The final log of the Sjo Skip Kalinka1 for 2014

So on Aug 30/14. At 2230 I’m back on board Kalinka1 at the little Marina at Eidkjosen.

 So now what? Well no Sally, Soooo Party Time!!!!!!!!!

Woke up on Sept 1/14. Bright and early to the pitter patter of rain drops so may rain drops falling from the sky.I just rolled over  and got up a little later. Walked up to the Grocery store bought some supplies and got right down to doing some boat jobs in the rain. Mostly inside so no big deal. Spent most of the next two weeks doing jobs such as Ham radio, tuner, some wiring, mounted a hot spot for the internet antenna. Put on some clamps for the toe rail. In and out of town on the bus wandered around the shopping mall and then went off sailing for a couple of days when we got a break in the weather, to Hamneneset also known as North Lanengren). For a change we sailed to and from. By we I mean Anne Gre  and Kalinka1.

Mon. Sept 15/14 Glen and Jacques arrived from Toronto after a stop over in Iceland. We all got reacquainted I got caught up with all the gossip had a nice dinner of ground beef hash and beer and to bed.

Tues. Sept 16/14 at 1015 I managed to get the boat off the dock and we set motor to Toftfjorden . the site of a massacre of Norwegian underground members by the Germans. One managed an incredible escape and a book was written about it. (We die alone which is the second of two books by the same author including The Shetland Bus) I highly recommend you read them! We arrived at 1630 after an uneventful day set the anchor in 8 metres of water in the drizzle but flat calm water and settled in for the evening. A very quiet evening (read between the lines) and after a gourmet dinner of Hval, potates, and carrots we all toddled off to bed. Really I toddled as I had to go to the v berth while Glen and Jacques kind of just flopped over as they were sleeping in the main cabin.

Wed. Sept. 17/14 at 0900 upped anchor without any moaning or groaning and off we went for another short 35 or so miles to the thriving community of Skjervoey where (drum roll sound of trumpets) We could get a shower and do some laundry. OH HEAVEN OH BLISS hot water clean and clean sheets to!! Happy days are here again! Did the walk about thing. Not much to see really. 

And then?

Thurs. Sept 18/14 1000 Off we went to Joekel fjorden    and the Joekel  Glacier. Saw a whole bunch of Reindeer White ones and Brown ones on the shore doing reindeer stuff in the rain whilst we motored by. We got very close to the glacier and took a whole bunch of pictures (hope they turn out) we then found an anchorage in 10 metres but very exposed to anything from the South or West but the weather was supposed to stay quiet so we dropped the hook and relaxed watching some more reindeer doing reindeer stuff in some ones front yard!

Fri. Sept 18/14 we returned to Skjervoey for the night. Saw the Northern lights again

Sat. Sept. 19/14 0800 Off again this time to Lyngenfjord  and again another Motorboat ride we were going to go right down the Fjord to the town of Lyngen but on the way we spotted a small bay with a big waterfall and a glacier on the top so we detoured into it and anchored the boat in 8 metres of water at the mouth of the stream running out.  The water was fresh and coloured white from all the runoff.As we motored through it, It separated  and you could see multi layers as it was mixed together. We put the rubber boat into the water and Glenn and Jacques went ashore first as I didn’t trust the anchorage if the wind came up as we were only about 20 feet from the shore. 30 feet out the water was 90 feet deep! They returned about an hour later and it was my turn to go for a walk, scramble up to the base of the water fall. Neat walk and I had some alone time.  It was about ½ to ¾ kilometer walk and pretty easy going until very near the base of the falls. The top of the falls was somewhere between 1,000 and 3,000 feet over my head. It’s just a guess as I didn’t have my trusty tape measure with me dam! Would have liked to go for a swim, but getting out of boots, wooley socks, fouly pants,(foul weather not fouled) wooly jumper, flannel shirt, long johns and jockeys and removing my red fleecy custom made hat would have been just too much trouble and besides it was cold and drizzly so I didn’t. But I would have really!

