Mina2 at Aesoya – one of the lovely anchorages of Lofoten
Passing Canary Wharf in the Thames as we leave at dawn on our first adventure
Tom looking at the transit of Venus through the sextant
Tom pretending to be brave as the storm builds
Thunder and lightning crashes all around
The Shetland lifeboat comes to tow us in to Lerwick after terminal engine failure
Colin points out some wild orchids …
… and tries to catch trout for lunch (unsuccessfully)
The Shetland lifeboat in Lerwick
En route to the Lofoten Islands we have to heave to for repairs during a 36 hour gale
… but approaching the Lofotens the wind dies and we can carry the cruising chute
A surprisingly warm day in the Arctic circle
Panorama of Reine – one of the most spectacular anchorages in the Lofotens
Our first cod … Richard hacks its head off …
… leaving Venetia with what’s left
Clouds form over a mountain
Henningsvaer – The Venice of the Lofotens!
Christopher & David inspect the dried cod heads destined for Nigeria
The skipper basking in the midnight sun …
… the sun tracks sideways – this was its lowest point
Christopher preparing his botanical field notes
Vaincre La Muscovisidose – winner of the Dinartica Midnight Sun Race
The skipper’s mum, Noel, at the helm …
… and his dad catching a rather small fish
A traditional Viking boat
Nyksund – still some renovation required
Steine – the perfect fair weather anchorage in the middle of nowhere
Sunset at midnight with the fishing boats in Nordskot
Nigel, Type-A maniac, goes for an arctic swim …
… before warming himself by the post-barbecue beach bonfire
Svartisen glacier – one of the most spectacular pontoons in Europe
Some have what it takes …
… and some don’t
Troll country on the way to the glacier
Lichen encrusted boulder
Nigel investigates the underside of the glacier
The colours refracting through the ice are stunning
Loading up the 1000 year old glacier ice …
… for the G&T’s
A hard scramble to the top of the hill
Reindeer antler – a memento of our trip
Monster saithe …
A girly eagle
… even its lunch was bigger than anything Nigel had caught
Repairing the cruising chute …
… followed by a haircut
Torghatten – the mount with the hole
The speck in the middle is Jane
Looking down into the abyss
Open surgery – the lost blood was replaced with gin
Villa Havn
At last Nigel catches something = a venomous Acadian Redfish
Light duties for Jane after her back goes
… but heavy duties for Nigel
A spookily misty anchorage
A spectacular rain storm sweeps down the fjord
Mediterranean air – Arctic water
Håholmen – home of Norwegian adventurer Ragnar Thorseth
Maria at her “abandon” ship” station
One of the spectacular waterfalls
Cruise ships dwarfed by the surrounding mountains
Spectacular rainbow – the intensity of the colours was incredible
On the fishermens’ quay at Ålesund
Ålesund panorama
“Cyclos” – so big I couldn’t fit all of her into the viewfinder
Red sky at night – sailors’ delight?
The old quarter of Bergen
…. and the fishmarket
At last Charles gets some wind
The gastronomic climax to my birthday
Bergen panorama
Producer, director… and star!
Passing the Thames barrier
… and our arrival at Tower Bridge
The reception committee replenishes our dwindled wine cellar
Mina2 