Badger Report 2008 07

Our last report was from Stockholm. This one mercifully shorter is from Nykoping.

15/8
After some surprisingly bad weather in Stockholm with wind gsting up to 30 knots in the harbourwe left this morning early to take the bridge opening at Danviksbron. Again we scuttled across the harbour to avoid an ocean liner that seemed to be having difficulty deciding what to do. In fact the first opening of the day does not happen until a particular train at 09:17. We went through and motored on to Hammarby lock where we were admitted after only a five minute wait. After this were no delays, a very gently SW breeze and motoring to avoid tiring Roger the 25 miles to the Sodertalje lock. The weather became sunny so it was a nice gentle passage and much of lake Malaren we were passing through was interesting and quirky;in particular a lake side house with an immensely long water slide mounted on the rock beside it. It would take a certain courage to use that slide and in fact we have never seen it used.

Sodertalje entrance was marked by a large spherical balloon which slowly rose and fell in front of us. We speculated on the origin and Kristin got it right attribing it to Tom Tits Experiment ( a science park in Sodertalje). It must have been a big captive helium balloon with an octagonal basket below it taking children up on a short flight and wobble ( the wind was pulling the balloon about) I am surprised that the cost of helium allowed this to happen.
Sodertalje gave us a meeting with friends and a good nights sleep.

16/8
Today gave us an excellent forecast but some anxiety about the following days and we decided to make for Nykoping if I could stand it. My strength and endurance still being in question. We made this passage also under motor at a steady five knots arriving in Nykoping reasonably fit. We were met by our good friends Mikke and Inge who took our lines to our considerable relief. A short shower of rain had dampened the sails so packing them away was not an option. The evening and the next day were foul with driving rain so little was done. However, over the next couple of days we have got the sails dried, packed and folded neatly, a lot of the rigging dismantled and prparations made for Fridays lift - out.

Our last voyage will be just a kilometre down the river to have Badger lifted out and put in the shed for the winter.

We will take a slw motor ride through Northern europe and expect to be home on 3rd September

Roger and Kristin