BLOGDATE 1 SEPT 2009

It is hard to believe that it is already September. Emily is safely tucked away outside Calistoga, California, at her freshman orientation retreat before heading to Ecuador and Peru on September 10th. John is hopefully safe in the woods of New Hampshire leading a group of Tufts freshman on a backpack/canoe trip. Jack and I are still on the West Coast of Norway trying to make it around the southern tip and into the calmer waters of the Skagerrak. We will be leaving the North Sea behind us tomorrow.

We were looking forward to one more crew on board but schedules conflicted and it is just Jack and me from here on out. We have a lot to do to get organized to leave the boat "on the hard" and to know what we need to bring next year.

However, today was for relaxing. At least I successfully relaxed all day. Jack of course had to do a fresh water rinse of the Windleblo and various other routine chores. This morning I went to the guest harbor's shower/bathroom/laundry room and noticed that all the facilities were not open. I found the person in charge and she told me that as of September 1st they start their winter schedule. There is definitely a change in the air but we hope that winter will at least wait until we leave.

We also took time for a walk around Farsund. Farsund is a delightful little town. Historically a fishing and shipping center, Farsund more recently served as a staging area for construction of a large underwater oil pipeline bringing North Sea oil to the UK. It is also home to a large Alcoa aluminum plant. Our walk took us to the top of the town hill, Varbak. We made our way around the nature trails and came across "Skottesteinen". It is said babies from Farsund were not brought by the stork but were found under this large rock. You can see Jack looking around for one. Luckily there were none to be found.

I am anxious to be done with the North Sea as the water has been a bit unfriendly of late. We have been having to sail outside the many islands that usually dot the coastline and protect us from swells and waves but these last few days there are no islands available for shelter. Tomorrow however after about a three hour tour we will be back in protected waters.