Position: 60°34.12’N, 6°56.13’E

Spitfire watching intently as a flock of sparrows swoop on and off “his” bow railings.

Position: 60°33.84’N, 6°59.01’E

Balaifossen on the east side of Osafjorden has a drop of more than 2,600 ft (800m), making it one of the highest waterfalls in Norway.

Position: 60°34.75’N, 7°1.20’E

A door into a mountain face seems a little unusual, but it connects to a road tunnel behind.

Position: 60°32.42’N, 6°57.92’E

The river Dogro gushing down the cliff behind a small cabin along the east side of Osafjorden.

Position: 60°28.65’N, 6°50.24’E

Passing back under the Hardanger Bridge in similarly overcast conditions as our northbound run a few days ago.

Position: 60°26.03’N, 6°42.67’E

The river Tveismeelvi and other waterfalls flowing down into the dramatic Tveisme Valley just south of the Hardnager Bridge.

Position: 60°25.88’N, 6°42.36’E

The light on the poing Slattenes at the intersection of Sorfjorden and Eidfjorden.

Position: 60°25.63’N, 6°40.90’E

Sondre Haukedal‘s interview with us at Odda was published in the local newspaper Hardanger Folkeblad today (Norwegian only).

Position: 60°28.37’N, 6°38.32’E

The ferry departing Kvanndal under a cliff striped with waterfalls. This is where we boarded the ferry Utnefjord for Utne a few days ago en route to Odda after visiting Vorringfossen.

Position: 60°25.37’N, 6°26.28’E

Metal smelter Elkem Bjolvefossen along the north side of Hardangerfjord. The plant went into production in 1918 using power from the purpose-built 98 WM Bjolvo power plant. Initially calcium carbide was produced, but later an electric smelter was added to produce ferrosilicon and ferroalloys.

Position: 60°24.84’N, 6°24.89’E

We’re not sure the purpose of this cement chute, with a square opening near the bottom, along the north shore of Hardangerfjord.

Position: 60°23.35’N, 6°17.14’E

Approaching Fyksesund, a branch of Hardangerfjord, where we’ll anchor near the bridge for a couple of nights. The fish farm in the foreground is the Hardanger Akvasenter, an operational fish farm and display facility. We’re scheduled to tour it this week.

Position: 60°23.87’N, 6°15.71’E

The watermaker has recently developed a massive inrush current problem on startup, sometimes drawing way more than 8KW. This usually trips the 20A breaker, but sometimes the high-current inrush is sufficiently brief that the breaker stays engaged and the watermaker then runs properly at normal current draws. The possibilities are a seized pump, a failing motor, or the watermaker has some internal problem that dead-heads the pressure output on startup.

Before investigating, we ran the system to fill the tanks since we know it may not restart after service. On investigating, we found the high pressure pump oil (pictured) is at the correct level and clear, without discoloration or metallic impurities. The pump is very likely not the problem, leaving a seized motor or some internal system problem causing pressure dead-heading. The latter is not very likely and sometimes the motor starts with only 11A and other times it draws more than 38A. It’s very likely a failing motor but, for now, we have full water tanks and the watermaker will still work if tried multiple times.

Position: 60°23.85’N, 6°15.76’E

The single-lane Fyksesund Bridge, opened in 1937, viewed from our anchorage in Fykesund. When completed, it was the longest suspension bridge in Europe and still is the longest “soft suspension bridge” in Norway. This method, common in Norway and pioneered by Norwegian engineer Olaf Stang, uses more flexible and economical rolled steel support beams rather than steel trusses. The bridge suffered aerodynamic-related structural problems but these were corrected in 1945.

Position: 60°23.85’N, 6°15.74’E

The fridge light switch was sticking and we applied some contact cleaner that fixed the problem. The switch mechanism has a rough spot in it that suggests it will probably need replacing.

Position: 60°23.85’N, 6°15.74’E

We’ve used up the first of our four UK propane tanks since departing Stornoway and here are switching over to the second. At our current rate of consumption, we have another nine months before we’re out.

Position: 60°23.84’N, 6°15.76’E

View to our anchorage at Fyksesund beneath the Fyksesund Bridge.

Position: 60°23.68’N, 6°16.39’E

We’ve seen a lot of fish farms in Norway, but have never set foot on one. So when we learned about the Hardanger Akvasenter, a working fish farm that is open for tours, we contacted them to find out if we could arrange a private tour and visit in our tender. The answer was an enthusiastic yes, and Solveig K. Botnen arranged to meet us there. Here she is providing background on the industry and explaining the technology used in the farms before taking us on a tour of the pens. Solveig did a great job and we really enjoyed our tour of the farm and learning more about the industry.

Position: 60°23.68’N, 6°16.41’E

The Hardanger Akvasenter is a small farm by Norwegian standards, but uses much of the same modern technology. The feeder in the center uses forced air to distribute pellets into the pen from the white pipe leading in from the left. Workers monitor the pens using underwater cameras and stop feeding if the fish aren’t eating, reducing water pollution and food costs due to wasted food.

Visible in the right of the photo is a roller system with a black net looped over and below it. In the past, farms used divers to clean and mend the pen nets, but a more modern solution is to have two nets and use rollers to transfer the old net out of the pen for maintenance and at the same time install the replacement net.

Position: 60°24.83’N, 6°14.85’E

Waterfall from the river Tussagjelet flowing into Fyksesund.

Position: 60°25.88’N, 6°13.57’E

Enjoying the many waterfalls in beautiful Fyksesund in warmth and comfort. The temperature is about 54°F (12°C) but it can get quite cold at speed in the tender. We’re wearing our Mustang 2175s, which are standard issue with the Coast Guard on both sides of the Canada-US border. We can toss these on over light clothing, add a pair of gloves and perhaps a hat, and be instantly warm in the coldest weather.

Position: 60°27.25’N, 6°13.44’E

The Fossabekken spilling down 3,000ft into Fyksesund.

Position: 60°28.20’N, 6°12.89’E

The guest harbour in Botnen at the head of Fyksesund, one of the few fjords we’ve visited with no road access to the head.

Position: 60°28.10’N, 6°12.63’E

Fyksesund is just full of waterfalls, particularly after several days of rain. Here we are looking up from the base of the river Kaldrassen.