Intrepid Travels

We could easily have stayed in Oslo a little longer but the opportunity to leave with good northerly winds was too tempting. We set off in the afternoon and made our way southwards to an anchorage on the west side of the Oslo fjord, which turned out to be a naval base. We arrived about 9 PM cold, exhausted and hungry. Baked potatoes had been quietly cooking in the oven and we were able to eat immediately and to watch - of all things - the Eurovision Grand Final whilst the cold wind howled outside. This sailing life certainly builds an appetite. Bread and honey have become a favourite filler.
The Oslo fjord is about 50 miles long and is mostly very pretty, with wooded hills, small towns and houses here and there. The water looks very clean despite some turbidity from spring run-off and the many passenger ships and ferries plying the fjord. The sun shone brightly as we left the fjord and headed west. The landscape was low lying and sparsely wooded, with a sprinkling of islands between the coast and open water. These are called skjaergard, as opposed to skargard in Sweden! We found a stunning anchorage off a rock beach on the lee side of a small island and relaxed after a 58 M passage. The following day we stopped in the pretty traditional fishing village of Lyngor, with quaint brightly coloured wooden houses built along the water.
We are getting used to sailing again after a long break. So much of what was routine last year needs to be re-learnt. The main sail has remained in its bag so far. We have been sailing downwind in medium to strong winds for the last two weeks. A big headsail only is perfect and not much effort to manage.