North bound across the Arctic Circle

on

to Bodo.

We are closing in on the end of July waking to a damp and foggy morning. Underway from the anchorage about 8:30 shutting the engine down about 10AM. Beginning to regret not hoisting the dingy back up on deck but that’s life. We had fun racing with Anne Gre that is a similar length boat built of steel , cutter rig. With her stay sail up she gets the legs on us we can out point and accelerate faster. Sailed with the Genoa and one reef then the wind shifted and lightened so we motored across the Arctic Circle. Noel, shortly before this having to enter the dingy and pass up the oars that were working themselves loose. 1350 Kalinka 1 crossed  the circle in cloudy overcast conditions. We tried to anchor in the north part of the island of Rosoeya and found lovely shallows with white sand beach but not sufficient room to swing and so 2 anchors would be needed and no way both boats could fit so…. South bound to Rosoeya  Klokkengarden Guest Harbor.  We tied up alongside and got the dingy on deck and changed down from the genoa to the working jib. Had a fight with the cook stove that Noel eventually cured when he cleared a blockage in the valve near the bottle.Spider got into the vent!  Hot soup was the reward! Then next day the barometer continued to fall and we headed to the Svartisen Glacier. We had decided we would not get ourselves weathered in at the end of the fiord but would circle past to check it out and head to a more sheltered harbour of Halsa. Had fun taking photos of each other’s boats and then under lovely sunny skies motored out the fiordand stopped the boat over a promising shoal and went fishing for an hour No cachee fishee so on to Halsa where we were the 1^st yachts on their new dock assembled earlier in the day and had a lovely welcome. Hot day and in need of cooling down so lickity split leaped over the side and had a nice swim. Not many places in the world whhheeeaaarrr you can go in the wateeerr NNNoorrrtthhh off theAAArccctttic circle wiitthooouuuttt fffffrrrreeeesssiiiing the bejesus out of you But this was one and I was in for about 15 minutes. And really I didn’t see the no swimming sign!  The days run was 34 miles with 3.5 hours under engine.  July 30^th we woke to a lowering barometer and high humidity figuring we would stay till the weather settles. Ronnie,  one of the welcoming  party brought us to his home to sort out airline ticked so Oslo for Flight on Monday Aug 4^th. We were meeting up with Noel’s Mother and sister before heading up to Littlehammer for a flying visit with family. In our absence Ank had organized a pot luck dinner in the club house. Great Fun! We contributed fresh baked bread and salad. Met Yvonne and Dennis who are teachers from England and sail a Drasome 21 about the coast and have been traveling in the summers hiking and sailing for 10+ years. Then Des and Terry with a big Niad and were heading home from having reached Svalvard this summer. What a great evening, the conversation never ceased.

Up and underway by 7:30 the next day. The anchorage that was chosen was not well enough protected for the winds forecast so after a bit of fishing with no luck but the fresh baked bread came out great so we passed ½ a loaf over by landing net. Moored alongside at Krokolmen this is 15 miles from Bodo. On long dock and we were the only boats.   Weathered in the next day enjoyed pancakes with Flip and Ank then some steamed pressure cooker bread that Ank was hoping would last….bad idea to take it out of the pot with a boat full of sailor’s and expect to have any left .It was good too. Then walk around and found a way into the locked building that looked interesting through the windows. Had to climb a ladder to the second floor that had a door open! Was a Fishing warhouse and then a resteraunt and now a closed up playhouse for the locals but still full of old fishing gear and boat parts.

August 2^nd (Andreas Birthday) Up and underway by 7:30 Tied up in Bodo by10:30 after motor boat run in lumpy seas.  The plan is to leave the boat and fly to Oslo for visit of family… Flight at 7:30am. It’s a great life!.

We caught our flight to Oslo got off the plane and onto the train got off the train at central station which really isn’t central but was close to where Mom an Andrea were staying.  Eventually found the right door out of the blankety  blankety  station and made our way to the Hotel. Phoned my cousin Anne told her we had arrived. She replied Whooppee  see you later  and that was that. Phoned moms room no answer! Knew we shouldn’t have told everyone we were coming! Found them ensconsed (that’s sitting in) the lobby begging! They made enough in the afternoon to pay for the Hotel room! Wish I had thought of that!! More later glass just emptied.