Norheimsund disappeared around the corner and we headed back along the Hardanger fjord towards the sea. The wind picked up and we considered sailing for long enough for the wind to die, pick up from the opposite direction, die again and then blow from a third direction. A typical day sailing on the fjord. We motored.
We found a sheltered spot at the end of an island with an appropriate view to wake up to and tried to remember how to live on anchor again.
We stopped at the little town of Uskedal the next day for some exercise and lunch.
Someone who had attended our talk, noticed us on AIS and emailed to suggest we look at the marks on the rock gouged out by glacier activity. They may not be too clear in the photo but there were deep horizontal gouges in the rock.
Our next anchorage had just enough room to swing around comfortably and some good shelter. In the morning we went ashore to exercise and collect ticks (thankfully just Bernie). While we practiced our downward dog, Bernie practiced his mad spaniel pulling up grass.
We motored around the islands to get closer to Bergen and found another empty anchorage on an island. It looks like it might get busy in summer but we met only one family who recommended a route for us to walk around the island. Bernie was very pleased. The houses on the island range from tiny ancient huts to modern houses mostly serving as summer houses for Bergenites. There were no signs and limited paths but after several side trips and some help from satellite pictures we arrived back at the harbour.
The next day we sailed and motored passed Bergen and into the yard to be hauled out. We rafted up with some of the brand new motor boats that they build in the yard. A light dusting of snow the next morning reminded us why there aren’t too many cruising boats around this time of year.
We headed into Bergen for a few days while the boat was cleaned, anti fouled and serviced. It was a good break off the boat and a chance to look around and go the chandlery of course.
After safely re launching we took Away across to Bergen harbour to reprovision before heading north.
We had been warned that more people bring their boats in to party on Friday and Saturday. An armada of white runabouts descended on the dock area to meet friends and enjoy the local restaurants. A sleek black boat docked opposite us at dusk. It turned out to be a floating speaker that rattled and vibrated to the thump of dance music from late at night till after nine am.
Next we head north to quieter anchorages to recover from the excitement of Bergen.
