Josin’s cruise 2021 / 13

Brønnøysund (65 28.4 / 012 12.5).

Appropriate, the number. This place may have many positive attributes, but summer weather does not feature. Southerly or southwesterly chilly gales and rain have kept us here now for four days, and it is still blowing. Only a very few have braved the weather and have either arrived or left. So, what has Brønnøysund had to offer, besides the excellent sheltered harbour?

A Chinese restaurant. Excellent crispy duck. A comprehensive modern shopping center along most of the waterfront. Busy. B’s population either at home, or in there out of the weather. Too few places to sit down. Helpful storekeepers, including a very knowledgeable lady in the large bookshop, who recommended. I bought five. (Read two already). Coop foodstore with very low, shelf-high ceilings, no signs (where, oh where is the ….), large fresh-food counter. Sourdough bread. Manager who welcomed me back. (She it was who helped me tame my damaged genakker into a carton to post-send to the sailmaker).

B has done much to bring itself up-to-date, using architects with ideas:

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1. Entrance to small-boat harbour. I’m not sure if one would feel safer crossing from left to right, or from right to left. 2: A lovely stainless steel tube railing, supported on rusty, artistically-curved posts, bleeding rust-tinted into fine stone slabs.

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1: Full harbour. 2: Including 104-year-old Faxen, from Bodø, still going strong with a fabulous dunk-dunk-dunk engine which also blows white smoke rings when warmed up. 3: One way of tying up, effectively blocking for another boat, at least the size of Josin.

And a tale, probably sad:

Josin’s near-tame spider, with web between the oar and the vane of the wind-steering gear. Those smaller black dots, yes, they are are difficult to see, are the previous evening’s catch, not dirty spots on the camera lens. Pic taken after leaving the sheltered place at Vegstein. He/she must have been fed up with his/her previous perch(?) between the pushpit and the lifebuoy, where he, or she, or maybe offspring, has lived for several seasons, and seen the new place as a much better catchment area. B’s gales have swept him/her away. Hopefully he/she will have survived, but is in bad-weather hibernation. We await his/her decision.

Tomorrow’s weather forecast is more promising: With no rain, almost-favourable wind direction and strength, lessening waves and even a bit of sunshine. Early to bed tonight and an early start tomorrow, goal is Rørvik.

Alls well.