SY Hullu Poro – Page 14 – Boating & Biking Adventures

🙋‍♀️…Nesna…🙋‍♂️

On June 11, 2025

6am we are up for the early morning tea. The sun is already very well above the horizon, a bit puzzling. 12°C in the boat, heater and generator get switched on although we think, it’s not that cold, give the sun another hour or so. However, at 7:30am we throw the lines and Susan disappears in her floating office, for the day, just getting out when the stomach cries for it! Here and there a quick view to check the scenery and if the captain has got everything under control. 😅

Music wise we are getting a bit one sided. It’s either Grieg’s Peer Gynt or Aha’s playlist but both putting our current scenery into a mystic and well echoed frame. Suddenly Trolls 🧌 everywhere! The journey through this endless archipelago leaves a good impression of Norway‘s vast coastline.

Nesna is our stopover for the night.

Fair winds…

🙋‍♀️…Straumøyan…🙋‍♂️

By Bernd

On June 10, 2025

In Norway

To place it positive: we are able to make north and burn our old bio-diesel. The diesel party goes on! We consumed quite a bit since Dún Laoghaire, and soon Farget diesel/Anleggsdiesel without bio content will be replenished. This will eliminate the risk of diesel pest going forward. On top of that it’s tax free in Norway for boats!

We have moored for the night in the Straumøyan Naturhavn, which is operated by the Brønnøysund Båtforening and lies in a beautiful little fjord just 5nm north of the city. It’s only us and a few curious sheep coming along saying hello.

Fair winds…

🙋‍♀️…Rørvik…🙋‍♂️

By Bernd

On June 9, 2025

In Norway

Leaving cosy Kuringsvågen around 10pm to catch at least some southwesterly winds over night took us into another overnight passage. As it does not get dark anymore the priority is purely on the weather rather than the biorhythm. We want to arrive in or around Bodø, the sooner the better.

We have now arrived in Rørvik, another popular stopover harbour for north- and southbound sailors.

Some rest was needed after an interesting motor-sail passage through some tight and tiny skerries.

Fair winds…

🙋‍♀️…Kuringvågen…🙋‍♂️

By Bernd

On June 7, 2025

In Norway

After 14 hours and 90nm more on the log we arrived in Kuringvågen, a nice little marina hidden in a hurricane hole. It reminds us a lot at Dyvig in Denmark.

Have a good weekend!

Fair winds…

🙋‍♀️…Kristiansund…🙋‍♂️

By Bernd

On June 7, 2025

In Norway

After a boring day of motor-sailing we finally arrived in Kristiansund. Happy but tired, there was time for a short exploration of the city centre and it became obvious, that a second night would be a waste of time. We want to get north, the sooner the better. That‘s what we are here for: Lofoten

The humming noise was back at 7am, ready for another day under motor-sailing. The light variable winds will stay for some more days before turning north and therefore we decided to bite the bullet and get rid of some old diesel in the tank and get further north. Minimum: District Helgeland

Fair winds…

🙋‍♀️…Ålesund…🙋‍♂️

By Bernd

On June 6, 2025

In Norway

We have left our pool position berth at Ålesund in the early morning hours to catch some southerly winds left on the way to Kristiansund. It will be partly motor-sailing before the winds cease off further over the next couple of days. Going by the actual weather forecasts.

Ålesund Havn had a scheduled inspection of our pontoon structure and changed some shackles and robes. At the same time the Chief Diver Even offered us a free hull inspection and later-on shared the video and concluded – all good. I would have been surprised on anything different to that but it’s good to know that theses skills & services are readily available in Norway while they were very scarce in Ireland. Hope we never need it and the water gets to temperatures for us to jump in ourselves. Hospitality at its best!

During today‘s passage we need to pass Hustadvika, an exposed or dangerous area in adverse weather conditions as per our cruising guide. The weather is fine today and we expect a relaxed passage.

Time for breakfast.

Fair winds…

🚴‍♂️…Brusdalsvatnet…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On June 4, 2025

In B(H)iking, Norway

I have started to sleep with my eye mask as the nights are too bright for me to get decent deep sleep. It works.

Fully rested I jumped on the bike to explore more of Ålesund‘s surroundings. Different highlights at different waypoints made it colourful but my favourites today were the open air museum and the little hill crossing through beautiful forest.

I might have to rethink my prejudice that Norway is not a great 🚴‍♂️ country.

Fair winds…

🚴‍♂️…Sukkertoppen…🚴‍♂️

By Bernd

On June 3, 2025

In B(H)iking, Norway

Sukkertoppen in Norway is the counterpart of the Great Sugar Loaf in Wicklow Mountains/Ireland with the only distinction, that the latter one has no meaning at all in terms of navigational guidance while the Norwegian formation is very helpful on the approach into Alesund. Vegetation is grossly different, both not bikeable to the summit. I turned around as the risk of fall and injury got out of proportion.

Nevertheless it became a pleasant ride through some suburbs and nearby parks showing leftovers from WW II within some lush green fjell landscape. I also bumped into The Last Bonfire in Slinnbålet, which is under full preparation for the Midsummer celebrations.

On the final miles the Norwegian hospitality showed up at its best. I got dragged from the 🚴‍♂️ invited to Coffee & Cake by the local community celebrating the opening of a new road, which included a new cycle track.

Fair winds…

Cape Stad – Vestkapp

By Bernd

On June 3, 2025

In Norway

I am glad we made it north of Cape Stad during our passage from Shetland to Norway. This cape is also known as West Cape, the most western cliff in Norway.

It does not only form the borderline between the North Sea located to the south and the Norwegian Sea to the north, it also functions as a blocker for the low pressure systems to move much further east. In other words, the low pressure system raging currently southwest of Alesund will not get much closer to us, winds dropping rapidly.

Canoeists and Stand-up Paddlers face calm waters, mooring lines not getting tested either.

Fair winds…

Alesund’s Bird View

By Bernd

On June 2, 2025

In B(H)iking, Norway

Customs came first, Border Control second and after that we took a quick walk to the next Politi Station inquiring about long term stay regulations in Norway, for boat and crew.

The Lady got desalted, the mess sorted.

Our after-work-walk took us a short but steep distance to Aksla Hill for an unspoiled view over the city.

We have arrived!

Fair winds…