Paddington Bear in Kristiansund (2.6.2015)

Lost in translation

We must have looked a bit like Paddington Bear (actually more like two) lost in Paddington Station when we went all around the shopping centre on the waterfront on Kristiansund (70M NE of Ålesund) looking for a small electric fan heater. We hoped that it would just take the chill out of the boat and save diesel (for the Eberspächer heater) while we are connected to shore power. After hunting for it in all the possible shops and getting the same answer over and over again: that we will have to go out of town to the big shopping malls, we were approached by a very kind gentleman, Kjell, who was on leave from his work on an oil rig, who immediately offered to take us there in his car. We must really have looked somewhat desperate!

We also have developed a problem with our engine. The batteries are not charging. It would be foolish to proceed (relying on the generator alone to charge the batteries), and where best to have it looked at than in Kristiansund, where the main Volvo-Penta repair centre in Sør-Trøndelag is located. It has been established that we will need a new alternator. 

Changing weather

Stoplane in Hustadvika

Apart from that the weather is very windy at the moment.

We were very lucky to have caught a lull in the weather to sail from Ålesund to Kristiansund ahead of a lot of unsettled weather to come. We sailed past the very notorious 30M stretch of coast called Hustadvika. It is totally exposed to the ocean with indefinite numbers of rocks and skerries and no shelter. The visibility was very good and the water was calm. We could even cut a corner through the NW skerries called Stoplane passage. This area was very confusing and we were glad to have the assistance of our trusted iPad to

HESTSKJÆRET lighthouse

negotiate the many isolated danger marks!

As soon as we arrived in Kristiansund it started to rain.

Yesterday there was a north-easterly gale and driving rain and snowing in Trondheim. From tomorrow strong westerly winds are forecast to last until Friday. In a way, that makes it easier to come to terms with alternator charging problems.

While Stephan is busy assisting the mechanic taking the engine to bits I am busy reading our Norwegian Pilot book and getting really excited about all the wonderful places that we will be discovering along the way, the Trolls and island mountains, crossing the Polar Circle (which lies this year at latitude 66º 33’.45N), in short: the lure of the North. 

Gjestebrygge in Kritiansund