We have an hour to fill before our shore excursion at Narvik so I’ll do a quick post about yesterdays day at sea. These are always appreciated after a few port calls, time to have a lie in, catch up on chores and go to the extra lectures laid on.

Almost immediately upon leaving Gerainger we entered the inner passage heading north. Since then we have been constantly cruising the smooth water between islands and the shore. At times we seen pretty close.

As Narvik has a strong historical perspective during WWII there have been a number of lectures about it and the German occupation. This afternoon there will be one about the sinking of the Tirpitz in a nearby fjord.

I also had a tour about the Bayeux Tapestry. All the stairwells onboard Vela feature various panels from it. As they are greatly enlarged the detail is incredible, and as our onboard historian explained them we appreciated them even more. The story behind Edward the Confessor, Harold and William’s coronation is fascinating. Every British schoolboy knows about the Battle of Hastings in 1066 but the events before it make interesting reading, especially being illustrated by the tapestry…..which is in fact technically an embroidery.

Finally, in the middle of dinner, we passed into the artic circle marked by a globe on an island we passed. It is light 24/7 now, thankfully our cabin has some good blockout curtains.

Looking out from our balcony whilst moored at Gerainger we could see a narrow zig zag road ascending the mountainside. This was part of our port excursion, in a 45 seat coach.

After tendering to the port our guide introduced herself along with the all important driver. There are 5 hairpin bends which need to be completely free to go around. There are however numerous regular cars, motorhomes, caravans and other coaches to contend with. Also some electric Twizzy’s….more later.

After a few shuffles, stops and close manoeuvres we got to the top. Some pretty spectacular views were to be had.

Then it was backdown the way we had come, thru the town and up the other side. More spectacular views and perfect weather.

We carried on further, past the tree line till over the saddle where there was a large lake. With some snow around the water was pretty chilly.

We then headed back down, past numerous waterfalls and tight turns. Overall a great tour with a good guide

We have a day at sea today, so it’s given me a chance to sort thru some 300 photos I’ve taken. I’ll do 2 posts for the day…..1st a photographic study from 5am in the morning as we sailed up the fjord, then one of our shore excursion. Enjoy the pics

After settling in yesterday, Mark snoozed Hazel unpacked ! we started exploring the ship and got very lost….

The ship seems very spacious with lots of nooks and crannies for her 980 passengers and 540 crew. Apparently there are 150 Aussies onboard, we shared a dinner table with a couple of kiwis. We were both tired after our 4am start so had an early night.

Bergen has a 4 ship capacity, as soon as one left in came another. The morning saw a Viking sister ship reversing in !

The weather was pretty miserable, but our first shore excursion carried on. The guide was pretty hopeless, a rare occurrence for Viking, and a lot of people stayed on the bus rather than walk with her to each location.

The usual Church visit was delayed by a previous group so some of us went searching for zombies in the crypt….

We DID find an Angel when allowed back…..

With the rain easing we started a stroll in the city, but soon decided to do our own thing and walk back to the ship as I had another tour booked later.

I did the next tour by myself, whilst H had a go with some sock wool we had just bought. Harold, and 2 assistants, led a Ebike tour of Bergen. This was completely different from our first, starting with instructions for complete novices….. He did his job brilliantly and then took off at a cracking pace, and seemed taken aback on stopping to find me right behind him ! It didn’t take long for the penny to drop as I called him an excellent lead out man…..you’ve ridden an ebike before I see……

Our route was up the mountain behind Bergen thru some beautiful forests. The sun came out, the air was crisp and with a lot of banter to and fro everybody seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Eventually we had to turn back down and, via a set of steep switchbacks, found ourselves in the middle of the city ! “Just follow me Australia” said Harold, “as you drive on the wrong side of the road”……there was never more than a metre between his rear and my front tyre ! Weaving thru cars, buses and people he cut a swath with all of us ringing our bells like mad !

Onto the obligatory Church stop, then a clothing shop selling traditional dresses, and finally the Bryggen with its traditional Hansiatic warehouses.

This was how a tour is done, he got a resounding cheer at the end….”row, Row, ROW” like the Norwegian fans at the World Cup give, plus numerous tips.

An hour later we sailed out, under a bridge and past numerous islands with little houses scattered around on any flat spots.

During dinner, and as I write this blog, we are cruising past the most spectacular scenery. I’m having a hard time not rushing out every minute to take another 100 photos !

I’ll try to resist taking too many more, I know we have a beauty planned for tomorrow. Cheers till then

After a very early start, 4am ! we headed out to Gatwick and our flight to Norway. The usual crush of people and delays before take off do nothing to enhance international travel.

Our flight path over England revealed a dry and parched land, very reminiscent of Australia. Bergen Airport was all mod cons and it didn’t take long to pass thru to our Viking ship transfer.

