Collecting adventures

It’s that time of the year when the rays of the late summer sun make their last push for the season, the birds prepare for their journey to more southern latitudes - if they haven’t left already - and the ’back-to-school’ commercials are momentarily a staple. Usually, these signs indicate that the Vaasa Archipelago in Finland will soon start to quiet down, as people make their way from their summer homes out on the thousands of islands back to the mainland and into the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But for Jouni and his sons, it means something else.

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There is only now. Always.

Although the signs of an ending summer break, filled with uninterrupted adventures, are ever so evident, Jouni’s sons have no time to think about what is imminent, as their headspaces are occupied with planning another day of collecting adventures. Collecting memories.

Having to convince Jouni to head out for adventures has virtually never happened, and this time is no different, as they soon make their way down to their adventure vessel with excitement for what is to come. The paddle board and kayak go on the roof, while the cool box is filled with on-the-go delicacies. Seemingly, they have everything they need for a day out on the water. The engines’ characteristic startup sound promises that the coming hours will be remembered.

Anchor down — expectations up.

It doesn’t take long after mooring the boat between the anchor and a boulder until the SUP board and kayak are adventure-ready. Some would call them water toys, but they will also take you to places that no boat can, possibly even places where no one has gone before, so 'adventure-vessels' is also a suitable term if you ask us.

The seascooters enable you to discover more in one breath, which is certainly welcome in the region’s green waters. If you’re lucky, you might spot a shoal of perch, or perhaps even an anchor left behind by an adventurer before you.

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Trace after trace of the Ice Age.

When navigating between the nooks and crannies of the rocky Kvarken Archipelago, the trick for boaters isn’t knowing where the rocks are. It is to know where the rocks aren’t. The ice sheet that once stretched from the western parts of the British Isles past the White Sea carried large chunks of bedrock to the region, leaving them behind to form what is now the Kvarken Archipelago. Jouni and his sons spot an island, or a pile of rocks, if you will, that looks like a perfect place to encamp for the day.

Collecting adventures

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A moment where the future is promising right now's.

Arriving prepared is especially important when mooring in natural harbors.

If there's a paddle, there's a way.

Adventure collectors talking about adventures collected.

Bedrock brought from afar along with the melting ice caps during the last ice age constitutes a large portion of the Vaasa Archipelago.

Adding an adventure to the collection

The sun-warm stones provide an excellent exploration ground, and the trio quickly conquers the biggest one, which earns the honor of serving as a vantage point. Adventures needn’t necessarily be more spectacular than sitting on a rock with your favorite people. Though only a few meters above sea level, at this moment, they are on top of the world.