I made my way back to the shore only to be told by my crew that a decision had been made to leave me there as they were going to head south!!. I begged and pleaded and promised to be a good Captain if only they would let me back on board. I didn’t whine or cry though. Glenn relented and let me back into the rubber boat and made me row back to Kalinka1. Yup made me! Didn’t ask just said do it! Me, the captain who had been nice and considerate and non demanding! So I rowed and I rowed and I rowed and we finally got to the mother ship scrambled aboard.

Then.

I was forced, forced to catch dinner! Me the Captain actually forced to catch and then cook dinner. Oh the shame oh the shock oh the loss of respect and fear  I tossed out the secret lure and bingo bongo bango two torsk were floppin around in the cockpit and after a very quick bonk on the head with a pump handle and a very sharp filleting knife they were filleted and made ready for the pan.

Dinner that evening excellently prepared and masterfully cooked to perfection by yours truly was Torsk fillets rolled in a secret batter (so secret I can’t even remember it so don’t ask) New Norsk potatoes, carrots and peas.

All was forgiven and I was Captain again!

We moved over to a mooring ball that had been set in 80 feet of water and decided that we would spend the night right there. Actually it was me and not those two mutinous dogs who made the decision.

It got dark rather rapidly and the Northern Lights or as the Norwegians say Northern lights came on and it was just stunning.

In the morning of Sun., Sept 20/14 we awoke to ,,,,,,,,,SNOW!!!!!!!!! Snow covering the mountains on the ground and on the deck! Brrrrrrrr. Also wet sleet blowing around us. So at 0830 we dropped the ball and headed South to the town of Lyngenen . where we found a spot on the end of a long wide pontoon and settled in for the rest of the day.

The rest of the day consisted of sleet, snow rain and drizzle with some wet wind tossed in just to make things interesting!

Mon. Sept 21/14 at 0730 we left beautiful  Lyngenen and started our way back to Tromso  Managed to have an on board snowball fight on the way between zero visibility snow squalls and stopped for the day in North Lenangen bought some dinner supplies and had a quiet night.

Tues. Sept 21/14 motored to downtown Tromso took a pontoon finger and all went a shore to do walk about and admire the scenery and wild life

Wed. Sept 22/14 0800 left the city centre and headed off to the site of the Tirpitz. Couldn’t see much from the water and no real interest in putting dinghy in the water so we motored back to Tromso and up to Skattora marina where on Thurs. Sept 23/14 Kalinka 1 was hauled out and made ready for the winter and on Monday Sept 29/14 we all flew home to Toronto.

PPPhhhhhheeeeewwwww!!!! Finally done! See you next year God willing By By.

The Wedding

The wedding trip!

You all ready know that we got up really really early to catch a flight to London.

So we did and took off in fog so thick you could cut it with a sharp knife! We went strait up for a couple of thousand feet and then viola there we were in lots of sunshine and clear blue skies. Downside we couldn’t see anything of the country below us. Oh well trusty tablet to the rescue and on board wifi and solitaire and then we landed in Oslo.

 Got the bag made the dutyfree purchases cleared immigration and airbourne once again. This time could see the North sea and all the little boats sailing up and down and back and forth .

 Landed at Gatwick caught the train for Saltash. (Now that’s a name for a town, Just rolls right off the tongue and evokes a a picture of salt and tach. (I have know idea what tach is) 5 hours later we arrived there after crossing the Brunnell Bridge.

