Balls go Baltic

On wending our way through the skerries on a scenic route to this main island, Stora Fjäderholmen of the Fjãderholmarna in the inner Stockholm archipelago, we came passed Vaxholm, where the large 16th century fortress stood imposingly on its own islet whilst ferries & motor boats zoomed about the place bumping us along in their wake. The ferries don't mess around in these parts with 8 or more docking stations that swiftly pick up and drop off passengers & and whisk them off to the various island stops around the archipelago. Vaxholm, a relatively large municipality and regarded as the capital of the Stockholm archipelago looked like an interesting area - bustling with boats and people as we slowly passed through, just like proper old tourists getting in the way of the locals! Somewhere to note for another time, perhaps.

The harbour guide advised this marina as the best one to avoid ferry bounce and swell , but we weren't convinced. As we explored ashore, the neighbouring marina seemed calmer, but after the tricky buoy and stern to mooring in a fairly awkward and bouncy spot, we decided to stay put tonight. We enjoyed a meal ashore watching the water world go by. The Viking line ferry created a huge swell as usual, and by the time we'd returned to Whisper, one of our stern lines had come off! We clearly needed to rethink the lines and wait to check the next big surge.

We walked out to take in the views across to Stockholm and the artist studios - workshops in ceramics , wood & textiles. We enjoyed the guest artist work of Matilda Skoglund in the art studio. Her cows were full of character, and the street views made me want to explore Stockholm even more. Find her work at ...
www.matildaskoglund.se

Just in case you wanted a bit more history ..... in 1918, the Swedish Navy took over Fjäderholmarna, setting up military facilities for storage and the manufacture of ammunition, e.g., for torpedo boats

Fjäderholmarnas location was ideal, far enough from the capital to not pose a safety risk and close enough to quickly supply Stockholm's armed forces with
ammunition.

At the outbreak of WWII, a total ban on landing was issued, and all civilians left the islands.
Many of the current buildings on the islands were built during the naval
period. In addition, several caverns were blasted into the rock here on Stora Fjäderholmen, quays and concrete roads were built, and anti-aircraft
guns were deployed. At the peak, 150-200 people lived and worked on
the islands in the war years, with both women and men staffing the
workshops. The Navy gradually left Fjäderholmarna and in 1982, the
islands were taken over by the Royal Djurgården Administration. The
landing ban was lifted, and the buildings took on new functions.Leia mais