Anchoring in the sheltered waters behind Hankø, we were celebrating a birthday aboard Ventulus. That was a good reason as any to pull out the signal flags.
HankøsundetLatitude: 59° 13.205 NLongitude: 10° 46.645 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
Next stop on our cruise was beautiful and picturesque Holmsbu. The place recently got a new guest harbor that also looks very nice. However, the reason we made the detour to Holmsbu was to look at some paintings at ‘Holmsbu Billedgalleri‘.
A colony of painters settled her 100 years ago. Inspired by the best known of them, the gallery, featuring some of their work, is in the woods, literally facing the woods. Bit surprising as this is otherwise a marine environment.
As luck would have it, an old friend was just ‘back in town’, so we paid him and his family a visit.
HolmsbuLatitude: 59° 33.675 NLongitude: 10° 25.509 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
Back in Sandspollen to start off a week-long cruise down the Oslofjord. Late in the evening Sandspollen saw this Danish visitor, the Baltic trader ‘Lille Dan’.
SanspollenLatitude: 59° 40.004 NLongitude: 10° 34.828 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
Sandspollen is normally a tranquil place. On this day, however the tranquility was broken by a party-boat, who’s captain obviously thought that a bay full of boats at anchor is an excellent place for some drive-by sightseeing.
SandspollenLatitude: 59° 40.004 NLongitude: 10° 34.828 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
My resolution this season was to make one entry in this log, for every trip we make. So here goes, ascension day was a fine day and Sandspollen was packed.
The next evening, what seemed like hundreds of furballs came slowly drifting across a dead calm bay. As to the source of it, we are baffled.
SandspollenLatitude: 59° 40.004 NLongitude: 10° 34.828 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
When a plan is made a long time in advance, it gains momentum and becomes unstoppable. So, a plan was made, pick up wife at Holmsbu Spa Hotel on Friday and spend the weekend sailing back home. Gradually deteriorating weather forecasts did not have the slightest effect on planning. That is how we ended up spending two rainy days in Son harbor, in near solitude. A harbor that normally is packed this time of the year.
SonLatitude: 59° 31.409 NLongitude: 10° 40.937 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
The seasons first sailing was to Sandspollen. Being a reasonably warm 1st of May weekend, life was enjoyed from the cockpit. As always when you start preparing food outside, the local swan-pair shows up. Health conscious as we are, we tried to feed them lettuce. It turns out that swans prefer cookies, served up by people onboard cabin cruisers… ..@# traitors!
SandspollenLatitude: 59° 40.004 NLongitude: 10° 34.828 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
Sailing in light winds one May afternoon in the inner Oslofjord, with colleagues from Aptina.
BunnefjordenLatitude: 59° 52.361 NLongitude: 10° 41.701 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
One beautiful September evening we observed this little guy patrolling Sandspollen. Upon ended commission he faithfully returned to the mother ship.
SandspollenLatitude: 59° 40.004 NLongitude: 10° 34.828 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |
On a hot and tranquil early Sunday afternoon we observed this vessel going for the shortcut around the western tip of Kjeholmen in Ostsundet, in the inner Oslofjord.
OstøyaLatitude: 59° 52.694 NLongitude: 10° 34.643 E Click chart to view larger scope, or here for an even larger scope in a separate window. Chart data ©Kartverket. |