 Saltash is just south of or West of Plymouth which is on the South coast of England. Got off the train walked up the path and,,,,,,,,,,,,,,we’re in the end of nowhere! A side street with no name, No Taxi’s No buses No Nuthin!!!!! And it begins to rain just to liven things up! Now what I asked? Let me look after it Sally replied and she immediately went and spoke to a girl she had met on the train and we had a 10 minute free ride to the Hotel (Travel Lodge). Got settled in Called Sally’s Sister who invited us to dinner Yippppeeeeee had too beat the heck out of the attached Burger King right? So caught a cab. (Really didn’t have to go out and catch one just phoned and one came right to us) Jumped in and said Take us to Heather’s place.(Heather is Sally’s sister) the cabby looked at me dumfounded and said don’t know any Heather. Ooooops then turned everything over to Sally and eventually we arrived! Greeted by all the Smiths and a couple of wantabbbbs. Pizza and beer for dinner. Bliss.

Sat. Aug 29^th/14 arose at about 0700 showered dressed in best bib and tucker (yea I know what’s tucker? I don’t know either but I sure looked good as did the lovely Sally. Went out the door and there was our trusty cab awaiting to take us off to the wedding of the year! 

We arrived at  Castle and wandered around looking for everyone else and I heard a shout from an upstairs window. Low and behold there’s my Brother in Law Adrian hanging out saying they would be right down and they were! We all had a great reunion then off to the front court yard. Where Sally and I and numerous others piled into a chartered coach while Adrian and Sandra got the Bentley! Something wrong with this picture!!

After a short drive we all exited said coach and made our way into an 11^th century Church, sat in some uncomfortable pews and waited, and waited and waited some more for the Bride. Helen eventually arrived looking just gorgeous and beemy. The wedding went off without a hitch. We all piled back into the coach and the corks were popped and.

Good thing we had a driver I’ll tell ya. A whole case of Champagne was consumed on the drive back to the castle. We then spent the afternoon sipping and sampling and kind of just being lords of the manor and catching up with family gossip etc etc. Then we were called to table. What a repast. Stuffed speeches and desert. Then dancing in the ballroom! With a twist.(No not the dance just something different) We all got our own headsets! 5 chanels of music take your pick and have at it! So waltzes, rock funk and who knows but a lot of fun! I became a little tired so sat in a couch literally in as I just sunk and needed a derrick to lift me out! Fell a sleep woke up and told to go home. So I did.

Sun Aug 30/14 Up early went for a walk tried to catch a bus back to Hotel no Luck got a cab this time we had to catch it! Got Sally back to Hotel to catch a ride with Adrian and Sandra back to Ireland. (I stayed behind to go back to Norway) Sally and everyone else left the room so I kind of did nuthin. Had dinner at the Burger King Uuuuuggggg!!!!!! Good thing whiskey in the room! Watched some idiot box fell asleep up early on Mon. morning cab to train long ride to Gatwick and flights back to Tromso where I arrived at 2200 Cab to boat and?????????????

Eidkojosen and beyond

Ok so we've arrived at Eidkjosen  have room on the big Pontoon had a celebratory drink, dinner and a good nights sleep. So what do we do next?

At 1030 in the morning on Monday Aug.,25/14 we cast off our lines and head to Tromso proper. What the heck it’s only 7 miles away and we need to check things out right?

After another wonder full fun filled  motor boat wonder why it’s not called engine boat? After all it is an engine that propels it when there is no wind unless you have oars or a scull which really is just 1 long oar hung on the back of the boat. Maybe because motor boat sounds better? Any how we engine all the way and arrived at the municipal harbour in downtown Tromso which is pronounced trumsa or close to that anyway. So we tied up to 1 of many empty pontoons. (I always thought pontoons were what hung on the bottom of a sea plane instead of wheels or used for bridges as in pontoon bridge) we secured the boat and walked up the pontoon to street level. Then we read the sign. Holy( remembering this is a family narrative) heck!!!! 260 Kroner per 24 hours. No washrooms no showers no washing machines no nuthin! No wonder it’s empty!! Now 260 sounds really really expensive and it is but the converted rate from Kroner to Euros to Pounds sterling to US dollar to Canadian dollar works out to about $42.00 depending of course on the time of the day, the state and position of the moon , whether or not there are any sun spots or the finance ministers of all the above countries need a new car or fur coat for their respective wives or girlfriends or boyfriends, or  husbands or significant others. Your guess is as good as mine but bottom line Holy Heck.

