
Kjerringoy is a must see place. It is a former trading post at its height, between 1810 to 1880, being the main link for fish trade between the Nordland County and Bergen. The buildings are amazingly well preserved and well worth a visit with artifacts intact. Many large trading ships will have passed through. There is also a gallery featuring the works of Karl Erik Harr who illustrated the books of Nobel Prize for Literature winner, Knut Hamson. The work of Harr is reminiscent of the Group of Seven. The gallery had just opened a new exhibit of works by his brother – so there has been plenty to see.
As well as cultural events, a Saturday in June is never complete without a wedding or in this case two! The community was out in full force and the church very busy. The setting for the wedding photos was the trading post as it is just across from the church so we saw brides and grooms in their splendour and the hotel by the harbour was hosting the party!!
A stay in harbour is rounded off by visiting fellow yachtsmen, in this case Jon and Annie on Harmony, who are sailing south having done the Lofoten trip. We had lots to share and will be sending info about where to winter in Sweden in return for their experiences in Scotland.
The prospect of lighter wind and clear skies got us up and away by 8.30am. Not a cloud in the sky, it was a perfect time to leave. Some slightly challenging nav through islands and skerries got us to the open water of Vestfjorden by about 2pm: the day was punctuated with various questions and observations: “does that cable really go across our route, it’s not charted? How high is it? 23m: that’s a lucky thing. If you look out of the boat you’ll see the sand bar I’m talking about!! The puffins are in pairs. If it was 10 degrees warmer we could be in the Bahamas with these beaches & clear azure water, except its quite flat there...”
With 15kn of breeze from the north, we had one reef in, the yankee and staysail out: we were moving along at a steady 7kn, perfect for reaching Skrova by 4.30pm.
It is Sunday and there is no-one around, something we have noticed in many communities. This place is a whaling centre and has been for years. The fishery is next to our pontoon so perhaps tomorrow it will spring to life. The Norwegians no longer do their whaling outside of domestic waters and it has been part of their livelihood for years. We are unsure what we will see here on Monday.
As well as cultural events, a Saturday in June is never complete without a wedding or in this case two! The community was out in full force and the church very busy. The setting for the wedding photos was the trading post as it is just across from the church so we saw brides and grooms in their splendour and the hotel by the harbour was hosting the party!!
A stay in harbour is rounded off by visiting fellow yachtsmen, in this case Jon and Annie on Harmony, who are sailing south having done the Lofoten trip. We had lots to share and will be sending info about where to winter in Sweden in return for their experiences in Scotland.
The prospect of lighter wind and clear skies got us up and away by 8.30am. Not a cloud in the sky, it was a perfect time to leave. Some slightly challenging nav through islands and skerries got us to the open water of Vestfjorden by about 2pm: the day was punctuated with various questions and observations: “does that cable really go across our route, it’s not charted? How high is it? 23m: that’s a lucky thing. If you look out of the boat you’ll see the sand bar I’m talking about!! The puffins are in pairs. If it was 10 degrees warmer we could be in the Bahamas with these beaches & clear azure water, except its quite flat there...”
With 15kn of breeze from the north, we had one reef in, the yankee and staysail out: we were moving along at a steady 7kn, perfect for reaching Skrova by 4.30pm.
It is Sunday and there is no-one around, something we have noticed in many communities. This place is a whaling centre and has been for years. The fishery is next to our pontoon so perhaps tomorrow it will spring to life. The Norwegians no longer do their whaling outside of domestic waters and it has been part of their livelihood for years. We are unsure what we will see here on Monday.