May 23rd Kristiansand till June 2cnd

We arrived in Kristiansand at 1000 and were met on the dock by Karsten Meling an old friend of mine from work days.  Kristiansand guest harbor is open to the South but has good floating pontoons with mooring buoys a good distance from them.  With the invaluable help of Karsten we tied a very long stern line to a buoy behind the pontoon and secured ourselves with two bow lines; it almost looked as if we knew what we were doing.  We stayed in Kristiansand for ten days catching up on a lot of small boat items as well as a three day visit to Oslo and a haircut. Several UK boats came in to Kristiansand while we were there and we entertained some of the crew on Ariel for cocktails.  

We finally left on June 2nd for Kirkehamn a small fishing town around Lindesnes Point on the West coast.  Gregers and I stopped at Kirkehamn last year on our way South and had really enjoyed the restaurant there.  This time the floating docks were completely taken up by a very large Australian catamaran who had left no room for anyone else.  We moved around the corner to the fish dock and the owner very kindly allowed us to stay there.  Sue and I enjoyed a very nice 9th wedding aniversary dinner at the same restaurant.  We left early the next morning for Inverness in a good southerly breeze and sailed most of the way on a beam reach arriving Inverness Marina at 1300 on June 5th.    

  

Typical Norwegian lunch of shrimp salad the first day we arrived in town. Salmon is the favorite with Charles.0 

In the town "touristy" area this statue was in front of the Italian restaurant.0

There are a series of walk bridges around town leading to many shops and restaurants.

A building a block from the harbor done up Indian style.

One of our dockmates in his wooden boat.

His carved chest

Another beautiful Norwegian boat docked near us.

The entrance Lighthouse to Kristiansand

Great restaurant

By a marina

Enjoyed a nice meal here too dockside.

Ariel moored at the dock. pick up the buoy and extend a LONG line back to the boat, while tying bow up port and starboard. The passarell that Charles made came in very handy.

Upon return from Oslo there was a boat show in the marina.

When we returned from Oslo there was a crowd on the dock. The Kiwanis put on a fund raiser there in the form of a boat show. There is no entry fee to visitors. So you get to see products, buy things, check out boats and buy booth food. They make their money selling ice cream at their stand. Everything from New Cars, boating equipment to smaller motor boats on display.  We got English meat pies of pork and cheese or lamb from one vendor. It was quite good.  A special boat hook was purchased which we have found invaluable. It hooks onto a ring and then puts the loop of your dock line through the ring making mooring easier.