So we just went for a short walk got the lay of the land so to speak and the left.

We engine out under the big bridge and made our way up to Skattora Marina. We tied up to the fuel dock and went to find someone who might just might know about storing the boat for the winter. We found such a person whose name is Bjorn Admunsen. Go figure named after me and that other fella Roald. Any way after lengthy discussions and bargaining I got a price.

We also got a pontoon for the night. After a some what sleepless night and much thought and navel gazing I/we decided that this would be where we would leave Kalinka 1 for the winter.  Sorry had to go and put my veg on the stove. Did I tell you that we had a new stove on Kalinka1? Anyway it’s a gas as in propane not what you have after eating cabbage but it could probably burn that gas to but maybe not such a nice odour. Where the heck was I?

We spent the night!

The next morning Tues. Aug 26/14 After further discussions I was able to get an even better deal ! Great. Made arrangement  as to when the boat would come out etc etc etc. then we left returned to Tromso municipal Marina/rip off joint and went ashore. Found out from an unnamed source(reliable) that the powers to be don’t come around and check the boats on their docks. Go figure.  Had a nice walk about and did some geo caching found 3 I think or maybe it was just 1? Then engined  back to Eidkjosen.

Wed. Aug 27/14 We braved the municipal bus and rode it into the city and went to Polaria.

Polaria is an Aquarium/museum with live seals fishes star fishes clams, crabs and other assorted sea life and of course Tourists. But not so many. So we did the exhibits and were there in time for the feeding and training session. Wow seals can jump out of the water and catch balls and zoom about who would have guessed?

Thurs Aug. 28/14 Flip and I  bicycled 6 k to the site of where the Tirpitz was finally sunk. We got there at low tide so were able to see some of the remains of the ship and crew. The ship was salvaged and broken up after the war. It is in only 10 to 20 metres of water.

Fri. Aug 29. We’re up at god awfull 0430 to catch a 0715 airplane to Oslo then to Gatwick then a train to Saltash for Ed and Helen’s wedding.

Eidkjosen or Bust

Torsdag Aug 21/14. 0930

A rather reasonable time to get underway from beautiful  Harstad!  Motored out of the harbor and through some reefs,not coral just hard rock though there is some coral that grows in the cold water. Just not here. Once clear of all the dangers at least the visible ones. There are submarines and krakens and sharks an other things, critters around but out of sight out of mind I always say. Well not really I kind of keep the out of mind stuff to my self don’t want anyone to get the wrong idea.

So were under way and it’s a really nice morning with enough wind to sail so we did. Shutting the engine (not motor as a motor is electric) off. Bliss just the gentle sound of the wind and the boat cutting through the water on a port tack. Sally made tea and then we had coffee and I think sticky buns. Then we went over on to the starboard tack had some more coffee

Break for sailing lesson: Port tack means the wind is coming from the left or port side of the boat when looking to the pointy end unless the boat is a double ender (pointy at both ends)then your on your own because I don’t know. Port is also the side most ships used to tie up on or it’s a red wine and it’s the opposite to Starboard which is the right side of the boat and where the steering oar was on Viking ships was so it wasn’t a very good idea to crashing into an English or Irish wall when visiting for a long weekend as without steering it could be problematic making a get away!

We tack again on to the Port tack and make our way to Engenes.

