Episode 10, Sorry we left things hanging.

 Episode 10, Sorry we left things hanging.

Woke up early the next day as we had to go back to Hafnafjordur to purchase 14 straps to replace the ones we got from the club.

Early AM phone call woke us....what now?

Marcus chuckling...

 Marcus phoned to tell us we didn't have to as the truck driver didn't like what we had done so undid everything and used his own strapping! Bonus saved us a few thousand Kroner!

He did not mention that he had nailed blocking to prevent the cradle from shifting...This we learned about later with yet another heart stopping phone call form EimSkip. Noel getting connected.

When we booked our room through the tourist office we messed up so when we were checking in we had to extend our stay, upon doing so, they gave us the larger room. We were so tired the night before and so happy not to have to climb to the third floor that this was super welcome news. 

Then Marcus's call meant we could go back to sleep not needing to replace the straps securing Kalinka

 A funeral for a Harley owner. 

The non "Harley's" were not let near the hearse but sure was impressive. Prior to departure they did a three cheers with revving engines - What a great noise, the cathedral reflected the sound wonderfully. 

We figured it would be hard to see a better collection at a show. 

Our hotel was at the doorstep to the cathedral. We were seeking the bus stop that we needed to be at for getting to the airport. We failed to find it with the motorbikes but when we check back at the hotel we understood where we needed to be. So we had lunch and figured next steps. 

Our room picnic, there were a few meals like this. 

We set about town and booked two tours. One for later the next day to the Blue Lagoon and the other on a coach to see the south coast. Then we had a draft.

Glad we were not driving they seem to have a high alcohol %

says she with the heavy dark beer.

Sally entering the Blue lagoon following the goons

Noel at the waterfall, the water pounded down so his ears flapped :) My ears do not flap!

 You got a mud face mask as part of the ticket. The mud couple.

 Lava, flowers and the path.  Bet you didn't know lava flowered?

 

The geothermic power plant, the spa is all the waste water. 

The next day, Sunday we had booked a nine hour bus tour along the south coast. 

Disused hydro electric power plant.  The square boxie thing you can hardly see.

The ridge of lava with the scree slope. 

There seemed to be more water falling then what water is in the stream.

Noel at the end of the rainbow. No Gold fooy! It was at the other end.

You could walk up and get behind this waterfall. Noisy even without my ears

Black beaches near the bird sanctuary

 The Old Troll woman

Puffins not disturbed by having their photo taken.

The location of this bird sanctuary has no artificial light about so when the chick flies for the first time it can head directly towards the moon with no confusion. The islands on the SE corner have the residents and children gather up the chicks that get distracted by the artificial light of the port and the streetlights. They then release them from the sanctuary as where they leave from they return too.  

Caves at the black sand beach. 

Looking up to the roof.

 Lying down hexagonal Basalt formations.

It was so windy we had the sand getting into our eyes. Had to find somewhere in the lee for our picnic. 

The town of Vic, the southern most town in Iceland 

Vic, looking the other way. Tourism is the one industry, it used to be mining and agriculture market.

We got home and had a sushi picnic in our room. 

The next morning, Noel called EimSkip just to confirm all was in order and the boat would go.

No, apparently the cradle needed to be secured to the shipping deck!
Noel was so not happy....we were booked to fly out the next morning...why were we only hearing about this now when there had been all day Friday to communicate to us? 

We had to provide a list of the boats contents!

Then a list of that what inflates...The life raft

Did we wish cargo coverage? He would have to get back to us with the rate. 

These were all separate calls over Thursday and Friday so to to find out on Monday that shipping was in question was a blow!

 

We were at a loss as to what to do now/next. Shooting came to mind

We put a call through to Marcus the Harbour Master at Hafnafjordur. We were grasping at straws. Did he know anything? He laughed, he said the truck driver mentioned his concern when he was changing out the straps. Marcus, being of the nature to fix a problem, then nailed blocks of wood to the shipping deck to stop the cradle from being able to move. The truck driver was happy and drove away to get the  boat to the Port  for loading.

