Kräftskiva preparations and the party

Shopping done

Thawing party food

Not a selfish again

Aftermath

Camilla

Brushing teeth after party

Party starts

Hope my guests find the boat?

What a great party we ended up having on the second last evening on the boat!
Most my guests ended up arriving late, because there had been a major car accident blocking the only street out. So my mom coming with a bus before the accident and Thomas with Viveka coming with their motorboat ended up being the first. I was happy to have some guests earlier and actually start a bit late, since my preparations were running late.
While we were waiting for the rest to arrive we sat outside having an Apéro. Shortly before 20 o'clock everybody had arrived and we moved inside. There we had a lot of fun, I especially enjoyed all the snaps songs that Thomas and Viveka knew, sang and let us sing.

I had been a bit nervous about the party, since in the past I have only done it with Swiss or German friends: Did I have enough wine or beer? What was common to serve with the krayfish? Turned out Västerbottenpaj!
So I organized everything first all the alcohol needed on Tuesday after the museum visit, decorations on Wednesday and krayfish on Thursday, bread on Friday.

My mom traveled furthest to join, which was a great honor and rounded things up with her last visit ending so abruptly on an helicopter.
Then Thomas and Viveka, who had wanted to sail to Åland with me, but it did not work out, finally came to stay for a while on the boat and partly! Camilla and Magnus came that had given us such a wonderful midsummer in June at their summer house. Olle one of my cousins almost 20 younger than me came. We had met in Bern half a year ago during his Erasmus exchange in Switzerland. Dirk and his wife Antje came, we were colleagues at Roche, but Dirk now works in Uppsala since 2 years. During our Roche time we both attended one of the department closing parties that had room for conversations. A colleague tipped him about my blog and since then he has been a true follower also on Facebook.
I could not have fit more people around my table!
Thanks everybody for coming, I loved all your company!
Almost half my guests ended up sleeping over: my mom, Olle, Dirk and Antje!
It felt good to have company on the boat again even over night.
I don't remember at what time we went to bed, but the sky was so wonderfully clear again that the stars were glowing. Such a nice experience just before bedtime!

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Did my ground hitting leave marks

Lifting Sofia II up

Taking the mainsail down

Packing mainsail up for check up

Lifting Sofia II up

Checking

Your browser doesn't support the video tagLifting up Sofia II

On Friday morning Hans came to Bullandö and we took the mainsail down so he could have it checked for damages done during last weeks accident. Then we took the boat to be lifted up to check if all my ground contact had left any damages.
It was fascinating to see how the boat is lifted up and how we could walk underneath.
Nothing was damaged!
I could see the underside without having to dive into the cold water or hold my breath!
I am so proud nothing was damaged!

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Who wants to bake Kanelbullar?

Here my cousin Anna-Maria sent me an English version of how to bake Kanelbullar :
 Kanelbullar  

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Wednesday to strong winds to go out

Stockholm

Lunch at Fotografiska Museet

Topping it off with Latte and Kardemumma Bulle

Looking for used childrens books

My uncle Johan his wife Lill and I

I woke up to sunshine again, but wind was very strong, so instead of taking Alfons on a ride with Sofia II,  I took the bus to Stockholm for some culture input and strolling. So my first stop after getting off at Slussen was Fotografiska Museet which again had stunning exhibits. After taking all that in I treated myself to another one of those delicious shrimp salads they have here. I noticed though that my joy over such a dish has decreased, because during my summer it has been regularly on my menu. It is like everything that is scarce you want more of but when you get it it becomes common! Sad actually, but logical.

I had called my uncle Johan to see if we could meet some of these days when I was between Bullandö and Stockholm. First we had discussed me visiting Thursday, but now I had a full day pass so I called to see if I could drop by. My solution was perfect, since both Wendsday and Thursday now he had glasfiber installed and needed to overlook their work. So we agreed me coming by at 17h.

After the museum I went shopping a bit and browsing for used childrens books. Also buying a SD card for my phone to store all pictures I have from my adventure.
16.55 o'clock in a very Swiss way I arrived at my uncles house. I quickly learned that Liil had prepared to treat me to dinner with freshly picked mushrooms. First though I got a lengthy and very interesting update on family history dating back to 1800. In between there I learned that my grandfather (dad's dad also my uncle's dad ;-)) Carl was the youngest of 6 children and that 3 of his older sisters had had an academic degree, his oldest brother 14 older was a known pharmacist in Stockholm even writing books. Very fascinating, seems they all were strong independent personalities.He showed me photo with the whole family and my grandfather Carl just 3 years old on his mums lap.
My uncle knowns so much that it is hard to pin down all the information he shares.
After a while especially when Lill joined the conversation I could get more current information out of him. For example my godfather Nore also my uncle, my dad was second youngest of 4 boys. Johan is the youngest and my older uncles have already passed away. But Nore studied medicine in Munich and then Basel. Carl Fredrik the oldest studied in Sweden, but worked at the Inselspital Bern in the early 1970ies for 3 years. My grandparents when retired (dad's parents) spent their winters living in Avenue des Peupliers, 1009 Pully close to Lausanne. I remember visiting my grandma there after we had moved to Germany and she died there too, if I am not mistaken.