 Where the harbor entrance is a wee bit tricky with a following wind as you have to go quite close to shore in shallow water before making a sharp right hand turn in to the basin which is invisible from seaward so you have no idea if there is room or whether or not it’s deep enough. The charts and cruising guides are mum on this (warped sense of humor I guess) any way we managed all this and getting the sails down and fenders out and mooring lines all ready Actually Sally did all that I just steered. I put on one sail tie though so I guess I can say we? We entered the harbour  and there was a BIG fishing boat tied up so figured there was enough water at least! Then I spyed an empty finger (dock) don’t really know what an empty finger looks like or how you would fill one? Is there enough room was the next question? Think so said the bow lookout,don’t think so said the captain. Too late now said the crew. Holy (remembering this is a family page) Heck said the Captain. We slid in there with inches to spare and made a safe landing and phooey no one there to witness this feat of fine outstanding seamanship!

Got all settled in helped Anne Gre. (did I mention their still tagging along?) Then an old J41 came sailing in we pointed them to the slip (another word for dock or finger not what you wear under a see through dress). They took one look and used words to the effect  of your crazy we won’t fit and quickly reversed and went onto the end of the main pontoon. Everyone now happy so Sally and I loaded up the tablet(electronic not stone) and went off geo caching. Had a nice walk up to the Kirke and actually found the cache (Cache is French for hide).

Fri. Aug 22/14 0815 not so civilized as yesterday but still tolerable we left Engenes for Finnsnes. Wind on the nose of course and cold. Wooley hat time.

 At about 1300 we shut the engine off and drifted over a promising shoal and I managed to catch a 3# Torsk and then a 3# Sei. We don’t have Sei in North America too bad as they are a tasty fish.

 Sally managed to catch them in the landing net.

 I cleaned, filleted and cleaned up after the two fish and we continued on our way arriving at Finnsnes at 1600.

 Got squared away had a shower OH Wonder full lots of Hot water. Girls did Laundry.

Sat. Aug. 23/14 0800 up and breakfast then walk to town. Lots of shops and even a Best Marine! Just bought some food. Nothing at Best though fun to look. Had coffee and sticky bun and even managed another cache!

 We left Finnsness at 1500 as we only had 6 miles to go to an anchorage

.

Well the anchorage was wide open to the wind on the nose and besides was full of fishing gear so couldn't get an anchor down! Change of plans. (We’re good at this!) Some quick chart work and we headed off to Karvikshamn. “means Karvik’s home but you knew that right?” When we got there, their were a lot of small boats on moorings and one really big mooring so we took that one hoping we wouldn't have to get up in the middle of the night to vacate. Had a very good nights sleep!

Sun. Aug 24/14 0700 up! Not so civilized but nice and sunny! Had to turn the furnace on though or the crew wasn't getting out of bed! Made tea had a shave arranged train tickets in the UK. Then off the mooring at 0900 and had a leisurely Motor Boat ride to Tromso passing through Straumfjord at 1330 with the tide and arrived at Eidkjosen at 1500. Whee uuuu. We’re here Yippeee. Celebratory drink(s) .

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Harstad

When I last wrote, the narrative was all about Narvik in August but the actual time was this morning. Could this really be time travel? Just asking cause I sure don’t know. But anyway it’s now 1800 my time and with any luck this work of fiction/non fiction will bring us all up to date. I’m writing this now because I’ve/we’ve just had twenty days of rain and some big winds so have been held hostage by mom nature. Knew I should have better Oh well!

So on with the play.

We left Narvik at 0530 yup 0530 good thing it never got dark or I would have had to say 0dark thirty. On Mon Aug 18 in the year of our lord 2014 or just plain old 2014. And it was dark and stormy! That’s a drink by the way made with Ginger beer and Dark rum. Hmm might have to make one. The weather was actually pretty nice with a bright sunny blue sky and we were running with the tide Not that that helped us as the normal current (the movement of the sea not the berries) was South and of course we were going which way? Then we got to Romsund! Oh my! The tide was against us!! 4 knots and let me tell you top speed in frontwards on the engine is about 6 knots so take away 4 knots which means your actually our because your not here speed was 2 knots over the ground It made for a verrrrrrrry long 10 miles. Then when we cleared the sound we got some wind and if you have been paying attention you know what direction it came from. We eventually arrived at and secured to a pontoon in Harstad at 1600. Wandered around the marina and got our bearings asked about winter storage in and out of the water got scary prices think they might have been go away pricing.

