Recently we had some friends visiting from Oslo, the weather was finally getting nice (about time at the end of May). We decided to make a day-trip, heading to the northern parts of Askøy where there are several nice mooring options, especially one of them, which Laila and I investigated on an earlier trip.
We got a fair “warning” from Lailas parents, that whitsunday (in fair weather) is by far the busiest boating day in Norway and that turned out to be more than true. Already at the marina we had trouble finding a parking spot for the car. Something that has never been an issue before.
Once out on the fjord there were boats, in all sizes and at all speeds, everywhere. Luckily there is enough water for everyone, but it dawned on us, that finding an acceptable anchoring spot to have lunsj and taking a walk might become a challenge.
For the way north we decided to keep east of Askøy, going up Byfjorden and then continuing north-west to the tip of the island. Temperatures were fine but no wind to sail. Continuing on there were fewer and fewer boats around us.
The way north on this side is a bit monotonous so we decided, again by recommendation of Lailas parents, to have an interlude by going through Berlandsundet, a narrow passage east of Askøy.
Closing in on our planned destination I kept an eye on several pre-selected alternative anchoring spots, but everything seemed to be occupied and I wasn’t too keen on lying hull to hull in some tight spot. In the worst case we decided, that arriving on the northern tip of Askøy we continued on back south again on the western side and we would have had a nice trip, with lunsj underway.
The spot Laila and me were keen on visiting, Skarvøy, was occupied of course. We could see people on the island from quite far away and every mooring spot had at least one boat on it. The last option was to check an old public pier a bit further north, Skjelanger, and just as we were about to turn around the corner we could see another sailboat leaving that place.
Here we finally could go on land, have a nice lunsj and explore the surroundings. A rather unfamiliar problem for Norway occurred to us, i.e., the sun was so intense, that we had to put up a blanket in the backstay to give us some shadow. I definitely have to think about an awning of some kind for the cockpit.
Lunsj consisted of plenty of food we grilled the evening before. We took a short walk in the surroundings, took in the landscape and just relaxed. The water was to cold for bathing, around 13°C, but it was a nice refreshment to just wade around in it.
The way back then was uneventful and we motored south on Askøy’s western coast.
Askøy is long, so the trip took the better part of the day. And after that much sun everybody was tired enough when we finally arrived back home.
Syvsover 