It was now time to set sail further to the North, and indeed there was now more wind, but worryingly the first clouds we had seen. The wind built from the North (not very good for temperature or our direction) and it was a chilly night. Adam declared himself to be wearing over 25 items of clothing: a metric which was to become know as TGF - The Tun Garment Factor (including two sets of skiing salopettes and a set of sailing trousers at once). At some points it was 30knts but we sailed on and arrived at our destination shortly after midday the next day for some well earned rest after a few hard nights of sailing.
We had a nice rest in Danskoya and a delicious reindeer stir fry but it was cold and wet so we left. On Tuesday morning, we motored north through the Cook Sound (named after the explorer), a narrow passage between islands. We saw some seals and a few Minke whales. The nearby mountains were covered in cloud - the ankles of giants - and it certainly seemed very bleak and remote.
Generally we were left with the feeling that we had missed the best of this landscape...
Once we reached the north coast we could hoist the sails and sail to the mouth of the Woodfjord. We anchored in Worsleyhamma.
Drinking whisky in Norway seems to lead to good things. Last time we did it we saw the northern lights. This time the lid was barely off the Glenfiddich before Joy spotted a polar bear on the waterfront. We were able to watch it for an hour or so as it walked slowly along the beach. Every step seemed purposeful exuding a sense of menace - only once did we see the true beast, unleashed, when it charged a flock of geese. It put on a sudden spurt to surge down the foreshore, scattering the geese squawking into flight, before it resumed its solemn passage along the beach.
After a bit of sleep we headed to the land, a major exercise which is not unlike the school boy riddle about trying to get the fox, chicken and grain across a river:
- the shotgun must always be on the land first and leave last
- there are 8 people
- the dinghy only takes 4 big people or 5 normal people
- only 2 people know how to use the shotgun.
- the dinghy must not be left unattended on the beach (in case of polar bear attack on the dinghy leaving you stranded - there are many stories of this)
The effect of all this is that there are few times when everyone is on the land so we bring you this group picture of 6 people plus the two on the yacht in the distance.
We had a nice rest in Danskoya and a delicious reindeer stir fry but it was cold and wet so we left. On Tuesday morning, we motored north through the Cook Sound (named after the explorer), a narrow passage between islands. We saw some seals and a few Minke whales. The nearby mountains were covered in cloud - the ankles of giants - and it certainly seemed very bleak and remote.
Generally we were left with the feeling that we had missed the best of this landscape...
The Smeerenburgbreen in fog
Once we reached the north coast we could hoist the sails and sail to the mouth of the Woodfjord. We anchored in Worsleyhamma.
Drinking whisky in Norway seems to lead to good things. Last time we did it we saw the northern lights. This time the lid was barely off the Glenfiddich before Joy spotted a polar bear on the waterfront. We were able to watch it for an hour or so as it walked slowly along the beach. Every step seemed purposeful exuding a sense of menace - only once did we see the true beast, unleashed, when it charged a flock of geese. It put on a sudden spurt to surge down the foreshore, scattering the geese squawking into flight, before it resumed its solemn passage along the beach.
Polar Bear near Worsleyhamna
After a bit of sleep we headed to the land, a major exercise which is not unlike the school boy riddle about trying to get the fox, chicken and grain across a river:
- the shotgun must always be on the land first and leave last
- there are 8 people
- the dinghy only takes 4 big people or 5 normal people
- only 2 people know how to use the shotgun.
- the dinghy must not be left unattended on the beach (in case of polar bear attack on the dinghy leaving you stranded - there are many stories of this)
The effect of all this is that there are few times when everyone is on the land so we bring you this group picture of 6 people plus the two on the yacht in the distance.
Walking party on North coast of Leidefjord
Location:Danskoya to Leidefjord
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