What are we waiting for?

A passenger aboard the M/S Västan at Strömkajen on Blasieholmen in Stockholm looks eager to get out on the water. It was a fine day for that sort of thing.

Chief Officer

Out strolling at Blasieholmen recently. Walking down to Strömkajen for a look at the ferries. Spotting the Chief Officer at M/S Västan. She gave me the thumbs up after I snapped the portrait. For good measure I have added a photo of the ship, taken at the same pier, but one year earlier.

100% electric power

The brand-new hydrofoil Nova ferry at Norr Mälarstrand. It will reduce the energy needed by 80%, compared to the diesel ferries. It will travel from City Hall to Trappström on Ekerö. It is a pilot project between Region Stockholm, Trafikverket and Candela. The ferry takes thirty passengers. It has a top speed of 30 knots, and a reach of around 60 Nautical miles.

Out on the water

On the same day as the BBQ and the thunderstorm, I cycled around Royal Djurgården. My goal was a sculpture museum at Waldemarsudde. Before, during, and after that visit I managed to photograph a few boats. They come in different shapes and sizes.

Ferries

Seven ferry related photos. Four ferries from Waxholmsbolaget, the main ferry company in the Stockholm archipelago. One ferry from Fjäderholmslinjen. One from SL. And two photos from Strömkajen with a young girl jumping off the boat as it reaches the pier. The job title for that has a very funny Swedish word that dates back a century. Hoppilandkalle. Translated to English, it would be, jump ashore Kalle. Back in the day it was just young boys doing that task, it is a little different these days.

Under the Bridges of Stockholm

I was halfway down the steep slope here on Royal Djurgården when I spotted the ferry in the canal, so I stopped and took a few quick shots because it is in fact two photos stitched together. The bridge is named after Folke Bernadotte.

Watercrafts

The ferry in the top photo goes between Nybrokajen and the Fotografiska museum at Katarinavägen on Södermalm. It will cost you 55 SEK, and if you are a good photographer, you will have fifteen minutes of shooting time onboard. The second photo shows the Celebrity Apex®.It is a new cruise ship, and when I snapped this photo it had just arrived from Copenhagen. Snap number three shows a billboat with a very ugly advertising screen. Although I really like Italy and anything Italian. And the fourth and final photo shows a Delfin sightseeing ferry from Strömma. It offers free wi-fi.

Liljevalchs+

Liljevalchs +. Just a bit on the ugly side. Made from, 6860 glass bottles and a lot of concrete. Designed by Gert Wingårdh and Ingegerd Råman.

M/S Östanå I

A ship from Strömma Kanalbolag leaving the pier at Strandvägen heading to the archipelago with a group of happy tourists. This was a steam ship back in the day.

Next stop the archipelago

Well, maybe not for me, but for the people waiting at the ferry port Årsta brygga. M/S Waxholm from Waxholmsbolaget in traffic since 1983, and M/S Vindöga, in traffic since 1978, from Utö rederi.

M/S Visborg

M/S Visborg arriving at the port in Nynäshamn. Usually, the ferries going between Nynäshamn and Gotland would be packed to capacity with tourists this time of the year. But not this Summer, although people are now traveling again I don't have any numbers to give you. OH, and if you want to travel from home try the Gotland website.

Sunset Ferry

The ferry from Waxholmsbolaget leaving Årsta Brygga, heading for Utö in the Haninge archipelago. Day 78 in my project 100 Days Of Darkness.

M/S Stångskär

Together with two friends I visited Landsort on Sunday. Or more precisely Öja, which is the official name of the southernmost island in the Stockholm archipelago. It is a fantastic little place. Seriously beautiful. Only twenty people live here year round. That number goes up a bit during the Summer. I arrived on the ferry M/S Stångskär. It travels between Ankarudden at the Torö island in Nynäshamn, and Öja a couple of times every day this time of the year. It only takes 68 passengers which meant that my lazy friends missed the ferry and arrived one hour later. I took quite a few photos during the visit and I will show you the most interesting in the coming days.

New Port

The new port at Årsta brygga in Haninge is under construction at the moment. The builder is E-Schakt Entreprenad AB. The new port will be bigger than the old port, and it will be easier for the ferries to visit. If you are heading to Utö, this is a good starting point. The parking situation here will also improve, something everybody who has ever visited will appreciate. goo.gl/zkuMyt

Bay Side

I spent one hour down at the ferry pier at Årsta Havsbad at the Hårsfjärden Bay on Wednesday. Relaxing in the sunshine near the kiosk as I was taking photos of boats out on the bay. I also aimed the camera at a few tourists waiting for the Silverpilen ferry to arrive to the pier. The boat will take them out to the archipelago and the Utö island. Årsta Havsbad dates back to 1929. It was built as a summer resort for workers after an idea from the architect Sven Wallander. Seven hundred small wooden houses were built along with a hotel (it burned down in 1970), and a number of stores, including a butcher and a hair dresser. Today it looks a bit different as many people live here year round. Despite that all the stores are gone, except for a pizza place and a small convenient store at the square. If you recognise the name, it's because this is where you will find my favorite beach and I have shown you a number of photos from here over the last three years. Here is a link to a beach panorama I shot last month.

Queueing Tourists

Tourists waiting at Årsta Brygga to get aboard the ferry to Utö. An island in the Haninge archipelago. During the summer months the island sees a lot of visitors. It's a great place to rent a bike, paddle a canoe, or just find a beach and do absolutely nothing.Or you could visit the old mill or the old mine. Read more here.

Waxholm II The Arrival (+vimeolink)

I shot a video of the Waxholm II departing the port at Årsta Brygga the other week. Here's the ferry after just arriving to the same port. I made a video where you can hear a very upset gull screaming...
www.vimeo.com/clip:95154

Waxholm II

Waxholm II ready to depart from Årsta Brygga in Haninge. Next stop the island of Utö. There is a small beach here as you can see, but all the sunbathers are at Årsta Havsbad which is a 400
meters to the right from here. I came here after some sunbathing over at the beach. Follow the link below for a short video www.vimeo.com/clip:91564

. Press here for more info in english about Utö.