Sailing · 20. June 2018
So after the electric motor dashboard check and repair, we got off into the lock in Hajstorp that we had done yesterday twice. Once downward and then backward up again. This time everything went smoothly, except as predicted it started raining just before 1 o'clock. But we were just content to be on our way again. So during our afternoon Nila and I were manning the locks and getting really good as a team doing it, while my mum helped with bringing food or cooking tea to keep us warm. Gian was...
Sailing · 20. June 2018
Electrician / boat mechanic came to same conclusion as I had suspected. The contacts to the instrument board were corroded needed cleaning. Getting access was the hardest part. He even had to unscrew an acess door in my bunk. Now we are waiting to get into the lock. Back on our way towards Sjötorp!
Sailing · 20. June 2018
The repair guy Pär should be here any minute now. Other boats are also waiting to get into the lock. I found Gian's treasure collection, see next picture. Feathers, stones, bark boat, ropes etc.
Sailing · 19. June 2018
As described previously it was an adventures day today for myself. But for Gian our 5 year old it probably turned out to be the best day so far. Sun came out just after breaking. We had to stop many times today, so he could get off the boat. He helped dock longside when emptying the toilet. He could go for a swim in the pool after lunch next to this pier. He got an icecream after the motor stop. He found precious glittering stones. He learned to fish for the first time in his life, even if we...
Important news · 19. June 2018
More delays, so SORRY! What a day today! Right now we are docked longside before the first double lock in Hajstorp on our way to Sjötorp in the Vänern lake. We did the first lock and then the motor didn't start for no apparent reason. The instrument board, didn't show any lights. My first thought was, they are faint and I can't see them so just try again to press the on/off button, then press the motor start button. But nothing happened. Since we had just done our first downward lock of a...
Sailing · 18. June 2018
Today we left Karlsborg and passed through Forsvik to reach the highest point of Göta kanal. We've reached Vassbackens harbor by now. We realized that it would have been better to stop right after passing through the lock in Forsvik. Here in Vassbacka at the cafe Nila found a brochure telling all that we could have seen in Forsvik. Apparently the start of building Göta kanal and the deepest lock. We only had drops of rain today, nothing compared with yesterdays downpours. Even quite a lot of...
Sailing · 17. June 2018
We started the day slowly, but left Motala at 10.15h in the rain under motor. After a third of the way across Vättern, the rain ceased and a bit of wind came up so we sailed and had our sandwiches for lunch. Just before the next rain came we managed to roll in the sails and finished our journey to the Göta kanal Karlsborg harbor. In the rain we did a boye maneuver that was successful. But noticed that we had chosen the wrong side of the harbor not able to get to the services.
Sailing · 15. June 2018
I was worried we wouldn't make it to Motala today. Over the last 2 days I rearranged both my mum and Nila with Gian to join me in Motala rather than Vadstena as planned. Today we managed to leave Göta kanal around 15h in Motala and then we got diesel and emptied the toilet. We were finally docked across the Göta kanalbolagts yellow building at 16h. We didn't head on to Vadstena anymore. Motala turns out to host the Vättern Rundan tomorrow a bike race around the complete lake which is about 4...
Sailing · 15. June 2018
Yesterday we worked awfully hard climbing up Bergs lock stairs and additionally a couple of double locks. We climbed over 30 meters high. Last night we spent in Ljungsbro, which is well deserved but again not as far as I had anticipated. I know now that the information provided by Göta kanal website must be more than optimistic. So I have arranged for both Nila with Gian and my mum to come to Motala harbor rather than the picturesque town Vadstena. What worries me now is that the next stretch...
Sailing · 13. June 2018
So now before lunch we have managed 2 more locks superbly. We needed to get some more food which we did send Christine and Thomas to take care of here in the small town of Söderköping. So Morten and I guard the boat at the pier. I managed to get a real cappuccino. Also we pimped the boat with an additional ball fender after 2 more that I purchased still this morning in Mem before leaving. 10 minutes ahead is a bridge that will open every half hour.
