Wednesday: Quieter day yesterday. From Ulvösund to Högbonden, mostly motoring. Tied up at Högbonden, at the small, rather fierce-looking part of the jetty not used by the touristboats. Lo! There comes one. Big wash, even though he slowed down 100 m from arrival. The short, sharp waves made Josin dance violently, the railing caught the jettyedge and got bent, a fender punctured and two of four mooring lines snapped. Dramatic, but it could have been worse, if the two last lines had broken! I could do nothing but observe, and curse inwardly at the ferryboat captain. Don’t think he even noticed. Too busy changing passengers and getting away again.
Chasened, and re-moored, I climbed the path to the lighthouse/cafeteria/view. Warm sun on pineneedles, haphasard lichened and foot-worn stone and tree roots all reminded strongly of Norway. Viewed the view took some pics and studied the ferryboat timetable. Oh dear, he is on his way back again. Rushed back down the path, (within danger limits of course), only to see him disappearing back to Barsta. Relief. Josin still there and securely tied up. No more apparent damage. Maybe he saw what happened previously.
Pottered in to Barsta. Mostly campervans, caravans and tents. Two other boats, one a resident. Paid my dues and wandered around, then over to the restaurant/shop in the hopes of a meal. No. Closed and for sale. Back to the remaining meatballs and broccoli. Sechuan sauce. Cosmopolitan if nothing else!
Went for a walk up the road in the evening sunshine, finding almost-ripe wild strawberries in the verges. And a sign saying fish for sale. Byroad. Gravelly. Lead to a white house and red barn, and a welcoming fisherman, and yes, here was smoked sik. Also a group of corpulent and jocular men, with beer in hand, tending a large and smoking grill. Back to boat, followed for a way by a blackandwhite cat, which stroked my shins, with two smoked sik, lunch for two days, at least. Thunderstorm evening and sudden short-lived rain. Clean decks. Early to bed.
Today (dip in 14,5 degrees), a 7 am start, a motor-sailing, longish, day to Sundsvall, alone on the sea so far. Again the wind forecast is wrong, Clouds clearing gradually, so maybe it’ll turn out to be a warmish day.
All’s well from SailorJohn.
Josin's 2025 cruise 