So we slipped from Stockholm's Wasahamnen at 1158 and motored off between Djurgarden and Skeppsholmen with not much traffic butr when we turned east we encountered the full Waxholm Bolaget treatment. These fast ferries dart about chucking up enormous wakes and equally chucking us about as well. After about five miles we reached the south going "cutting" leading to Baggenstaket. at 59N20,18E13 where we attained peace still motoring between high clifs covered over with expensive houses. The most splendid on the Eastern shore had long staircses leading down the cliff to landing stages. This was initially their only way of getting into Stockholm until the road bridge was built, probably in the 1930's. We had just got dunder this bridge when the rain started and steadily strengthened. It kille the gentle breeze he had enjoyed and before I could get fully dressed my jeans were soaked. Then the lightning started, stiking fairly close 0-1 seconds between flash and bang but not close enough to matter. At the southern end of the cutting we turned E into quiet water with houses, flats and yacht harbours but still some woodlands and got to the Dragets Canal 59N18.0, 18E16.5 as the rain stopped. The canal is fringed with little harbours and very lovely houses. It must be hard for the inhabitants to accept the idiots who go out on Wednesday evenings to a pub with a disco and return after midnight drunk at 30 + mph and crash into each other in the canal.
Once out into clear water we unrolled the jib with a gentle following breeze to our se gong path but actually to little effect. Baggensfjord s wide and deep with a pretty unfriendly cliff to the east but a good place to make progress. It soon turns into Ingarofjord and continues as before. There are some pleasant anchorages on the west side, notably Napoleonsviken which is very well sheltered. Motoring on we rounded the corner to go E and then ENE along the coat. taking an inshore route to look more closely at a number of small islands, mostly inhabited and some with dry toilets marked on the charts.
One of these has a splendid Viking type mansion in wood. This is perhaps the one that chsed away an aquaintance saying "Go away , this is private" which is not the way most Swedes behave. We wandered on into Klevsfjorden and thence to Malmakvarn which we found open but fairly empty. We moored outside the restaurant and found from the retired HM, Paavo, that the restaurant was to open on Saturday. Great news.
Later the present HM Claes appeared ans asked after my nose which had a role in mending last year.
We arrived at 16:30, withe log reading 24.2 miles.
The forecast is till for strong winds on Friday night and Saturday but the maximum has reduced to 16 metres/sec. - a slight improvement. We have increased the number of mooring lines and fitted the cockpit cover. This justified itself in the night when we had very heavy rain and this morning with a persistent drizzle.
We have now scraped and oiled the whole of the starboard cockpit teak which looks splendid and orange.
Johan, the chef, greeted us with the news hehas opened one restaurant tin the centre of Stockholm and has another in train. Perhaps more importantly he is opening tonight and we will be there
No comments:
Post a Comment