After launch I "tuned" the mast while Kristin orted the cabin and then we fitted the boom and dealt with a jam in the jib furling system. I did this by loosening the drum outer casing so it would rotate round the forestay and so was able, more easily to undo the riding turns inside the drum that were the root cause of the problem. I ended up with less turns on the drum but still enough to furl the jib completely.
On Tuesday 27th We fitted the mainsail and Calpack followed by the jib. Were were by now running late on our schedule. We had to be at the German church in Stockholm by 1300 Tuesday ad were worried by the poor weather. Accordingly we paid our bill at the Varv and put the cqar in the warm hall as usual leaving a bit later than we would have liked on Wednesday after I'd mad a hash of departure and backed hard into a pontoon. The forecast was for reasonable weather that day but poor the next day or so. We had a good westerly to start with and sunshine for the journey wish was towards the Sodertalje canal and lake Malaren.
We enjoyed the sail but, within sight of the ship route to Sodertalje, got caught by an intense shower squall where we had to concentrate on keeping safely on track to avoid the rocks. We considered whether to stop for the day at Skansholmenn but it seemed preferable to continue. We then got caught by a very cold NW rain squall and had to furl the jib and again steer with considerable care to avoid a notorious rock before reentering the ship channel. Eventually the rain stopped, the sun emerged and we continued peacefully to the entrance to the first Sodertalje canal. Just before this we saw a ship very slowly approaching from behind which was a worry and then a ship emerging from the canal and approaching from in front. Clearly the ship behind had been waiting for the latter ship to clear the canal. There was no point in trying to stay ahead of the ship behind us so we circled and then followed it to Sodrtalje marina where we stopped for the night. having made a passage of 49 miles. We were tired and stayed the next night as well.
Friday 29th
With another OK forecast we made it through Sodertalje lock at 0930, passed under the following bridge into the second canal section and out onto Lake Malearen where we had a following breeze so unfurled the jib and had a lovely sail till we had to turn east into narrow waters and lost the breeze. The passage to Stockholm was peaceful except that Hammarby lock now has a nasty system for collecting money. One has to use a portable card meter which needs two hands. The only means of attachment provided are short lines to hang onto. With only two people on board this just does not work unless one moors up properly. One CAmember has already lost a credit card in this lock. The process is extremely slow so will be a nightmare in high summer. Danviks Bron, surprisingly delayed us very little and we were welcomed into Wasahamnen and immediately fell into Blau Porte restaurant for a celebratory meal.
The weather contined being cold particularly at night with cabin temperature of about 11C which meant wearing thermals n bed, a thermal blanket over all and running the electric fire in the morning.
Tuesday, 16 June 2015
19th-25th May 2015 Across Sweden to Nykoping, boat prep and launch
The ferry journey to Trelleborg was troublefree and so was the road journey to Nykoping, if long and boring. We checked in to our hotel and of course went off to eat suchi at Kohiro, our favourite restaurant in Nykoping. Later we had a look at Badger but only next morning began the work of packing away the kit we had brought and then preparing her for sea.
This work was the normal round of antifouling, seacocks, anode checking, lubrication, mat preparation and so on. the only notable extra was painting a red line at water level in boot topooing. Ths involved much careful and not quite accurate applying and removal of masking tape with Lacoon like sticky bundles of used tape. We now have a different cradle with the result we could antifoul parts of Badger we have been unable to get at for years. I had rather underestimated the time this work would take so had to reschedule the launch and hotel accommodation with the result we stayed in three hotels all told. We also had a lovely evening with our dear friennds Martin and Maria Morris at their country home, saying hallo to Berty the robot mower as well.
Our launch on Monday went well and I motored round to Nykoping marina to finish fitting out while Kristin met me having driven the car round.
We had also reacquainted ourselves with the hotel and restaurant school being warmly greeted with the cry that "now summer is here". The food there and particularly the salads are worth coming a long distance to enjoy.
This work was the normal round of antifouling, seacocks, anode checking, lubrication, mat preparation and so on. the only notable extra was painting a red line at water level in boot topooing. Ths involved much careful and not quite accurate applying and removal of masking tape with Lacoon like sticky bundles of used tape. We now have a different cradle with the result we could antifoul parts of Badger we have been unable to get at for years. I had rather underestimated the time this work would take so had to reschedule the launch and hotel accommodation with the result we stayed in three hotels all told. We also had a lovely evening with our dear friennds Martin and Maria Morris at their country home, saying hallo to Berty the robot mower as well.
Our launch on Monday went well and I motored round to Nykoping marina to finish fitting out while Kristin met me having driven the car round.
We had also reacquainted ourselves with the hotel and restaurant school being warmly greeted with the cry that "now summer is here". The food there and particularly the salads are worth coming a long distance to enjoy.
