Finally made it!

    Good morning one and all! We have reached the end of our journey. We arrived in Hyygen Norway at 2100 on Fri., July 5 2013. Left Stavern at 0900 turned off the motor at 1000 made 5.5 knots with the jib alone with the wind on the starbord 1/4 blowing about F3_4 bright sunny day. Hoisted a reefed main at 1100 and accelerated to 6.5 to 7.3 knots for most of the rest of the trip.

    As we were rounding the coast and entering the Oslo fjord we got tangled up between a fast ferry heading to Sweden and a Tug heading to Oslo.We had to heave to to let both of them pass. We then jibed over to the port tack and flew up the fjord until we were about to enter the Drammen fjord.

   The wind died, started the engine annnnnd overheat!!! No water in the exhaust.  Enter own Expletive here. We emptied the sail locker to get at the water pump, I checked the strainer it was dry but with the lid off water began to flow in with some Jelly fish parts. Dam those Jelly fish! Restarted the engine annnnnd no luck still no cooling.

   Into the locker I went with my trusty strait screw driver and my two 1/2/9/16 wrenches and took the pump off the engine.

    In the meantime my trusty crew dove into the v berth and found the spare impellers.

   Got the pump off and,,,,,, yup impeller in pieces,,,, got the old one out counted the pieces and installed the new one put everything back together and....................................Success LOTS OF REALLY REALLY nice cooling water.

     Now while I was having so much fun,Sally was managing to sail the boat,keep it flat and against a head wind! And pass me tools. What a great crew!

     The rest of  the trip up the Drammensfjord was uneventful if slow as we had to buck a 2 knot current!

     We phoned my cousin Anne with our approximate eta. And as we approached Hyygen Bukte I could see her and Oivin standing on the Quay waiving Norwegian flags at us. A very very warm emotional welcome. We pulled into a vacant slip at the small boat club and we opened a bottle of Champagne. 

   I'll post the total miles travelled since leaving Toronto in 2011 and some more pictures later.

   So ends the beginning of the rest of the voyage of the Good ship Kalinka1

Kristiansand to Risor and places in between.

       Hello fellow travellers on the road through life. Or in our case the rocky road between ports in Norway. we left Kristiansand Tues. morning at 0745 motored out of the harbour after a good nights sleep. We had a nice quiet trip and entered the Blindlea at 0915. Then the fun began. It's a very well marked passage iffff you can find the Marks to start!!! I thought we had as we motored serenly along and made a turn to Port from 85 ft to 8 ft in the blink of an eye good thing we were going slow enough to turn back into deeper water! Found the right route but the stress level hit a new high! Especially after the grounding the other day. We were able to motor sail some of it which was nice for a change. however at the end of the long leads it appeared as if they dead ended as you wouldn't see the chanels until right on them. Some were so narrow that only one boat (didn't matter what size) could transit at a time. Luckily we didn't have to cue up as will happen later in the summer if summer arrives that is. We finally made it through without any damage except my hair got greyer!
      We arrived at Arendal not Eirindal. Tied up on a finger. payed our 300 and went for a walk. Not much to see which surprised us. Showers were an extra 35. didn't have one. As an aside to this missive we resent paying a lot for a slip and then getting nickle and dimed well actually more than nickles and dimes for showeres and internet. Rant over.
       Left Arendal this morning and motored a whole 27 miles to Risor the woodden boat capital of Norway and that must be saying something because we have seen more wood boats here in Norway than anywhere else we have been. Little ones, big ones, old ones,, new ones work ones, pleasure ones, rowing ones, sailing ones and ones that motor or do all three. Good thing there are lots of trees around.
      It was an overcast day when we left and an overcast raining windy day when we arrived! Got the last spot on the outside of the main spine. Not such a good spot as the wake from passing boats makes it almost but not quite unbearable. Even inside boats are bouncing all over the place! One would think that if you have been boating for any length of time you could figure out wake and it's causes. Oh well some people really never learn!
     We did the walk around thinggy after spending an hour tying and retying springs and fenders in an attempt to make the ride much easier. Some success. Treated Sally to an Elk Burger and tyme roasted new potatoes for dinner. Burger was the size of a small elk Elk here are the same as Moose in Canada only not so cute! Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny and warm. Not placing any bets. Good night

Kristiansand and how we got here.