Viking Vela is very smart and modern, the cabin and verandah are significantly bigger than Oceania’s, and she feels very airy. I’ll post some pics of her over the coming weeks. In the meantime we’re enjoying our balcony view, the cooler weather and a G&T.

It is with considerable regret and sadness that I write this post advising that today will be our last day aboard Prime Thyme.

With little Sea Otter Club action and not having a reliable trailering service we feel we’ve spent enough time on the Wey and Thames, and will revert back to hiring on the canal system

Starting in 2012 we hired for a few years before buying our first Sea Otter T42. She was trailed extensively around the canal system, doing many rally’s where we met like minded folk.

Our friends Rico and Lorraine aboard Lazy Otter accompanied us on many of these rings and we remain forever thankful for their company, help and cooked dinners on the towpath !

We also met Penny in our early T42 years and she kept an eye on her and Prime Time over the years. When having a boat the other side of the world this has been of considerable reassurance and help, especially finding engineers and examiners.

Of course most thanks must go H…lock labourer, chief cook and bottle washer…..and my best mate ❤️

Tomorrow we have a very early start for Norway. In the meantime as I’m feeling better, a little cruise……..

Our mooring last night in Godalming got interesting as I moved the boat out from under the tree, with its messy roosting pigeons, and found a wasp nest in the bank. Thankfully they were sleepy and didn’t seem to mind us, but we closed the windows that side.

We’ve been passing Andy in Eleanor, a 40’ Aintree Beetle, all this trip. So when he set off downstream to Guildford, joined him to halve the lock load. First up Cattersall lock and the narrow pass thru the Farncombe Boathouse boats.

Godalming is surrounded by Lamas Land, ancient river meadows. Excellent for dog walkers rather than grazing.

Then onto Guns Mouth, site of the junction with the disused Aran canal, and very low Broadford bridge

Going thru St Catherine’s lock we met up with NB Flat Bottom Girl. Owned by a lovely couple, they had given us a tour of this magnificent 60’ boat whilst moored in Guildford Meadows. A keen knitter she and Hazel had lots to talk about.

Saying goodbye to Andy we transited thru Millmead Lock, Guildford town centre, Dapdune Wharf and onto Ladymead for shopping. Not food but tissues and medicine, I’ve come down hard with a cold, again.

Dapdune Wharf is the centre of the National Trusts Wey Navigations, with lots of old buildings from its days of barge building. It also has a tea room, good idea let’s stop !

With me starting to wilt in the sun it was time to find a shady spot, under an ancient Oak tree just above Bowers lock was ideal

We had 3 hours rest without any boats, the 4 arrived from all directions ! Time to move, but not with the new hirers…..Giving them a hand thru, we soon caught up later on. Our usual spot by Send Church had a spot for overnight…phew.

With our time running short we decided to do one last run up Godalming, especially as supplies were running low. Hazel has been getting a little better each day, but by the time we got to the first lock my throat was on fire….

Fortunately the 3 locks are fairly easy, even if 2 were set against us. As there is less traffic on this section the waterfowl has increased, with numerous flotillas of Egyptian and Canadian geese.

The wind gradually picked up, and with patchy cloud cover the temperature didn’t feel high.

First the shallow St Catherine’s, then the slightly hidden and remote Unstead locks. Then past Riff Raff Weir and it’s pretty lenghtmans cottage.

Then back onto the windy river section into Godalming, after Cattersall Lock where Farncombe Boathouse were teaching day boat hirers……as they disappeared into the distance the instructor was saying “don’t hit anything, don’t hit anything, they are out of view and are not my responsibility anymore” !

By the time we got to Godalming I was feeling really rotten, had just enough energy to help H with the shopping, then found a perfect shady spot to moor, make up a bed and then crash……no more cruising today. We have 2 days to get back to the Marina and then pack…

We seem to have spent a bit of time at Walsham Gates this year, by ourselves in the heat, sharing moorings with Iris

But we always fly our Tassie flag with pride 👍

With water levels starting to fall, and restrictions likely, we’re heading up to Guildford for our last days before Norway.

We’ve finally had a couple of cooler days, making cruising more enjoyable and having dinner one night with Penny and Mark outside the New Inn

Today I enjoyed a visit to RHS Wisley, where I worked part time, as a student and full time member of staff running the Orchid Glasshouses. Nothing remains of them from my time, but the new glasshouses are magnificent.

We wandered across to Battlestone Hill, where I first started as a summer vocational worker, and a place I always feel at home…especially amongst the Eucalyptus trees that I planted some 50 years ago. The fairy dell is still magical, though I didn’t see any badgers like I used to do in the late afternoons.

We wondered around the exotic, walled and rose gardens….perfection everywhere.

It was gradually getting hotter, time for lunch or an ice cream…..

A magical day at a magical place, I hope to return one day….