Sunday 31 July 2016

July 2016

Because of my pneumonia and natural idleness we spent a lot of time in Stockholm, visiting museums and eating out. For much of the time I was sleepy. However we finally got going on 3rd July. We were impelled to do this because a huge sailing race was due to start in the morning and the whole harbour would be closed. This it was a case of get up at 0445 and away at 0520. We had already said our goodbyes to our friends at Wasahamnen so were free to leave in bright sunshine and no wind. We refilled with diesel at Fjaderholmarna once more and made for Baggenstacket. We had little harbour traffic at this hour except for a couple of large ferries probably arriving early to avoid the harbour closure. We had some wind assistance ( SW beaufort 1-2) but motored on to Malma Kvarn and the restaurant, arriving at 1030 and settling easily into a berth. The restaurant was now open and we had good food; leaving on 7th July when we had to change our berth.
While at Malma we had some success picking wild strawberries and while doing so saw a red deer above us on the hillside at very close range. It seemed quite unafraid. We were equally impressed with its athleticism, leaping up substantial rocksteps. We left on 7th July when we had to change our berth. This was omething we were reluctant to do in the rather fresh westerly wind and crowded conditions.
We made unsurprisingly north to Gallno to our favourite and very sheltered anchorage. Here we stayed for three nights mostly in sunshine and swam from the boat in water around 20C;   not ideal but refreshing and cleansing.
Here we inflated the dinghy and made cautious use of the electric outboard. It is very pleasant to travel almost silently. I was cautious as I have no real idea of the range available from the battery.
We have a pleasant path from our landing point through pine woods and pastures into the village "centre" which consists of shop, resaurant and cafe. It has a reasonable stock including strawberries and the restaurant serves good food.
We needed to change the scenery and moved a scant  six miles to Ingmarso a harbour we love. It is not well sheltered and the ferries disturb the water but it is in a beautiful spot with a superb and theatrical huge sloping smooth rock face as backdrop.