Strange to find so many ties to Switzerland in the past of my dad's family.

After an excellent dinner with cheese and fruits to finish it off I headed back to Bullandö.

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All on my own now

Butterfly with Alfons

Pumping water for the sauna

Nämdö Anchored

Sunset with coming rain

Panoramic view with sauna to the far right

Morning all wet

Returning in the rain

Djurö bridge again

Docked all by myself

Gustavsberg Porcelain factory

Factory outlet

Lunch at Gustavsberg harbour

Toilet with 2 sizes for flushing before it's time: 1950

Still raining

After Anna-Maria left and I had had lunch I checked the weather forecast and found out that Tuesday it should rain most of the day but until midnight whether was supposed to be good and no strong winds. So I decided to go to Nämdö just 6 sm south with a sauna hut from Skärgårdstiftelsen ready to use by visitors. I had been there end of June with Linn for the first time and just loved the place. Heading out just me and the boat was no problem then setting sails just took a while and with Alfons (auto pilot) steering for a while I even managed butterfly in the light wind. Max I reached not sailing butterfly anymore but half wind was 4 knots. Just coming to the harbour another sailboat arrived too, I choose the south bay to anchor next to the sauna hut,  but the other sailboat went north. For the current easterly wind the north bay was more sheltered, but during the night wind were to shift to north bio west so my place south was very good for those winds. After pulling the anchor up once to make sure it was not full of seaweed that would compromise it's hold, I was anchored exactly in the middle of the bay all alone. Rowing on shore I started the fire in the sauna, went and picked up water at the well for the sauna and then rowed back to the boat. At the boat I prepared potatoes and packed a grill bag and the grill and rowed back on shore. After the sauna was hot my grill was ready for my sausage slices (falukorv) also. So I altered sauna, grilling and eating, sauna again eating grilled bananas and one last sauna round. Always dipping myself in the clear but cold (15 degrees) water. Then I rowed back to the boat and had a warm shower on the bathing deck. The evening I spent inside with the heater on and in the middle of the night I woke when it started to drizzle. I checked on everything and saw wind had shifted as predicted. Back in my bed it started raining heavy. I had a hard time going back to sleep making lists in my head for the last days and my party on Friday as well as thinking of all the great things that have happened during the last 12 weeks. To get the list thing out of my mind, I got up and got paper and pen to write things down.
Early morning I got up it was drizzling again rowed on shore and cleaned both the sauna as well as my grill before returning to the boat. After a coffee and a banana for breakfast I headed back to Bullandö in the rain. As soon as I left wind shelter waves build up and rain came sideways. Handling my GPS become difficult with all raindrops competing with my finger. I had to get the dish rag wiping the surface off repeatedly. With this technique all went well. I motored all the way back seeking lee, so going back ended up being 7 sm.
Docking went well even if I was alone, preparing all fenders just had to be done in due time while Alfons steered. Since the forecast was rain all day I just stayed in my complete gear and took the bus to Gustavsberg. Here I first had lunch at a great Café at the harbour. Now my cultural rain program started with a visit to the porcelain museum and then the porcelain outlet store. Gustavsberg Porcelain is known for table sets, figurines and white goods especially toilets. In their exhibition there was a toilet with 2 separate nobbs for a big and small flush. The sign above the toilet said this had been a product that they had tried for the Danish market 1950 that had been refused. I find it amusing to see that that concept that the Gustavsberg designers tried to introduce failed, because they were 40-50 years before their time. Today 2 different flush sizes are common and accepted.
I felt a bit soothed with fate, knowning how often ideas I have had or my fellow designers have been rejected. Hopefully we are just ahead of our time!
After my return to the boat I made an omelet for dinner almost getting seasick while cooking, boat even in the harbour was rocking heavily due to the strong wind.

