Eero wakes us up early, as agreed if the storm is getting serious, the wind velocity threatens to rise to 20 meters/second or more (75 km/hour), and the boat is not safe for much over ten at all. we quickly gather our things, prepare the boat, and with a definite level of tension, head out towards the mainland. the ocean is extremely choppy, with wave-sets coming from several directions at once. the proliferation of islands and skerries seems to cause very complex wind and sea dynamics. Eero says that we will go back to the island if it gets too bad. it is cold. the sea is gray under the low clouds. we finally arrive after a rough ride of 40 minutes. Jussi, the keeper of the maritime station motions us through the window of the tower to come have coffee with him. I end up doing a portrait of him in the tower.
he is a sea-faring man, it is clear to me. he has the eyes of a sailor, eyes that are clear and that are focused on the horizon. he shows us that the wind speed indicator is showing only around 7.5 meters/second at the moment. we are lucky. while we are in the tower, it begins to snow. the first snow of the season. winter is here. no turning back. we say goodbye to Jussi and then to Eero, and drive towards Kemi, stopping in the forest by the sea to get a shot of the snow which Sanna has been waiting for. end up sitting talking for five or six hours, we haven’t anywhere to go, and it is comfortable and warm in the car.
finally, in the early evening, we drive into Kemi and sit in a pizza place for some dinner before Sanna drops me off at the train. when we leave the pizza place, it is snowing hard. I board the train, secure a bunk, and Sanna drives off to Tornio to do her editing.