Wooh how's this the second blog in two days. Wonders will never cease or I'm getting bored? We left Farsand early yesterday (Sun June 30)morning at 0800. As we were only going to go about 15 miles to an Anchorage. Of course we were motor sailing. Travelled through numerous rocky islands and chanels and then into the open sea for the rounding of the 2nd mostest bad headland. No issue rounding as the wind was behind us though the seas were impressive when one looked behind. (didn't do that much!) Any how we made it around and then the course I had plotted led us through a very narrow patch of water and since we had just missed a sunker we were a little rock shy and so went out around. after about two hours in which we had the motor off and were actually sailing for the first time in a long while we came to our waypoint at the entrance to the anchorage. Couldn't see any opening until a powerboat came out. (should have been our first clue). We entered slowly and were doing just grand until another MB came out in the middle of the chanel. We moved over to give them room and immediately went hard aground on a not so soft piece of Norwegian granite!! Powerboat immediately fled the scene(typical).We tried backing off without much success and I was considering getting the dinghy and a kedge anchor over the stern when another power boat came out saw the problem and pulled us off no problem (Wish this was a typical reaction). we then went along side a stage tied off and regrouped (phew). Checked for any water coming in, there wasn't but we were bouncing on the bottom with the wave action so decided to leave.
    I laid off a course for Kristiansand and after an uneventfull motor sail we arrived at 1730. found a place on the dock just before the evening rush and had a large drink.
   Went walkabout and had an icecream. You do that a lot here as we're finding out. Into the sack at 2300 still light out by the way.
   Arose this morning (July1/13 HAPPY BIRTHDAY CANADA) at 0800 to find the head bowl just about to overflow!!!! Emptied it put the kettle on had a cup of tea. Decided to see what the problem might be and started with the joker valve. aptley named by the way. seems to have been the problem fingers crossed.
    We then went off on an explore around the city.

Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland and finally Norway.

