We sat in this anchorage for about a week as a bad system passed over. Great walking but not so great was dragging our anchor when the wind got up in the middle of the night and having to let the lines go and re-anchor in the middle of the bay. No drama but it was cold, wet and windy.
Our friend Paul arrived from the States for his annual visit and we picked him up in Floro in the pouring rain. He was able to get the fast ferry from Bergen and said the last part was very rough - by the next day it had settled down and we continued south. The next 100 miles were spent exploring the outer islands, finding scattered communities everywhere.
Tight entrances became the norm. This is the wider entrance to Hardbakke on the island of Sula - and below is the narrower one we took on the way out. Summer was over so we were the only boat still out cruising, villages were quiet after the summer madness and a lot of tourist-related businesses were shut down. Suited us!
Look at this for a mass of islands - over 350. The eastern end of the Balandet Islands was high and it tapered off to the west. Connected by bridges, we found it to be one of the friendliest places we've visited. Lucky for us most people speak enough English to converse with us so we have slowly got to know about the Norwegian culture as we move south. We Kiwis are quite outgoing so it has taken a bit of getting used to the delightful quiet ways of the locals.
Our walks are always a surprise as we turn a corner and another unexpected view opens up to us.
We found this anchorage to sit out yet another blow and did a lot of walking. Got to meet several of the locals at the village of Byrknesoy two kilometers away, and left loaded up with dried fish, fresh greens, wool for knitting socks and an offer of a winter berth. It was great to meet an English family with a huge vegetable garden, the first we have seen here, and to see what can be grown in such a short season.
Bridges everywhere, and tunnels both on land and under the sea.
This one is almost 2 kms long and floats as the fiord is too deep for bridge foundations.
Autumn kicked in with stunning display of colour which brightened our duller days.
And the locals also added a bit of colour of their own.
Finally Bergen where we tied up right in the city centre for 3 nights. Come the weekend we had to share the space with 23 launches and 3 more yachts - can't imagine what it's like in the summer. This has got to be one of the most beautiful cities we have been to. No wnder it has so many cruise ships calling in, sometimes 7 a day!
We spent many days here by a collection of wooden boats in all states of repair. They were a friendly bunch and Phil spent many hours over there.
Being Kiwis we usually shopped here!
Before we could row ashore the dinghy had to be bailed, a daily happening.
