head to Punkaharju Ridge, a picturesque route that travels along a narrow strip of land, unusually for here, gaining a little height with views down to the lakes and pine filled islands.  Before we made it there though, we had a five minute stop for a good hundred waxwings in the birch treetops that were dropping down onto the rowan trees which came beautifully into the sunlight.

At the end of the very pretty route, dad spotted a hotel where we stopped for coffee and a Scooby snack. The hotel looked steeped in history and it was; going right back to Czar times. It's been renovated tastefully in the wonderful simplicity of Finnish design. 

Deciding where to sit, we plumped for the less comfortable chairs because they were next to a huge expanse of glass looking down a hill to the lake below with a tall redwood forest in between. As we stood choosing, I spotted two woodpeckers high up but at our eye level because of the slope. Decision made! 

We enjoyed another lovely chat which included mention of me hoping to see a black woodpecker and hadn't mum talked about one on the cabin roof? I'd admired one of the closest trees to us, openly dreaming of a woodpecker landing on the hole in the trunk. It was again high up but right at our line of sight.

Only a few moments later, one of those special things happened. Dad did a double take, thinking he'd seen something fly by. I looked over too, and what should be right at the hole but a black woodpecker perched on the trunk!

We grinned and watched him for a couple of minutes before he flew off out of sight.

Once home, we've had lunch, turned the boat over for winter with Lauri's help, watched more of the goosanders pack hunting and attempted to spot ratty in the water beside the jetty as the grasses moved with something mammal-like.

Finally, we made it to a little packing and saying hei hei to Lauri and Silja who have been trying to find out who in Kerimäki (our kakku and kahvi place) has won the 41 million euros of the Euro Lottery; it's the talk of the town!

Just ousted, hopefully, the last opilone two opilones, a little too close to my head, and now it's time to sleep before the journey home. 

What a magnificent week shared with my dad, with nature. 

Truly beyond words, but I've done my best.