Friends -we are now in Stockholm. There is an Early Music Fesival and we have missed some of it aready.
After our last report we finished most of the pre departure work, got our liferaft back after a lot of nagging and filled up with very pricy diesel and took the car back to store it in our shed.
2/6/08 That same afternoon we left Nykoping for the season heading into an easterly breeze down the river under engine. We made for the beautiful isle of Broken but, with a low waterstand and consequent lower than usual depths in the harbour plus the now NE wind giving little shelter, found it less than ideal. In particular the fixed boardwalk was high out of water making access dificult. We turned away and found a Swedish Cruising Klub (SXK) buoy to occupy. The weather was hot though the night was cold. We were very thankful to be away at last.
3/6/08 Motoring head into wind again we wriggled through the skerries to Trosa as we usually do early in the season. This particular trip is amazingly intricate and similarly beatiful with tiny pink islands, fir trees and red painted wooden houses. At Trosa we tried to moor in the river giving side access but without success; just not enough water. We also went aground when coming bow to quay in the main harbour but a little more throttle got us up to the quay and securely moored. To escape the heat we opened up the fore hatch, put up the sun shade and cowered below decks till evening. It was just too arly for the smokery to be operating so no smoked Sik for supper - very sad.
4/6/08 Much the same story for the onward passage to Sodertalje. Adverse breeze, very beautiful passage through scattered islands and then a long wide valley up to Sodertalje. Again we cowered in the cabin against the heat and went out to buy food just before the shops shut.
5/6/08 Locked through without incident to get to Lake Malaren. We observed with some amusement a Danish boat anxious to be first into and out of the lock suddenly realised he had to wait for the bridge opening a little upstream but 45 mins later while we happily steamed past him and went underneath it. Incidentally we saw more daytime big ship traffic through the lock than we have ever seen before and consequent hold ups to leisure boats. Once north of the Canal system we raised the jib and had our only sail of the year so far. We had intended to go to Bjorko for lunch but the failing wind and absence of passenger boat traffic which implied the restaurant would not be operational sent us instead to Slando Kalv. In Lake Malaren we had no problems with low water levels of course and mored happily.
Slando Kalv is about the same shape as a King Dick wrench with the jaws forming the harbour and the handle the rest of the island. The island has water for drinking, ood toilets and showers, a modern and efficient sewage processing system, a good clubhouse, dance floor and race starting hut and short but very pretty walks with super views over the lake. Here again we cowered out of the heat rearranging our sunshade whenever necessary. Unfortunately the water was a little cold for swimming 19C and the bthing beach necssitated sandals being fomed of rough rock fragments. We stayed here two nights rejoicing in the islands beauty. Incidentally the heat was so great that even the Swedes rigged sun shades.
7/6 Left Slando with some regrets but we were running out of food. We had problems raising our stern anchor as another boat had laid their anchor line over ours. It was a distinct strugglle to raise both without any mechanical aid. That doe we searated them out, threw the other one back and ot out without hitting any of the other boats or running over their lines - more by accident than design. the wind was easterly and adverse yet again so we motored the 21 miles to Stockholm. the latter part was made hideous by the enormous number of fast moving motor boats that raised high wakes and left behind a severe Solent type chop. Luckily we lost most of that in the run u to the Hammarby Lock which opened after short delay but charged us SEK 150 for the privilege. The Danviks bridge did the same though reluctantly - ony just enough to let us out. We then were free of Stockholm Harbour emerging just under the bow of an enormous Cruise Ship - luckily moored.
Wasahamn was half empty so mooring was easy as was getting Wifi access. The weather has mercifully eased and is now overcast so we have some energy back and can go out in the daylight again. There is a display of pottery from topkapi to see, a concert to attend and a food fair all today. It's a hard life.
Regards,
Roger and Kristin
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