5) Rørvik til Vegstein

First a bit of admin:

I have now numbered all posts from 2020. This is number 5. This is to try and “hide” previous years posts, and cocentrate on this year’s. If there is someone helpful out there who knows of a better way, I’d be glad to hear of it.

Rørvik, yes, we were there for two days waiting for the weather to change. Low cloud, rain at times, wind and chilly. Reading time.

Friday 29th forecast was promising in a lugubrious sort of way, so preparations were completed so we could set off as soon as the very-low cloud lifted and we could see where we were going. Several times. Mid-morning coffee. Lunch. Tea. Then I could see the hills on the other side of the fjord, so we set off. Visibility about a mile. After an hour or so, cloud base descended, getting too close to fog for comfort, so Plan B, Lerøya, (64 58.8 / 011 31.8), been there before, a natural place to anchor. Anchor held well in very thick seaweed and sand. (Played plough/harrow when hauling!).

Next morning dawned grey, slowly changing to blue, but calm, so set off towards Vega, motor all the way with just the occasional help from the foresail, quickly un-rolled, and reluctantly furled. Visibility was fairly good, so an attempt was made to show the magnificence of the mountains, still with some snow to provide contrast:

We passed Torghatten, the mountain with a hole through it, and then in to Brønnøysund, for a last food shopping before the long weekend, just before the shops shut, early of course. Lots of cabin cruisers, all lined up side-by-side, enjoying the sunshine and (probably) beer. Happy hour, at least.

More strange formations, appearing in the light and shadow.

Another three hours to Vegstein, (65 41.2 / 012 01.7), who welcomed me in and took ropes. Been here several times before, very friendly, local dialect not of the easiest, but marvellous humour.

Then came summer warmth, here north as well as there, down south. (Impressive pics in the media of gaggles(?), herds(?) of boats out for the first time this season).

Sometimes there is a bonus to having to get up in the middle of the night: 1:30. Dead calm. No sound. Looking due north. Midnight sun soon?

There followed two days of relaxing and boat things fixing, (I found the little leak), and one night of 13 hours sleep. Must have needed it! Apparently I slept through late-night rushings around by two noisy skidoos.

Should have taken a pic of the extraordinary clarity of the water, but forgot. In spite of being encouraged by others who enjoyed a dip, I still cannot brace myself for 12 degrees cold water.

Alls well

MotorsailorJohn