Tues. morning we were up bright and early not so early as yesterday but still early and it wasn’t bright kind of gloomy with RAIN and wind! So we caught the local city bus and rushed into town. Not much happening in town on a Tuesday morning but it sure beat the stuffing out of a dull dreary wet windy day on the boat so we made the best of it and went and had a kaffe Americano and a sticky bun checked our emails and downloaded a bunch of geo caches and had a Grand old time wandering around back alley’s burned out buildings churches town squares ferry docks and waterfront dives looking for the elusive Norwegian geo cache These people are devious!! We managed find a couple in spite of them! Did a bit of shopping (food as the fridge is still not working but that’s another story ) returned to the boat on the bus(too far to walk) had a nice dinner of? Anyway Sally cooked it and it was good.

Then we all went off to town to the cave!

 No it wasn't a night club or a place for bats or vampires to hang about. But an underground swimming pool water slide current pool hot tub sauna steam room kind of place. We tried them all I really enjoyed the water slide and the Steam room not so much the pool and hot tub as too many people and exercise. When I came out of the Hot tub which was really a cool tub as the hot wasn't on. All my stuff was gone! Not so bad as my stuff consisted of flip flops and a towel but they were mine! I was depressed!!! So I went and got changed anyway and met everyone else in the cafe. Civilized this country is a cafe next to the pool with drinks and snacks and a window so you can look in at the swimmers. Eventually  the rest of the crew showed up and so did my  towel and shoes they thought I had forgotten them. Yea right! They were just having a joke at my expense! So we headed back to the good ship Kalinka1 had a night kap  and flopped into the V berth (the bed in the pointy end of the boat and flop really doesn't describe it as you have to use a step to get up and kind of crawl/slide/curl and wiggle(not the fun kind of wiggle) into and then you have to turn around! Eventually you get under the blankets and your partner, significant other and best friend up to this point has to repeat the maneuvers  just  described without getting unmentionable body parts  in your face.  All this is accomplished with words of endearment, Be careful, I am, get your out of my face I’m trying, try harder, I am, no your not yes I am NO YOUR NOT! YES I AM  and eventually we’re both tucked in. Well sort of, Then there is the polite discussion about foot room (v berth = no foot room at the pointy end for you who have not experienced one) Once that’s settled usually in Sally’s

favour (I’m not that dumb) then there is the discussion about sharing the blankets(we use real blankets and sheets and comforters) I usually loose this one to but I have to keep trying. I’m too tired to read but Sally wants to so I finally pull my little corner of the blanky over my head and go to sleep..

   

Narvik part Two or finally I'm getting it finished!

Starting where I left off It’s now the morning of Sun Aug.17/14. A beautiful ,Sunny clear quiet morning. And since we didn't have to return the rental car until after 10 we had a leisurely  breakfast and then all piled into the rental car and went to town. The road was empty! Not that it made much difference because you can’t speed anyway, did I mention narrow roads and hidden speed cameras? There were a couple of things I wanted to do and see and the others were not particularly interested in so I got dropped off at the Cemetery with a promise to meet at the tourist office later when it opened. If I haven’t mentioned it all ready in a previous post  Norway is closed on Sundays. So to actually find something that is open is a rare treat and not to be sneezed at! Or spoken of loudly in case the powers to be hear and shut it down so mums the word!

So back to the cemetery.  I went to the war graves sections, British(including some Canadians),French, Polish and Germans. The striking thing was the age differences. The Germans were mostly in their 30’s and some 40 years old. While the rest were in their early 20’s and sometimes teenagers ( I have boots older than that) Most were sailors some aircrew and some army. A sobering quiet well-tended place.

