Moors and forests

We have spent the last few weeks trying to outsmart the weather here in Estonia. Really tricky - not horrible but not exactly bright and sunny most of the time either. Probably have had just a few really hot days. Last Sunday spent at the beach of Karepa with lots of friends and that was really nice. The beach was very busy although normally there are just a few people but this time everyone was trying to take the chance and make the best of a rare sunny day. I still found the water too cold but the kids swam in the sea and in the river (and nobody got sick). They made new friends and the boys started a mud-war against the girls who were in the minority and had to retreat soon. Beatrice was happy to play with her old friend Leena and to look after her little brother as well. Raoul was also a good babysitter.

Then last week one day we went to see a buffalo-farm here nearby. Had heard that there are some activities going on but as we got there it turned out there is a "family day" on Sundays only. However the boss whom we ran into told us to go to the stables anyway after we had already made the effort to come and have a look around. There we found a lovely girl who showed us around and let hold little chicks and feed the rabbits and touch the goats and turkeys and all sorts of animals she was taking care of. We stayed nearly 2 hours! Will go again on Sunday to see the activities.

Then another day we went to a little seaside village of Ka"smu that has become really pretty but still in the lovely old style of white wooden "captain's houses" with big verandhas overlooking the bay. There is a small maritime museum and just now there was a small stage built on the sea for an outdoor play. A few boats inspired us for a good hour's play of pirates, great big stones for climbing in the small yacht harbour. Then found a cafe with another pirate-ship playground. On the way homeward stopped at a nature information point in the national park and discovered a small museum about woods and forests including an old "cone-drying hut" with working equipment. There is also a beautiful watermill that has been privately restored now. The lady from the centre recommended the beaver walk nearby, so we did that afterwards. Didn't see any beavers but very clearly their "work" in the river.

Today did another nature trip - to a moor this time. I have wanted to bring the kids to a moor with a boardwalk for some time and now I found one not too far away with a nice track that was not too long. It said on the map a bit over 5 km but it felt soooo much longer. Very pretty landscape though - most of the track went on a sand-dune that surrounds part of the moor with light pine forests and soft moss on the ground. Also the boardwalk through the soft moor was exciting. There were resting huts and a tower with a 360 degree view along the way. Found lots of chanterelles and porcinis that gave us a fantastic dinner. Loads of blueberries, some cloudberries, the cranberries are not ripe yet. But mostly I enjoyed the quiet and the beauty of the landscape. Surprisingly all kids did really well. Beatrice was most of the time far ahead with my dad although usually she is the one who wants to go back after the first 200 m. Raoul ran most of the time and only started to moan at the end when the mozzies attacked. Karl was lagging behind a lot but mostly because he was busy with bugs. His basket was not for mushrooms but for creapy crawlies and these were not so easy to catch. With the picknick it probably took us well over 2 hours. Such a great experience! Beatrice made a great comment a few days ago "why is it not like that in Singapore, here in Estonia it's nature, nature, nature all the time. But actually I do like nature". She has started a herbarium and has learned a lot of plants by names. Wants to become a vet!