Setting sail from Oslo

From Stockholm we took a six hour train to Oslo to meet our captain and ship for the first time. I was a little anxious in the taxi beforehand, but Alina and Kai seem lovely and we arrived in time to celebrate Alina's 30th birthday that night. We were made to feel very welcome and met a bunch of their friends that night.

We set sail at midday and soon after Sam decided to jump in for a quick swim. After his heart nearly stopped due to the cold, he came out pretty fast. The water was 17 degrees - come on the North sea. P.s. please excuse the hat, but this place is freezing...

Stockholm....maybe we went to the wrong places?

Caught a four hour train back to Stockholm after our days up North. So many people had told us how beautiful Stockholm is and how much we'd fall in love with it. Maybe we went to the wrong places, but it didn't look that amazing to me! The old city was sweet and full of touristy cafes with waitresses dressed up in milkmaids uniforms from the 1900's, but apart from that, the place was dead and it all looked a bit dreary. Considering we only had one day and one night, its very likely we didn't get the chance to explore properly. Therefore, I've only got a couple of pictures from a great little restaurant we were recommended called PA Co. If anyone knows where to sightsee in Stockholm - let me know.

Swedish Saunas & Hut Collections

We flew to Stockholm after a week in the UK with family and friends and took a 3 hour train to a small town called Bollnas in Northern Sweden. Stayed with some friends who had a beautiful Swedish cottage dating back to the early 1900's. Bright red stained wood and white windows, with all the original features included a spinning wheel and outdoor bathroom. Linda's father collected old wooden huts and had accumulated seven already. He'd converted one into a sauna and after a long boozy bbq, we spent a couple of hours in there drinking vodka shots and burning birch wood on the fire. Felt awful and totally dried up the next morning! Here's a few shots from the gorgeous countryside and Trevor's family. Their little son Ethan (3 years old) was a real character.

Relaxing in sunny Toulouse

We spent a week with Sam's family in Toulouse mostly lazing by the pool and eating great cheeses. A quick picture from that relaxed week before we set sail. It was Splodge's birthday and we celebrated by having a bbq with friends and family.

Polar Bears in France

We stayed at Amy and Rut's beautiful chateau in France that they are running for the year. They'd created a vegetable garden, small orchard, chicken pen and were busy making chutneys and jams for their guests. All very impressive and country-fide. The food Amy cooked was amazing. The house was full of stuffed wildlife - with one of the best being a fierce polar bear in the front room. Other rooms had a woolly mammoth's tibia, a dancing brown bear, a leopard, tiger and an elephants skull amongst other things. Taxidermy heaven.

Inebriated Spaniards

We had a great night out in the old city at the tapas bars. Met some drunk Spaniards and they kept us amused all night. One looked like Willie Thorne (Moustache guy) and the other was about 5.0ft and liked hugging tourists as they came into the bar.

tapas, cheap vino and beach games

Its our fifth day in San Sebastian and the place just gets better. Amy and Ruts have left us now and headed back to France, as they have guests arriving on Monday in the chateau. Saturday day was spent in Mundaka, a bay around 1 hours drive from San Senastian and apparently a good surf spot. Unfortunatley for Sam, when we arrived the sea was as flat as a pancake, but an awesome spot for relaxing and beach games.

We spent Saturday night eating tapas along the little lanes of the old town. The bar had dozens of shoulders of ham hanging from the roofs, with hundreds of spaniards smoking like chimneys next to them. The food and wine was amazing.

Sunday night was in the casino. We came up 50% up, but sadly I had limited Sam's gambling to 20 Euros, so it wasn't enought to even cover my midnight paella.

San Sebastian, Basque Country

We reached San Sebastian today after a painfully early flight from Stansted. The airport was jam packed and we just managed to reach our gate in time. After a 3 hour car journey with Sam, Tom and Amy, which I managed to sleep through, it was all worth it. here are a couple of pictures from the beach today, the view from our 2 bedroom flat on the 5th floor overlooking a main street in the city and a small cafe we found with wireless.

New Sailing Garb

I bought this red sailing jacket and waterproof gear yesterday. I am hoping a bright red jacket will stand out against the sea when I'm swept overboard round the Bay of Biscay. Thermal underwear is in the post! Our Norwegian captain told us to prepare for all weather conditions, as it can vary from hour to hour. I am hoping for sun and a light wind in Oslo, but preparing for torrential downpours and frostbitten fingers.

Pre-saling excursions...

Before setting sail, we've been busy visiting old friends

in Oxford, Cambridge and London. We got lost driving round the city and passed Big Ben twice before finding our way out. Even though this photo was taken at 30 MPH from the car window - I quite like it.

Next stop is France on the 9th July, flying to Pau. Plans have changed slightly, as we're now staying in a villa in San Sebastian in Spain, just near the French border, which is a couple of hours drive from Pau. Its meant to be gorgeous, so I'll be posting some more pics soon.

Already purchased my thermals and wet weather sailing gear! Great time to be getting deals on cold weather clothes when its 30 degrees in the UK at the moment.