16th May 2015 Luneburg - 18th May Lubeck
Otterlo to Luneburg is a longish drive but not too tiring. Our new Tomtom successfully got us to the hotel along a very tricky route through the historic part of the city. the hotel istselgf looked boring from the outside - a plain white lump - proved exciting with a steep windy staircase, ancient beams and large modern bedroom. We found our way to "Alte Brauhaus for an excellent lunch and later dinner, only later realising that I'd picked it out of Trip advisor a month or two earlier. Our hotel was very close to the historic crane on the quayside. We perambulated gently round the older parts of the city but did no formal site visiting.
The next day we made our way to Lubeck by back roads mainly to avoid the Hamburg Ring but also to explore a little. The journey was quite a difficult drive but rewarding and we rached our hotel Der alte Stadtmauer in good order using the hotel's parking and leaving the fridge in place, relying on the car's new battery overnight. Lubeck is one of our favourite cities with its Hansa history and big dramatic churches.It is also where we buy spirits for use on Badger during the summer.
The next day 18th we drifted down to Travemunde, rested and took the 2200 ferry to Trelleborg in Sweden
The next day we made our way to Lubeck by back roads mainly to avoid the Hamburg Ring but also to explore a little. The journey was quite a difficult drive but rewarding and we rached our hotel Der alte Stadtmauer in good order using the hotel's parking and leaving the fridge in place, relying on the car's new battery overnight. Lubeck is one of our favourite cities with its Hansa history and big dramatic churches.It is also where we buy spirits for use on Badger during the summer.
The next day 18th we drifted down to Travemunde, rested and took the 2200 ferry to Trelleborg in Sweden
15th May 2015 at Otterlo, Kroller Muller Museum
For the first time I photographed some of the installation sculptures outside the KM entrance, something I'd neglected before.
The indoor collection was disappointing as the main collection of Van Goch's was not on show, unlike on our last visit two years ago. A guardian said they did not lend pictures but on t'other hand one other person reported on a good show at the VG museum in Amsterdam so perhaps they had loaned out their best ones.
The main temporary exhibition was of a small number of VG's with some of his contemporaries and their comments on each others paintings. This was illuminating and included a few of VG's biggies.A second exhibition was of collections of museum objects chosen by individuals and illustrating a particular theme. This we found trivial.
In Otterloo town there was a large campaign showing VG picture replicas for a campaign "A taste of Van Goch". this turned out to be an advertisement for a new tented restaurant in the museum's grounds supplementing the rather small restaurant in the museum itself. This was a large amount of fuss for a small project perhaps designed to draw attention away from the lack of VG paintings.the museum grounds were of greater interest to us, including old favourites like the floating "swan" in the shade of an oak tree and Dubuffet's Jardin D'email with a large number of children happily running about on it. Sadly safety concerns have forced the museum to put barriers all the way up the "endless staircase" thus visually wrecking it. Unfortunately several people have climbed it and been injured or killed. It is now watched by two remote TV cameras. At the far end of the grounds we visited a gallery with some newer sculptures including a Paoluzzi and we found a new sculpture made of a mobile office coupled with a mobile toilet and a strange growth on one side which was the alleged bedroom. This was called "mobile home" and clearly intended as a caricature - very amusing. Because of our age we'd travelled to the Museum by car and stopped in Otterlo centre at the supermarket, finding it open and much more important, having good Belgian beer. We bought 48 bottles for our summer stock with great relief.
Sunday, 14 June 2015
Badger in 2015 - Preliminary report.
Packing
Packing always takes time and thought. Our elderly B Merc is a little smaller than the previous Ford and we have to fill every crevice, however at least we could expect to have enough room to buy Belgian beer as we did not have to transport the liferaft.
11th May
We broke our journey to to Dover in Sussex to visit Bateman's, Rudyard Kipling's last house. This was simply lovely and we could have moved in instantly except that the furniture was in period, 18th C. Guests are recorded as saying there was not a comfortable chair in the house. The exhibition in the house was fascinating and I was particularly moved by the Lama's pen-case which occurs in Kim but actually happened to Kipling's father.The garden was excellent too and I want to buy the garden chairs used by the NT restaurant.
We stayed the night almost overlooking the Folkstone terminal of the Channel tunnel but mercifully hidden by a cliff. The high quality B&B was nevertheless in deep country with tiny lanes and a very real country pub a short way away. We would never have found it but for the excellent instructions given.