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2 nights and a whole Sunday

Taking the fenders off

Old boat passing

Old and new together, check the dinghy

Lökaö natural harbour

Enjoying evening sun

Exploring the island

Beautiful sites

Sun going down

Drying ropes

Breakfast

Stunning clear water

Packing and taking Utö pillow along

Heading back to work

Almost sisters

Cappuccino again

Classic lunch at Bullandö Krog

Djurö bridge

The last week started great with my dear cousin Anna-Maria joining for 2 nights. We headed out north having picked out two possible natural harbours on Lökaö one on the north side one on the east side,  both should give good cover for southern winds that were predicted to change to easterly over night.
After magnificent sailing into the passage between Möja and the other islands east of Möja we reached our first natural harbour. Just about 10 days earlier I had done the passage with my sisters in the opposite direction.
We checked Tistronskären out it was beautiful as described in my harbour book, but all good spots for the current wind direction were taken. So we continued to our second spot on the east side of Lökaö. Here only one motor boat was docked so we had free reign to choose where to go. Since the wind was supposed to change over night we finally found our ideal spot for current and changing wind.
Our maneuver went very well Anna-Maria was surprised that she could climb of onto the rock fairly easily.
After the boat was fast we enjoyed an Apéro in the sun on deck. The motor boat left and we were alone.
After dinner or was it before we went exploring the beautiful island.
Returning to the boat we waited for the stars to show and all tucked up in either sleeping bag or blankets we could see 2 satellites passing and the milky way. Absolutely stunning view! I experimented with my camera trying with long exposure to catch a glimpse of the sky, but did not manage to get the right setting or focus.
Monday wind had shifted to easterly as predicted and still almost clear blue sky. Anna-Maria needed to catch the bus at 12.46 in Bullandö to be on time for some meetings, so we set out shortly after 9 o'clock.
We first motored through the very narrow passage between the islands Storö and Ramsmoraön. Also this I had done with my sisters in the opposite direction. When we reached Kanholmsfjärden we set sails and around 11.40 we started motoring to be on time for the bus. Shortly after 12 o'clock we were perfectly docked in Bullandö again, but with to little time to have a cappuccino, but on time for the bus.
Anna-Maria packed her stuff and I gave her my nice red-white striped pillow that I had bought in Utö with Dee to make the boat more homey. I like to know that that pillow will be on Anna-Marias sofa, especially since last year she recommended to visit Utö, but we did not manage.
After she had left I had my cappuccino and lunch at Bullandö Krog and decided to head out on my own that afternoon.

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Farwell and visit to Stockholm

Bounty with Germans

Harbour fee for Bounty

Christin writing in my guest book

Still writing after our lunch is served

Who was Frippe?

Dinner at Frippe next to the theater Dramaten

My dinner

So many Mumin cups and little suitcases

On the water with my cousin

Another nice sight

Möja going north this time

New west bought at Nautiska and wearing Anna's earings

So the last day with my last "one week crew" came and passed yesterday. Now the last week with the boat has started.

After receiving the harbour fee from the Germans on their sailboat "Bounty" I went to the harbour master at 9. This time a it was nice young lady to pay their fee and get the key to use the washing room with washer and dryer. It turned out that the fee we had looked up on the internet for boats over 7m was for boats wider than 7m so their fee was about 35% cheaper than expected. So I ended up with a lot of cash. Not knowing what to do now, I called the captain up since I had made sure to get his mobile before they left. After finding out what had happened, he said keep it! Let's say I got a great tip for being helpful and gave the harbour master 100 SEK as a tip too after that answer!
That was a great unexpected start to my Saturday!

While my wash was beeing done Christin and I took the boat to the boat gas station.
11 weeks ago with Dee I had given up on making my first gas station maneuver, because the wind was so strong and I choose the wrong side of the pier and drifted away almost into some boats. So after that close call,  I decided to abort and just head out.
Now yesterday wind conditions were similar strong, but I knew exactly how to do my maneuver. Nice to notice how much I have learned during my12 weeks with the boat and how easy things are now compared to the beginning.
After that we cleaned the boat as usual on Saturday and then after lunch headed to Stockholm with the bus. I wanted to get Christin a sea chart to draw our route in that was shaped like an 8 last week. I ended up with the sea chart and a cool west that was on sale.
After Christin checked into her hotel I took her to Mästersamuelsgatan 4 were I lived until I was 8 years old and we moved to Germany.Then after a walk in the quarters we ended up having dinner at Frippe a restaurant next to the theater.
I wanted to take the bus back to Bullandö at Slussen at 21.34h and meet up with my dear cousin Anna-Maria who would join me. So we strolled along the water and through the parliament as well as parts of the old town back to Slussen.
There at Slussen I had to say farwell to Christin after a great week that has deepened our friendship, so sad, but I feel so fortunate to have friends like her!
At the bus station to Bullandö my beloved cousin Anna-Maria waited to tag on for 2 nights and Sunday on the boat. She is 10 years older than me, but since all the years on my grandfathers island until I was 10 years old she also was there in the other house, she is the closest I have to a big sister. Even if we don't see each other that much, when we do we always have deep meaningful conversations.
So we started catching up on the ride to Bullandö and continued into the night and still keep it going.
Today we headed north east of Möja to a natural harbour going the opposite direction of about 10 days ago with my sisters and Anna. So lucky again with sun shining and rain clouds only building over the mainland.
More tomorrow!

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