Flip joined me  there after dropping off the rental car and we walked to the Tourist Office that of course was drum roll trumpets sounding open!! Received(big word for got) further information on what was open on Sundays. First  thing mentioned was church go figure on Sunday. Now just to confuse things Lordag(Lords day) is actually Saturday and Sunday is Sondag(the day the sun is supposed to come out .Rarely happens so a special day) Monday is mandag(named after half of us)Tuesday is tirsdag(named after the god Tir) onsdag er Wednesday name after Odin not wedding day as you all thought) Thursday er torsdag after the Big hammer god Thor) fredag(after Frey(r) the god of virility prosperity and fun)is Friday which just happens to be most paydays and the start of fun days you pick what kind of fun! Which brings us to lordag. Right back where we started and you have all had a lesson in Norwegian and didn’t even know it. Boy I’m good.

Completely lost my train of thought! Though living with Sally (who I love dearly by the way)it’s generally totally confused anyway. We all left the tourist office much better informed then when we went in and sat outside and had coffee and a sandwich then walked up the main street. Have I mentioned that walking in Norway is always up hill hence walking up the street except going the other way which is down the street or never mind you can figure it out. We all went to the Narvik war museum the girls spent about 10 minutes and then went off to do Girl things while Flip and I had a fascinating time and got chased out when the museum closed! We all met later and Flip and Ank went back to the boat well Sally and I stayed behind. We then tried to get the LAST BUS back to the boat. We waited for an hour at the wrong stop. I was not happy! We started to walk thankfully downhill this time. We walked and we walked and the we walked some more and no matter what Sally tells you I did not whine. As we were walking down the sunny side of the street in Narvik not Laredo  a bil (car) blew it’s horn at us! We were on the sidewalk even! It was our friend Flip with a total stranger who happened to have a bil come to rescue us. Not that we needed rescuing  mind. I reluctantly accepted the ride and we all made it back to the marina safely So ends part two except for pictures of course so here are a few.

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Narvik

Thurs. Aug 14/14. 0700 up and at em. Made tea had a shower visited Anne Gre and decided we would leave beautiful down town  Svalvard and head off to where ever not never never that’s a different place home to Peter.  

So we left! End of blog!

 Got ya heehee!!

 Motored out of the harbor this time missing the rocks! Misty and flat water and only miles to go.  Checked out a really nice anchorage it even had a mooring ball and signs on the shore saying it was a bird sanctuary! I didn't know that birds were religious and needed sanctuary but there you go learn something new every day.  Anchorage not big enough or protected enough for two boat if bad weather so we continued on our way to where ever not never never! Saw a couple(2) Sea eagles sitting on a cairn eying us up to see if we were worth eating.  After a few more hours we arrived at the harbour of Skarstad at 1930. 7;30pm for you land lubbers.  Sally made an Omelet for dinner and we had an early night. Rained tigers and bears during the night so glad we weren't in the anchorage!

Woke up on Fri. Aug. 15/14 at about 0700 made tea had breaky and did a short walk about town and got underway at  0815 and had a great sail to Narvik arriving at 1330. We found an empty pontoon so tied up and then found out we couldn't get out as the pontoon gates were locked! Phooey or words to that effect so untied all the lines and motored around to the fuel dock where we tied up.

Now Narvik for you who don’t know was the scene of one of WW2’s major battles. The town was virtually leveled by British bombs and then German bombs and there are 34 wrecks of German, British,Norwegian,French and Polish warships in the harbor and close vicinity some still visible on the shore. So lots of history. We had the afternoon so did an oil change ( I needed something to do!) and now have it down to an hour from 2 ½ the first time I did it with the new engine.