12th May
After a massive breakfast we drove the sort distance to Dover, failed to find sandwiches for the ferry crossing but succeeded in buying Fuel set to deal with diesel bug. The ferry wait was the usual pain but the crossing brought us a sandwich each and beer while watching up and down sea traffic. The short drive to Veurne in Belgium brought us to "The Old House" comfortably. This hotel seemed just a little down at heel and the owner rather more stressed than previously. Something of the same sort seemed to be happening at Oogappel, our favourite restaurant in Veurne so we fear for both establishments.
We stayed an extra night in Veurne to enjoy the market the next morning. As always one is envious of the fruit and vegetables available in continental markets. There is also excellent fish meat and cheese, none of which could we buy.
14th May
Leaving Veurne, as always with regret, we took the motorways to Sint Niklaus to a large mall to buy Belgian beer. The mall was shut - disaster! Eventually a passer-by told us that Belgium was shut; it was Ascenscion Day. I had really boobed.
Inconsolably, we drove on to the Antwerp ring, amazingly busy and to Otterloo in Holland. We were welcomed to Carnegie Cottage hotel. I went off to the only local supermarket to find that shut too. However it was sunny, we had a late lunch at the hotel and relaxed though the minute private garden attached to our room was too cool for comfort.
Packing always takes time and thought. Our elderly B Merc is a little smaller than the previous Ford and we have to fill every crevice, however at least we could expect to have enough room to buy Belgian beer as we did not have to transport the liferaft.
11th May
We broke our journey to to Dover in Sussex to visit Bateman's, Rudyard Kipling's last house. This was simply lovely and we could have moved in instantly except that the furniture was in period, 18th C. Guests are recorded as saying there was not a comfortable chair in the house. The exhibition in the house was fascinating and I was particularly moved by the Lama's pen-case which occurs in Kim but actually happened to Kipling's father.The garden was excellent too and I want to buy the garden chairs used by the NT restaurant.
12th May
After a massive breakfast we drove the sort distance to Dover, failed to find sandwiches for the ferry crossing but succeeded in buying Fuel set to deal with diesel bug. The ferry wait was the usual pain but the crossing brought us a sandwich each and beer while watching up and down sea traffic. The short drive to Veurne in Belgium brought us to "The Old House" comfortably. This hotel seemed just a little down at heel and the owner rather more stressed than previously. Something of the same sort seemed to be happening at Oogappel, our favourite restaurant in Veurne so we fear for both establishments.
We stayed an extra night in Veurne to enjoy the market the next morning. As always one is envious of the fruit and vegetables available in continental markets. There is also excellent fish meat and cheese, none of which could we buy.14th May
Leaving Veurne, as always with regret, we took the motorways to Sint Niklaus to a large mall to buy Belgian beer. The mall was shut - disaster! Eventually a passer-by told us that Belgium was shut; it was Ascenscion Day. I had really boobed.
Inconsolably, we drove on to the Antwerp ring, amazingly busy and to Otterloo in Holland. We were welcomed to Carnegie Cottage hotel. I went off to the only local supermarket to find that shut too. However it was sunny, we had a late lunch at the hotel and relaxed though the minute private garden attached to our room was too cool for comfort.
Rest of the 2014 Season
We made two visits to Broken with the Jones Family. In both cases the journey out was motoring in little or no wind and bright sun. We took picnics of local delicacies, salmon, shrimps, good cheeses and wine.
Unfortunately the harbour was full of brown algae the first time so swimming was impossible.
The algae bloomed in vast amounts in 2014 because of very hot weather in both July and August.
Alec experimented with the sauna while Nick and I watched from outside as his knees glistened with sweat.
Before the second trip wind and waves had disrupted and sunk most of the algae so we all, except Nick swam and cooled off. We also had a good breeze on the way back to Nykoping so Badger showed what she could do. Blowing strongly between islands, the wind was fluky so Badger heeled abruptly once or twice, leaping forward dramatically so Alice and Nick laughed at me for my enthusiasm at Badgers performance.
Both Kristin and I were very glad that part of the family had had the chance to see a little of what makes sailing in Sweden so appealing to us.
For the rest of our time in Sweden we were preparing Badger for the winter, visiting friends and late, staying at Stjarnholm Slott before going south on the way home.
Our trip home took us to Landskrona, which has an interesting star shaped fort and a well funded museum where Kristin bought a kit for embroidering a metre long cushion. After the ferry to Travemunde we stopped at Marburg with good old quarter, Trier with very impressive Roman buildings including a massive Gatehouse and Vianden in Luxemburg where we spent the night in a pub which catered mainly to motorbikers. Apparently Luxemburg windy roads in hilly country without heavy traffic are very appealling.
We then went to Troyes, a very interesting city and then Bourges.
