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| When the snow falls machines clear and dig and grit to keep the roads passable |
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| All snow and ice gone from the boats with a few days of positive temperatures |
Friday 27 January 2017
Covering up
In the last few days we have gone from deep snow to rain and plus 8 degree temperatures.
We have decided to try out our boat cover we had made before leaving the UK. Up to now it has resided under the deck not being very useful. After a few hours work we got it in place. Handy outside space for wet weather gear and shoes, but it isn't that easy to get aboard! We will use the new shelter to do a few maintenance jobs aboard and probably keep it in place until we next take the boat out to sea. Life here carries on with our daily routine of walking and exploring the area.
We are very glad we came to Harstad for the winter and especially Hagan with its very sheltered and comparatively mild climate. It is very useful to have periods of warmer weather every week or so to help control the growth of ice aboard. It is amazing how quickly ice builds up even with regular shovelling of snow etc. A rib wouldn't take kindly to hammering ice off the surfaces!
Sunday 15 January 2017
Wednesday 11 January 2017
Evening walk under the Northern Lights
We are just in from an evening walk through the woodland tracks near the boat, the Northern Lights and moon lit the way. With the snow on the ground it really seems quite bright out.
Tuesday 10 January 2017
Sunny days!!
We can't quite believe that today for the first time in weeks the sun rose in Harstad, not that you would have known it due to the thick snow for the 57mins it was above the horizon. We won't be seeing the full circle of the sun for another couple of weeks yet but can expect the days to really lengthen from now on.
It has warmed up since our last post when the temperature was -18C, mind you we are still just below freezing. The change in weather has brought with it fresh snow, plenty of the stuff!! On our walk to the library we passed a Nursery School, the kids were all out enjoying the snow. It's funny how different countries cope differently, this much snow in the UK and schools would be closed, certainly kids wouldn't be allowed in the playground! We suppose if the schools here were to close with every bluster of snow like in the UK winter would be one long holiday. We would have loved to have seen snow like this when we were younger, especially at the age where slipping over didn't hurt and hands never seemed to get cold making snowballs!!
Beyond the playgrounds the daily snow clearance continues, not just by homeowners clearing their drives and gardens but also the roads are continuously being ploughed and tractors with large snow blowers throw the snow on to the verges (or for some unlucky homeowners, in to their freshly cleared gardens!). The pavements and roads whilst being cleared daily still have a thick layer of compacted snow/ice on them which will remain until the temperatures climb above freezing for a few days on end.
The forecast for the next few days is looking to be quite calm and so we plan to venture off for a night or two, perhaps Kjøtta or Bjarkøy.
Well we better get going back to our own snow clearing aboard, at only 23ft clearing the deck doesn't take too long, one of the few advantages on living on a tiny boat for winter!!
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| Ice on the inside of the window |
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| Condensation freezing on the inside of the porthole |
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| Patterns in the inside of the window |
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| Frozen closed. |
It has warmed up since our last post when the temperature was -18C, mind you we are still just below freezing. The change in weather has brought with it fresh snow, plenty of the stuff!! On our walk to the library we passed a Nursery School, the kids were all out enjoying the snow. It's funny how different countries cope differently, this much snow in the UK and schools would be closed, certainly kids wouldn't be allowed in the playground! We suppose if the schools here were to close with every bluster of snow like in the UK winter would be one long holiday. We would have loved to have seen snow like this when we were younger, especially at the age where slipping over didn't hurt and hands never seemed to get cold making snowballs!!
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| Snow falling in the marina |
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| Amazing that anything survives the snow fall |
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| Retracing steps is much easier at this time of year, finding paths to begin with isn't so easy though! |
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| Looking over Hagan |
Beyond the playgrounds the daily snow clearance continues, not just by homeowners clearing their drives and gardens but also the roads are continuously being ploughed and tractors with large snow blowers throw the snow on to the verges (or for some unlucky homeowners, in to their freshly cleared gardens!). The pavements and roads whilst being cleared daily still have a thick layer of compacted snow/ice on them which will remain until the temperatures climb above freezing for a few days on end.