Well it's about a month after the last entry!! but have some time now after a somewhat busy month. So here goes trying to remember what's happened.
     We arrived in Ireland on the 1st of May 2013. got to the boat on the 2nd. found that some of the jobs hadn't been finished yet. Par for the course with boat yards etc. Miserable wet weather anyway so not too upset. left the cover on and went car travelling and visiting. 1/2 days working on the boat. travelled to cork to visit friend David Browne and due some purchasing in the Chandlery. New solenoid for the new Gas cooker!
Finally on May 23/13 Kalinka1 was launched and we were underway on the 25th.
     0600 off the pontoon and downstream on the Barrow river with the tide making at one point 7.8 knots Whoopee. Arrived in Kilmore Quay picked up last years finger. The next day we left for Arklow with a favourable wind 0 knots so a Motorboat ride! Off Tusker rock noticed that one of the cooling hoses had chafed through! Not so whoopie as no wind and tidal currents can be a female dog.Managed to fix it with magic tape, got into Arklow weathered in!! Found some new hose fueled up and headed off to Howth on the 28th. Engine overheating??? Auto Pilot malfunction!! No wind No fun!!!! Arrived in Howth got checked in went for a Guiness.
      The next day found out Water pump seal had given up the ghost after a bunch of years. Got hold of a mechanic who ordered one from the UK It was shipped and arrived the next day but the wrong one!!!! Reordered and we went off by Ferry and rental car to Lulworth cove with an overnight stay in Bath.for a wedding. Great time had. Returned via The above to find the pump had not been delivered yet. Not happy so another Guiness.
Finally on June 06/13 We were really underway for Northern Ireland Scotland and Norway.
We had a motorboat ride from Howth to Bangor riding the tide the whole way at 6 1/2 to 7 knts the whole way.
    We were met in Bangor by our new crew John and Carol Gibbon for the trip through Scotland on the Caladonian Canal. We motored across the Irish Sea (notice the theme developing) to the Island of Gigha where we picked up a mooring. We launched the dinghy here attached to OB and went a shore for walk about etc. Spent two days and the off to Oban where we visited the destillery sampled the wares got weathered in. Left there on a rainy cold morning and motored to Fort William where we arrived late in the day. Waited for the tide to rise and then were lifted up into the waiting area while everyone finished work for the day. Margaret Epp joined us at this point for the trip through the canal proper. Left the next morning up Neptunes stair case and then on to Fort Augustus the last stop before Loch Ness!
   Margaret left us here and we dropped down 5 locks into Loch Ness Motored down the lock with depth sounder on and recorded something big at 539 ft! Hmm maybe there is something to the tales? Arrived at Urquart Castle found a nice bay anchored the boat and off we went to the castle. Of course it was closed but what the heck we climbed the walls and went walk about anyway. Tried fishing but no luck No fish, No monster no nuthin. Went to bed 0330 funny motion in the boat looked out hatch flag flying broadside! OhOh!! aground. Got dressed hurried on deck enough light to see started engine winched ourselves out and since we were all awake headed down the Loch. Think Nessie had her way with us in the middle of the night. The rest of the journey was uneventfull and we arrived in Inverness.
    John and Carol left us here. We spent a couple of days due to weather and then on the 18th of June at 0815 Sally and I left for the dreaded crossing of the North Sea.
   We arrived in Tanager Norway on the Thurs June 20th at 1615 after a 331 Motorboat ride across pretty much a mill pond! Phew. Walk about a very pretty town then on Fri. got a ride into Stavanger where we did touristy stuff walk about in the rain. Last time I was here was in 1962 on board the Stavangerfijord (look it up on the webb) There was amodel of the ship in the Marine Museum window so of course we went in, besides it was raining out. Returned to the boat weather was vile and was due to stay that way for a couple of days. Sat. went back into Stavanger by Bus and had another nice day walking about.
    Sunday June 23/13 We fueled the boat and set sail for Stavanger. We arrived around 1500 to find the main harbour full drats. Sailed around to another set of pontoons that was virtually empty and in the quiet zone. Used the credit card in the parking meter got  1 day ticket and off we went. Visited the Oil Museum and then an early night.
   Monday June 24th we were up early and motored in the rain to the Lysefijord to Pulpit rock. Sun was out for that then the rain filled in again for the 6 hour trip back to Tanager.
    Tuesday June 25/13 0645 underway for Egersund. We have a weather window. Motor sailed the whole way through some stunning scenery and arrived at 1400 pulled into a vacant finger. Walk about some shopping etc Weathered in!!
  Thursday June 27th 0850 underway Motor sailing in a very lumpy confused sea wind directly behind us and a counter current oh what fun 6+ through the water and 3 over the bottom!! A long miserable day and then the wind went to 25 on the nose rounding Liste Point. Finally got shelter behind the Skerries and had a nice trip in to Farsund. Where we are now.
Will now try and down load some pictures.

Here we go again!!!!