Anyway we had a good nights sleep and on Sat. Aug.,16/14 we all got up early caught the bus to the tourist office where we rented a bill(Norwegian for car) and off we went to Sweden! A really nice drive up through the mountains and through the rain or low clouds what ever it was wet and blowy. The reason for the trip was that everything is cheaper in Sweden! Of course when you add in the price of the rental and gas and bus fare maybe not so much! But it was a nice drive and we even got to go to Lapland.(The place where the Saami live not the place where the dancers land). Did our shopping and I got to drive back, Whooppie all down hill! Wet roads and all. Did I mention Norwegian roads before? Well if I did too bad cause here is a brief description, Scary!!!! Their idea of a super highway is two narrow lanes (think Volkswagen) An aside most of the roads were actually built by the Germans, well not really the actual work was done by Russian POW’s or slave labour take your pick. Anyway  the roads are are TOO NARROW!!!! Windy and lumpy! Would be a lot more fun on a Motor Cycle.  The route took us by the site of the prison camp. Top of mountain no trees no wind breaks no running water no heat =not nice. And also by one of the major Battle fields or in this case mountains as no fields. Where the Norwegians without winter clothing and out gunned were actually winning! until the capitulation by the Government which of course P’d them all off. And the rest is history so they say. I don’t know who “they were/are” but you get the drift.

So we returned to Narvik/boats with our canny shopping and called it a day and a Night.  

Ouch!

Rainy day! So catch up not ketchup day.

So

We left off with a visit to family. Had a grand time but now we’re back on board having arrived yesterday.(Not really yesterday but for the purpose of continuity yesterday). Went for a walk (long) to the airplane museum. Well worth the sore feet aching back and knees! Lots of old airplanes including Spitfire, Hurricane, Fochwulf, Heinkel , Mosquito, Catilina and the U2 plus a whole bunch more and a very nice exhibit on Little Norway. The training base at Toronto Island airport and Muskoka.

Monday Aug.11/14 1000 Left Bodo under power as no wind again.(Should go to the dark side maybe and buy a motor boat)  Arrived at Kjerringoey found a pontoon and moored. Then went for a walk to the restored trading post that is now a museum. Watched a short movie and then to see the buildings and artifacts. As we walked one of the employees was going  ahead of us locking up! We were not pleased!! Returned to the Reception desk and got our money back! Picked some berries, red and black currants and Gooseberries Then had an ice cream felt better. Returned to the boat and Anne Gre was there so reunion and the girls went off to get more berries (they got chased away but that’s another story.

Tuesday Aug.12/14 Wide awake at 0730 ahh the good life one can sleep in! We finally got our act together (I got up and made the tea and then Sally got up) and we managed to get off the pontoon at 1000 It’s nice the days are so long as there is no rush to save daylight for arrivals. We motored along in through a rock garden on a cloudy no wind day. Stopped for a bit of fishing and managed to catch a small torsk (cod) and the stopped at the harbor of Moroya where we had torsk boiled potatoes and carrots for dinner.

Wed Aug 13/14. Away today even earlier at 0700 and motored across the Vestfjord to the Lofoten Islands where (drum roll) I got confused by two marks really close together and I went  or actually tried to go through as it turned out on the wrong side and loud sound of lead keel hitting and sliding up on a very old hard piece of Norwegian granite that was only 18 inches blow the surface! We came to a rather abrupt stop. Looked at each other said oh darn this isn't so good now what? Ha I have a new engine and a re-pitched prop. So I put er in backup hit the throttle and vrrrroooommmm vvvrrrroooommm 2500 rpm’s and we slid off that sunker at warp -7 (minus 7 because we all know or should know that when going backwards speed is reversed also but back to sliding off the rock. We were going so fast we created a wave that was so big How big you ask, It was so big I got my feet wet! Sally was smarter  she was up higher on the roof. Once everything had settled down I leisurely made my way below to check for leaks. Didn't see anything out of the ordinary so we continued into the harbor of Svalvard. Where we found a convenient pontoon tied up and had BIG Drink.

We went ashore and never had the warm and fuzzy feeling that we've had in most places. Inquired about winter storage and the powers to be weren't  interested at all. So did the town walk about did a bit of shopping and that was that.