Back again like the proverbial bad penny!

I'm writing this while sitting on the boat, moored in a tiny, protected bay gazing into the glittery water. Paradise! I'll post this when we get home later tonight. We have been busy the last few days and this may continue next week as well. Part of the reason is that we have the use of the car for two weeks while Lars-Göran’s brother takes a rest from his real estate work and suns himself in Spain. And of course, the other reason is that it is ideal sailing weather.

Randall's Progress:

Randall (our young American friend from Stockholm) popped down for a short visit, bearing bullar (cinnamon buns), so he was MOST welcome! He is now back from his visit to the States and in the last stages of preparing his little boat, ishallah, for his voyage of discovery to Morocco via the Mediterranean. He hopes to start in mid-July, with the 16th being the favoured date. We'll see - he still has a lot of serious work to complete before even contemplating casting off.

But he looks fit, tanned and HAPPY! That's great. I am so excited for him. He's young, enthusiastic and has strong self belief and while I think the voyage is not without inherent danger, I think that he's sensible enough and flexible enough to take it as far as he can and to know when to quit if it proves too much. He's no cowboy, so I hope he makes it, just to show those doubters (and there are a few of them) that he can handle himself.

Nynäshamn turned on the usual sunny day for him:



Lambi looks disinterested as the bullar have already been eaten. We discussed several rigging options with him as well as offer advice from both L-G and our friend Björn Stommel (who owns the local rigging firm) about how to secure the boat for ocean sailing. We also gave him some navigation instruments and books we had. We hope to pop up to Stockholm next week and take a look at ishallah and see how it is progressing.

Friday's road trip to Lisö:

We have been thinking long term about where we would like to live. There is no doubt that the Nynäshasmn area is perfect for us, but more and more we see ourselves as not living in Nynäshamn township itself, but in a small house in the surrounding area. This will give us peace and solitude which we like as well as easy access to both Nynäshamn and Stockholm for shopping etc. We have been checking out the local agents to see what is around to buy and as we had the car, we decided on Friday to check out the island of Lisö. We haven't been there before, but were curious to get a feel for it as there are often houses available there.

So on this lovely, sunny morning we made up a thermos of coffee, bought some weinerbröd and set off to explore the place. Four areas in particular were worth looking at - Sandvik, Ekbacken, Lindholm and Skärlinge. We need a place with access nearby to a harbour for a boat and a place that appeals to us. The surroundings of Nynäs are quite open and rural. And Lisö is a long, hilly, rocky peninsula to the south west of town.



A characteristic of the area and part of its appeal to us is the number of deep bays with narrow inlets from the sea.



The landscape and wildlife here is quite varied. There are the forest covered hills, but also areas of plantation and pastureland. We came across these cows who have a spectacular view of the sea from their pasture.



We couldn't capture the view they enjoy without trespassing, but believe me, if Lars-Göran's brother was here, he'd be screaming "Location! Location! Location!" The nearby farmhouse also looks out to the bay.



And just in case you are rolling your eyes and wondering how far away is the town. Are we out in the boondocks? No, not really. You can see Nynäshamn quite clearly across the bay.



The roads are long and straight and everything was lush and green with the early summer growth and it was warm, sunny and perfect for exploring.



Along the route we saw several charming places peeping out from behind the trees.



Just behind the houses we looked at in Lindholm was a small boat harbour - a lovely little horseshoe shaped bay, a five minute walk from the houses and perfect for mooring. We sat in the sunshine having fika on the pier and discussing possibilities.



There is a small lanthandel (like a little corner store) nearby and a regular SL bus service from here to Spångbro and from there a bus continues either south to Nynäshamn via Ösmo or north to Västerhaninge. We would not need a car at all! And then you could also go by your own boat to either Nynäshamn or Södertalje as well.

We walked through the field behind the harbour looking at the lovely homes here.



My favourite house was at the opposite arc from the boat harbour. I glimpsed it from the pier and insisted that we went for a look. Well outside our means, I'd say, but what a lovely house! Just MY sort of place.



Lambi and I sat on the milk stand outside and posed for a photo as though we owned the place. I think it really suits us.



Anyone care to donate to the "This Roof Over Lambi's Head" fund? Maybe I should become an internet beggar and set up a site with some sob story about an incurable disease complete with endearing photos of Lambi and beg for donations as this location is the ONLY place in the world that can cure her....

Look at us frolicking among the wildflowers and picking buttercups in the meadow next to the house.



So what do you think? I'd say this place would cost about 4,0000,000 or so. I'll kick in the first 500,000 and I'll beg for the rest. Sounds like a plan!

Anyway, we headed northwards towards Skärlinge. First we looked at Ekbacken and Sandvik and neither place appealed at all. They both seemed dark, closed in and more than a little claustrophobic, so we know we can cross those sites off our list. However, we also really liked the area around Skärlinge. It is surrounded by open fields of rapeseed.



Even Lambi perked up and enjoyed the smells, though heavens only knows how L-G can drive with her in that position. But she can be VERY insistent.



There were also surprising little nooks and crannies, like this small, secluded pool by the side of the road.



My guess is that we will consider Skärlinge and Lindholm and see what happens. As I said, this is a longer term plan, so we have time to take it easy and look around.

Weekend sailing

While Stockholm turned on a grey day, it was nice weather here in Nynäshamn so my step-daughter Madde came down for a weekend of sailing. You can see that she and Lambi lost no time getting all warm and cosy!



As Lars-Göran's hands are really no better, we decided to stay fairly close to Nynäshamn and took her to our favourite new discovery a short sail away behind Bedarö.



It is really beautiful around here, with views of both the bare rocks of the outer archipelago



as well as the more wooded, lush area of the inner archipelago



and the wildflowers are out in profusion making it so beautiful and colourful



Lambi enjoyed toddling all over the rocks and looking at the strange dog underwater!



From here is a direct easterly view across to the mainland around Muskö



and as you can see, it's a navigator's delight to play "dodge the stones" to get access to this little slice of paradise.



And all of this is literally, just around the corner, as a view northwards from the top of the berg confirms - there is Nynäshamn in the distance



But here you can forget all of that and enjoy the sunshine and lichen covered rocks.



For a change, we tied up to a cliff so that Madde could have easy access to land if she wanted to go ashore.



This was in our own private little bay. It was so peaceful and serene!



We stayed overnight and early this morning Madde took the dinghy out rowing and looking for potential sunning places to work on her tan.



Later she, L-G and Lambi motored around and looked at the nearby islands (and in L-G's case to snoop and see who else was anchored around the place)



After a busy day sunbathing and talking about our upcoming trip with her to Gotland after Midsommar, it was time for a nap (and you can see the little furry turncoat has attached herself firmly to Madde.



When we arrived in Nynäshamn this evening, there was another huge cruise ship moored outside the harbour. This time it was the Constellation (part of the Celebrity Cruises line).



Wow that was a lot to get through!