Wednesday 27th July.

Tied up to a wobbly small pontoon at Gutviksvågen, (pos: 65 05,15 / 011 50,19). Very calm, no one around. Something is leaking diesel my nose says.
Left Vegstein yesterday, slightly late start waiting for the weather to clear, and for the wind to be favourable. It was, though a bit of tacking was necessary to get to Brønnøysund. Sailed almost all the way. Looked at a possible place for Josin to spend a winter, (not this coming one), run by the person who sat next to me during the concert last friday. Happenchance!

Monday was the boat trip, out to two island groups, firstly to Skjærvær, home to one of the largest fishing communities in the area, until only a few decades ago. Now used as an occasional retreat. One caretaker-man lives there, born and bred. Told us stories of life as it was, both bad times and good times. His quiet dialect, dampened by the sighing of the wind around the buildings, was difficult, so I cannot re-tell!

Then on to Bremstein, a good deal further south, where nobody lives, but is more actively used for courses and seminars.

The boat was a ca. 40 foot, twin-engined, 30-seater, which rushed along at about 25 knots, even when negotiating between all those rocks and small islands. Some of the gaps were frighteningly narrow, but the captain was quite unconcerned. Done it before, sure!

Bremstein was also a fishing community, and to make it more usable and secure, a long breakwater was built, between 1908 and 1916. Before modern machinery of course, and an incredibly impressive result. The top is flat and level, with jumbo crazy paving on the surface, the stones being mostly several square meters each. Must have been the world’s biggest and heaviest jigsaw puzzle. One for the Guiness Book!

There followed a smoke-y barbeque, the gentle breeze wafting smoke and smells everywhere one sat. Never mind, succulent it was.

Then the boat ride back, in the twilight, high-speed slalom. Impressive Cu-Nb clouds over Vega, towering sunlit-high and leaking in quantities. 

The rain had stopped before we came ashore luckily. But unluckily it had found its way into Josin’s dry clothes cupboard, and down into the other matress. I cannot fathom where it is coming in. After all my efforts, and sealing compounds, there are no apparent entry points left, or so I think!

Another leak happened this morning, hot water suddenly appearing underfoot. Unusual! A loose hose clamp was the culprit, easily fixed. But the boat gremlin must have had something to do with it, as he made me empty everything out of the starboard cockpit locker to get to the leak, and then revealed the long-lost torch, which I thought had been thrown overboard by the other creature.

Actually now thursday, delay due to internet silence. Now in a tiny harbour, Utvorda, (pos: 64 35,67 / 010 56,99), south of Rørvik, diverted to here after being overtaken by too many boats heading for Brakstad for the space available there. No one around here to ask if we can stay, so we stay!

All’s well