Marcus chuckled when we called....he said EimSkip had just been on the telephone to him and he told them to get up to date on their emails and if there was anything between their ears!

All was sorted and Kalinka 1 was in their yard for loading onto the ship. 

Noel then called EimSkip and was told he would get a call back after all had been checked and inspected. 

So we waited....

Eventually we were told all was in order and boat would go. We then went to their office and tried to pay but it was too great a sum and they really wanted a wire transfer. We had till July 31st and were to pay the Bank of Montreal in St. John's Newfoundland. OK, we were assured the boat would travel the next day and we assured them we would pay the bill upon our arrival in Canada. 

That evening we treated ourselves to an evening meal out in a place with a sod roof around the corner form the hotel. We had to make reservations....its the Icelandic way. We went to the local baths for a hot tub and sauna in the afternoon. They are mad keen on their hot water. It was a good way to relax. This has been one stressful project. May be 15 - 18 day open ocean passage in an around iceberg's and hungry polar bears would have been less wearing. 

Up early the next AM to get the airport shuttle and we were off...Halifax here we come. We were booked into the Canadian Forces Base Shearwater. My friend Karen, a fellow cadet officer offered to drive us from the airport to the base. She was laughing as we were unable to get a hire car figured we would just get a taxi...its a fair way from the base to the airport!

I was all set to purchase E bicycles. Noel was not so keen on this idea. 

Then our sailing pals Jeff and Michele Forsythe helped get us a hire car. Jeff runs a Ford Dealership and they have an adjacent Budget Rental agency. Jeff picked us up and we went for lunch, then back to the dealership to see if the car had been returned yet. He had a 2023 E Ford Mustang that we used that afternoon to make contact with Dartmouth YC. We have to sort launch and mast up, they had the facilities and would work with us. 

                            Base accommodation, and the hire car with a very large sun roof. 

We were able to rent a Ford Edge with lots of extras, it makes out 08 Ford seem in the dark ages. Jeff did stop himself from laughing when I told him we had brought our car GPS. The fixed screen on this new car is about 6x the size and so we use it. 

Friday we met Karen and Kevin and went to see Opingimer on IMAX. followed by the base museum. 

                                Lawrence town beach where they were very keen surfers   

We met up with both Jeff and Michele the next evening for a fablous feast and the promise of lobster feast on Saturday.

Peggies cove on Saturday and then Lobster feast with Jeff and Michele.

Show off!

Sunday, drove to Greenwood base to see the old airplanes.... and Lunenburg 

                                            Noel inspecting the bomber at Greenwood 

Monday we concluded with taking the ferry across for a beer a good end to a day of customs, staples then phone calls to EimSkip. 

                                Very specialized ship, we think its for oil rig foundations. 

    

              The enormous pipes or leg's were on this ship to get loaded on the ship above.  

Tuesday more phone calls, Yes customs needed us to come in person... we were back and forth three times but by August 1st end of business Kalinka I was cleared into Canada. 

                                            The Sakville and the Acadian at the water front. 

                                         

EimSkip called and were stuck, the problem is getting the boat out of the yard...she is too tall!

We are going mad. In Iceland it traveled by road to the port. There are no trees nor power lines in Iceland. Here they did not think to use a low bed rig! Could we launch directly form the container port. EimSkip would get back to us.

In the mean time we had not been idle. 

We managed to get a solution all sorted with a local boat hauler who would transfer the boat onto his hydraulic trailer. Meet 10:30 AM Thursday at the container port.

 

0900 AM Thursday, EimSkip called from St. Johns NF to advise no moving the boat. The port authorities have blocked her in with equipment. Wednesday next week at the earlies due to to the long weekend! 

No straight answer on who will pay the per diem storage costs. The port of Vancouver is closed due to a strike. We are very concerned that this will happen here. 

What 's next? Stay tuned.