In Bourges we spent much time in the cathedral which imprseed us just as it had done 30 years ago as a superb space. However the Hotel Theatre St.Bonnet outshone all with most rooms with Murano glass chandeliers, an excellent swimming pool in the conservatory and a theatre where we were entertained to two recitals on a concert grand piano by the owner, a retired concert pianist. The second recital was the Goldberg variations which we are passionate about. It was a fantastic experience.
From Bourge we went south to Angouleme to visit Colette, well looked after by her grand-daughter but miserable in herself though she seemed to like our visit.
We also met up with Tim and Lindsey of the Totnes boating Association and had dinner with them.
The Angouleme hotel is worth mentioning as it was a big farmhouse outside the city with swimming pool - lovely to visit but incredibly difficult to find.
Our final day's travel took us to Morlaix which we also love but found a little depressed compared with 12 years ago. It still had a wonderful French eccentricity with a late evening procession past our hotel room with illuminated enormous and fantastical baloons.
Our final day was spent close by, buying a little wine and eating lobsters in Roscoff before the night boat back to Plymouth and home.
Unfortunately the harbour was full of brown algae the first time so swimming was impossible.
The algae bloomed in vast amounts in 2014 because of very hot weather in both July and August.
Alec experimented with the sauna while Nick and I watched from outside as his knees glistened with sweat.
Before the second trip wind and waves had disrupted and sunk most of the algae so we all, except Nick swam and cooled off. We also had a good breeze on the way back to Nykoping so Badger showed what she could do. Blowing strongly between islands, the wind was fluky so Badger heeled abruptly once or twice, leaping forward dramatically so Alice and Nick laughed at me for my enthusiasm at Badgers performance.
Both Kristin and I were very glad that part of the family had had the chance to see a little of what makes sailing in Sweden so appealing to us.
For the rest of our time in Sweden we were preparing Badger for the winter, visiting friends and late, staying at Stjarnholm Slott before going south on the way home.
Our trip home took us to Landskrona, which has an interesting star shaped fort and a well funded museum where Kristin bought a kit for embroidering a metre long cushion. After the ferry to Travemunde we stopped at Marburg with good old quarter, Trier with very impressive Roman buildings including a massive Gatehouse and Vianden in Luxemburg where we spent the night in a pub which catered mainly to motorbikers. Apparently Luxemburg windy roads in hilly country without heavy traffic are very appealling.
We then went to Troyes, a very interesting city and then Bourges.
In Bourges we spent much time in the cathedral which imprseed us just as it had done 30 years ago as a superb space. However the Hotel Theatre St.Bonnet outshone all with most rooms with Murano glass chandeliers, an excellent swimming pool in the conservatory and a theatre where we were entertained to two recitals on a concert grand piano by the owner, a retired concert pianist. The second recital was the Goldberg variations which we are passionate about. It was a fantastic experience.
From Bourge we went south to Angouleme to visit Colette, well looked after by her grand-daughter but miserable in herself though she seemed to like our visit.
We also met up with Tim and Lindsey of the Totnes boating Association and had dinner with them.
The Angouleme hotel is worth mentioning as it was a big farmhouse outside the city with swimming pool - lovely to visit but incredibly difficult to find.
Our final day's travel took us to Morlaix which we also love but found a little depressed compared with 12 years ago. It still had a wonderful French eccentricity with a late evening procession past our hotel room with illuminated enormous and fantastical baloons.
Our final day was spent close by, buying a little wine and eating lobsters in Roscoff before the night boat back to Plymouth and home.
Monday, 26 January 2015
July 27th till early August
This was almost the end of our boat travel as we eventually sailed back to Nykoping from Broken; a matter of eight sea miles and started to do a little boat maintenance in the marina while having the advantages of shops ad the car to hand. Obviously ate out from time to time. We did have to visit Martin and Maria's house to ensure it was ready for Nick, Alice, Alec and Jenny who would be arriving in a day or two. We also got in a welcome pack of food for them.
They arrived late in the evening, after a long drive from Ivbridge to Stansted and the flight to Skavsta with an additional delay to book out their hire car. We led them to the house which is not easy to find without a native guide and left them to settle in after arranging for them to join us for a fairly peaceful trip to Broken the next morning.
This was almost the end of our boat travel as we eventually sailed back to Nykoping from Broken; a matter of eight sea miles and started to do a little boat maintenance in the marina while having the advantages of shops ad the car to hand. Obviously ate out from time to time. We did have to visit Martin and Maria's house to ensure it was ready for Nick, Alice, Alec and Jenny who would be arriving in a day or two. We also got in a welcome pack of food for them.
They arrived late in the evening, after a long drive from Ivbridge to Stansted and the flight to Skavsta with an additional delay to book out their hire car. We led them to the house which is not easy to find without a native guide and left them to settle in after arranging for them to join us for a fairly peaceful trip to Broken the next morning.
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