We’ve had a good stop, leaving the ship behind in Åndalsnes and ventured inland to tack down the Goddess. Balto the Great got to ride the infamous Rauma railway and to discover snow for the first time. The Captains finally had the chance to rest for a day or two in the winter-town of Lillehammer where Santa was busy working the streets. While waiting for the Goddess to finish up some undone business, like hunting down wolf-hunters and starting a new job, we had the luxury of hot showers and a full sized bed.
Finally it was time for us to return to our belowed vessel. Unattended for weeks FF Ella had accumulated a thick layer of heavy snow. We got enough shuffled off before darkness came upon us to get a good start the next morning.
There was of course a concern that the frost or someone had done some damage while we were gone, but we quickly learned that noone had touched the ship while we were gone. Not long after we got started the next morning there was however an issue with the cooling-system that had us power down for a good hour leavi g us in the faith of our sail while Captain Simen worked the problem.
One we learned what the problem was, we where soon back and running. The day had presented us with little wind, bud the sky was clear and at times the sun peaked down at us between the mountains. Our goal for the day was to reach Ålesund, some 50 nautical miles through the Romsdalsfjord and Midtfjorden.
We reached Ålesund, got onto the mission of finding suitable drinking-water, made dinner and quickly turned in for the night. The next day was yet another long leg, the second on a row, but neccesary in order to stay ahead of a minor storm heading our way. Our plan for the day was to sail one of the most dangerous parts of the entire Norwegian coastline, the supposedly horrific Stadt; where winds and waves cross paths in all directions. But just as last time we crossed this sailors nightmare we couldn’t be luckier with the conditions.
We cruised through, and allthough we once again was delayed due to a faulting cooling-system and therefore completed the voyage in the dark, we reached our destination – the monestary on Selja, that noone know when was built.
There was of course no electrisity on the island, but we are prepared for condition like this and fired up the old alchol-stove for heating. After yet another long day and the Goddess’ awesome potato-stew we quickly turned in to prepare our bodies and soul for a whole day exploring the monestary and let Balto roam free for the first time in weeks.
In order to get moving and to fullfill our wish of drying our clothes, we made the two hour journey to Måløy in the afternoon. This allowed us to prepare for our next step to prevent ourselves from getting held back by the weather – next day by making our way to Florø, where we will be resting up and waiting out the worst of the icy rain that is currently washing off the rest of the ice covering the boat.
It’s great to be back and to make such good progress every day. Strange enough I guess since there is no concrete plans to how and when this adventure shall end. For now we are having Bergen and Stavanger on the list of ports to visit, but other than that.. Who knows..
Captain Jack
Harry Floats 
Great post 💞💞
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