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| Harstad centre taken from the communications tower |
The forecast for the next few days is looking to be quite calm and so we plan to venture off for a night or two, perhaps Kjøtta or Bjarkøy.
Well we better get going back to our own snow clearing aboard, at only 23ft clearing the deck doesn't take too long, one of the few advantages on living on a tiny boat for winter!!
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| Snow falling, makes for poor visibility |
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| Road clearing machinery |
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| Road clearing, a full time job! |
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| Lone boat in Harstad centre |
Tuesday 3 January 2017
Chilly days
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| Its a bit cold today... the under water props are earning their keep, here's one of the sections where there is no effect from the prop. The areas closer to the propellers are ice free! |
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| Walking through the countryside to Trondenes Kirke, can be a bit difficult to follow paths when they are so deep with snow. We did follow Moose prints for a while though! |
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| Noticeably brighter days already, strange that in 20 weeks Harstad will have sun all day and night. |
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| -13C outside, the insides of our windows are covered in frost and anything touching the inside of the hull above water level is frozen to it! |
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| -13C is no match for Amandas slippers though. Sitting at the foot end of the bed between two heaters, it could be summer! |
Monday 2 January 2017
Happy New Year
Well, a very Happy New Year to everyone.
2016, what a year! It seems like a long time since we brought in the New Year on Britains most northerly island, Unst. There has been a few lows since then but we are very fortunate that we can say for the majority its been an amazing, unforgettable year. A year ago we had only been living on Quickstep a matter of weeks and sitting through the storms in Unst we questioned whether we could actually live aboard continuously for a over a year on the 23ft RIB. Yet one year on it has become normality, in fact it might take some adjusting going back to living in a house!
From engine fires in the middle of the North sea to reaching Alta in the middle of Finnmark, our Norwegian journey has been a true adventure, at times a test of our character and abilities but always without doubt totally worth it.
We came to Norway with an idyllic view of the place, having liked all we had seen in 2014 we struggled to think anything but good about the place, and Norway has not disappointed. We have fallen more in love with the country with every snug anchorage and hill walk, it will be heartbreaking to one day leave.
We have also spent almost every waking hour within about, well, 23ft of each other! Amazingly neither one of us has got to the point of wanting to leave either, surely that's testament to some great character traits, patience and probably the first signs of madness too!
2016, what a year! It seems like a long time since we brought in the New Year on Britains most northerly island, Unst. There has been a few lows since then but we are very fortunate that we can say for the majority its been an amazing, unforgettable year. A year ago we had only been living on Quickstep a matter of weeks and sitting through the storms in Unst we questioned whether we could actually live aboard continuously for a over a year on the 23ft RIB. Yet one year on it has become normality, in fact it might take some adjusting going back to living in a house!
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| We thought the UFOs had landed, but apparently the bright spot in the sky is Polar Stratospheric Clouds... |
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| We rushed to the top of a hill to watch the cities fireworks, but some how got the wrong time! Watched individuals fireworks from the boat though, and the cities other ones at midnight from the bar |
From engine fires in the middle of the North sea to reaching Alta in the middle of Finnmark, our Norwegian journey has been a true adventure, at times a test of our character and abilities but always without doubt totally worth it.
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| Fresh layers of snow, a chillier few days now |
We came to Norway with an idyllic view of the place, having liked all we had seen in 2014 we struggled to think anything but good about the place, and Norway has not disappointed. We have fallen more in love with the country with every snug anchorage and hill walk, it will be heartbreaking to one day leave.
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| Flotta?! thought we were in Orkney again.... a golf course, within a meter of the main road.... |
We have also spent almost every waking hour within about, well, 23ft of each other! Amazingly neither one of us has got to the point of wanting to leave either, surely that's testament to some great character traits, patience and probably the first signs of madness too!
So from us, we hope the next year brings you all health, happiness and a sense of adventure!
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| About an hour before New Year on the main street in Harstad |
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| In the bar just before New Year, it did get a little busier. |
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| New year, continuation of the over consumption |
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| Now -7C aboard, the underwater props have just been started and we are to expect -11C soon! |
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