Well it's been a while! but here we are again in Ireland getting ready for this years adventures or mis depending on what happens during the course of the summer. but first an updated from last year.
 We left Waterford with sally's Uncle John and cousin mark on board and headed down stream with instead of against the tide. Important if one is in a hurry. Stopped in Kilmore quay for the night and then off to Arklow where Sally rejoined and then up the Irish Sea to Dublin for a couple of days then off to Howth where we got weathered in for a week at $40+ a day Trying to decide where to go from there as Norway was going to be to far for the remaining time we had left. Decided on the Isle of Man. so headed \north to Ardglass where Uncle John and Carol joined us for the Perolous journey across the unknown waters of the Irish Sea.
After 6 hours of motor sailing we arrived in Peel where we had to wait for 2 hours for the lock gate to open. Nice day though. finally entered the River and found a nice slip. tied up and went walk about for a couple of hours. Did a Bus trip to Douglas then a horse streetcar trip along the waterfront then a electric tram up the mountain to Dalki to see the wheel. returned to the boat exhausted! Next day returned to Douglas and then took the steam train to Castle Town to visit ,,,,,,, The Castle. returned to the boat and went to the museum. Then left with the tide to get back across to Ireland and head back to the South.Made a stop at Ardglass for the night then down to Carlingford for a night and then Howth where we wee weathered in again!! Then the jump to Wicklow where we tied to the wall and had a cleat shatter in the swell. Then around the corner to \kilmore Quay and up the Barrow river to New Ross where we hauled Kalinka1 out in the New Ross Boat Yard.
Did some driving around and visiting Sally's family and went to New Grange (a Neolithic tomb site) and finally flew home on the 15th Sept.
Whoooo finally finished 2012. Now can really start 2013 but I'm tired so more tomorrow maybe.

Wet, WET and More Wet. or how I love Ireland!!

He llo all. we're now in Waterford Ireland and the name fits!! Lots of water in the River, running down the streets, in the fields also known as bogs falling out of the sky in bucket fulls etc etc etc. I have noticed some strange openings beginning to sprout on the sides of my neck and my skin is getting scaley!  We arrived here after a long windy wavy day. Seas were about 4 metres getting up to 5 between Cork and Hook head. sally is in Wexford with her Mom and Sister which gives me the time to do this and get the boat ready to head off to either Arklow or Dublin tomorrow morning. I'm enclosing some pictures as they're worth a thousand words and I'm getting tired of typing, besides there is a Guiness with my name on it waiting across the street so enjoy.

18 !/2 days

It's been a while just because we were at sea and unavailable not because we couldn't be bothered to write.  We were sitting around on \kalinka 1 in Bonavista feeling sorry for ourselves having to wait for a part to be returned from the UK when Sally suggested we just leave and have the part held until we get to \ireland. Sounded like a very good idea to me so we left.
We left at 1630 and headed out of the harbour. The forcast was for 15 to 25 knots with gusts to thirty. We saw 10. Little did we know! Cleared the harbour and headed East. on a beautifull Sunny warm day. Once clear of land the weather man was right! Good thing it was blowing out of the S/W and pushing us along at 6.5 knots. We went so fast we caught up with the other well known weather phenominum of NF. FOG. Now it became Cold and  Damp and Windy. Too late to turn back. Sally disappeared into her girl cave and said as she disappeared, See you when \i see you!!! I figured from that point on it was going to be a lonely trip. Jus me Peanut butter honey and marmalade.
Contacted Herb the Weather Guru and he told us/me to head South, so being the obediant person I am I did. After about 4 days we were far enough S/E to catch the gulf strea and the water temp went from the 40's to 65*F. Warm enough to go swimming! Tried fishing the only creature interested was a Shearwater and after seeing one of those caught while I was on the Mathew I pulled in the line. The Sun came out an so did Sally so I wasn't lonely anymore!! (isn't ther a song about that?) We were now heading N/E kind of but the Azores were still the closest point of  land. Kept mentioning this to Sally but she never did take the hint. Sooo we continued up and down,back and forth, side to side on and on and on. mostly in 15 to 20 knots.
But every day we got closer and closer to our goal and \i was able to chat with our newfound best buddies Halifax Win, Kansas Russ, France John and Hearts content Doug( who I knew as a cub at Danforth United church) on the Mississauga Maritime net. 14.167 on your Ham radio dial) This is gettinreally really long so I'm going to quit now and more later with,,,,,, maybe pictures or just  more words who knows what evil lurks Only the mind of.......