After heading south from Trondheim, we made two brief stops before spending Christmas Eve and Day in Kristiansund. We walked through town on Christmas Eve, including a pass through the Mellemvaerftet shipbuilding museum, and woke up on Christmas Day to a beautiful snowfall. That morning we made an extensive tour of the area by tender, then walked through Kringsja Park in the afternoon. Kringsja is full of lakes, beautifully-constructed raised walking paths and ocean views, and with the day’s snowfall was a wonderful place for a Christmas Day walk.

Below are highlights from December 22nd through 25th, 2020. Click any image for a larger view, or click the position to view the location on a map. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.

12/22/2020

Skansen Lighthouse Position: 63°25.99’N, 10°22.52’E Passing the Skansen Lighthouse as we depart Trondheim after a successful mission to Sweden.

Blackwater Tank Position: 63°36.06’N, 9°30.06’E Over the last year, our black water tank is no long able to pump down to the bottom. It’s not a big problem, in there is still plenty of capacity in the tank, but we decided to investigate it today. We removed the tank level sensor, cleaned it up, and it is reading fine. So that isn’t the problem.

Boat Yoga Position: 63°30.31’N, 9°15.10’E The blackwater pump is in a particularly difficult to access location, but the good news is that before today we’ve never had to. Upon investigation, the pump is working fine, but since it has been 11 years, we replaced the valves while we were there. Our current working theory is the in-tank pickup pipe is corroded through, leaking air, and no longer allows pumping to the bottom. That will be difficult to correct. The system remains operational, so we’re not sure when we’ll get to that one.

Valslagvagen Anchorage Position: 63°30.30’N, 9°15.09’E Our anchorage in sheltered Valslagvagen in 43 ft (13m) on 180 ft (55m) of rode. The shallow entrance to the the bay takes care to navigate, but is well-marked.

Visitors Position: 63°30.31’N, 9°15.10’E Local residents from the nearby fishing resort came by to wish us Merry Christmas and deliver a welcome gift of seasonal treats.

Treats Position: 63°30.31’N, 9°15.10’E The local residents dropped of a wonderful selection of delicious home-baked treats, plus fruit, chocolate and bottle of German liqueur. We were really impressed at their thoughtfulness and generosity.

12/23/2020

Ulvsnestangan Bridge Position: 63°21.60’N, 8°41.93’E Passing under the Ulvsnestangan Bridge as we head south from Valslagvagen.

Stokkbukta Anchorage Position: 63°8.94’N, 8°32.81’E Our anchorage in Stokkbukta in 67 ft (20 m) on 250 ft (76m) of rode.

12/24/2020

Blizzard Position: 63°9.43’N, 8°30.45’E Heavy snow falling in strong winds looks almost like a fireworks display in the light from our forward spotlight.

Omsund Bridge Position: 63°6.36’N, 7°50.07’E Approaching the Omsund Bridge across the the strait Omsundet as we near Kristiansund.

Apartments Position: 63°6.40’N, 7°44.79’E Waterside apartments in Kristiansund aglow with holiday lights.

Kristiansund Anchorage Position: 63°6.69’N, 7°44.16’E Our anchorage in Kristiansund Harbour in 77 ft (23 m) on 225 ft (69m) of rode. It’s a fabulous spot with holiday lights all around.

God Jul Position: 63°6.70’N, 7°44.18’E “God Jul” (Merry Christmas) sign in the hill above Kristiansund to our southeast.

Kaibakken Position: 63°6.70’N, 7°44.19’E Christmas tree at the bottom of the light-decorated street Kaibakken, viewed from our anchorage in Kristiansund harbour.

Kristiansund Sentrum Position: 63°6.70’N, 7°44.19’E A blog reader found us in the Kristiansund Sentrum web cam that looks from east to west.

North Web Cam Position: 63°6.70’N, 7°44.20’E Dirona on the Radhuset web cam, sent to us from German blog reader Ulrich Sonneborn. The view is from west to east, with the harbour ferry just coming onto the dock at the bottom of Kaibakken.

Boat Wash Position: 63°6.71’N, 7°44.20’E It’s Christmas Eve in Kristiansund and the crew of the Gaso Jarl are out washing their boat. Norwegians take their ship maintenance very seriously.

Terningen Position: 63°6.71’N, 7°44.20’E The fast ferry Terningen arriving into Kristiansund. We’ve seen that ship a lot recently. This will be their last trip before the Christmas holiday.

Kristiansund Berth Position: 63°6.83’N, 7°44.09’E Kristiansund harbour is marked as an anchorage on our charts, but after a few hours at anchor, the harbour authority said it wasn’t allowed and asked us to move. They found a berth for us a little to the north (at the top of the chartplotter screenshot), still with great views into the harbour. We don’t have power or water here, but we didn’t at anchor either.

Klippfiskkjerringa Position: 63°6.69’N, 7°43.98’E A sculpture of Kristiansund’s symbol, Klippfiskkjerringa (fish-wife), at the foot of Kaibakken.

Maintenance Hole Cover Position: 63°6.69’N, 7°43.95’E Kristiansund’s symbol, Klippfiskkjerringa, is on most of the maintenance hole covers in town.

Pullers Position: 63°6.87’N, 7°43.95’E This commercial marine supply store in Kristiansund had an astonishing variety of pullers on display. The next window showed a similar variety of wrenches of all shapes and sizes.

Dirona Position: 63°6.86’N, 7°44.14’E View to our berth in Kristiansund alongside a barge, with the tender tied of on our starboard aft quarter. We’d already launched it at anchor, so just secured it there to move to the berth.

Mines Position: 63°6.86’N, 7°44.16’E During the World War II occupation of Norway, the Nazis had a base at Kristiansund and heavily mined the surrounding waters. After Germany surrendered, those soldiers remaining were forced to clear those mines. These three mines outside the ferry terminal in Kristiansund likely are from that effort.

Anchors Position: 63°6.92’N, 7°44.10’E Kristiansund is a major supplier to the offshore oil industry. This yard had literally dozens of brand new 4,400-pound (2,000kg) oil rig anchors.

Pilot Boat Position: 63°6.97’N, 7°44.05’E Kristainsund pilot boat.

Fosnagata Position: 63°6.97’N, 7°43.94’E Traditional buildings along Fosnagata in Kristainsund.

Kranskjaeret Position: 63°7.05’N, 7°43.85’E The marina Kranskjaeret in the Kristainsund inner harbour just north of our berth. We could have gone there, but we prefer the harbour view where we are.

Thomas Fearnley Position: 63°7.14’N, 7°43.77’E The former Redningsselskapet (Rescue Society) ship Thomas Fearnley at Mellemvaerftet, Norway’s only working shipbuilding museum. The vessel was built in 1938 and the RS sold it in 1967.

Mellemvaerftet Position: 63°7.15’N, 7°43.76’E One of several outdoor displays on traditional shipbuilding at the Mellemvaerftet shipbuilding museum in Kristainsund.

Deere Position: 63°7.19’N, 7°43.76’E Another Deere in the wild, this one is used to pull small boats out of the water.

Kristiansund Position: 63°6.83’N, 7°44.09’E Kristiansund aglow with holiday lights during a Christmas Eve Happy Hour, with a holiday star in the hills at upper left.

12/25/2020

Christmas Snow Position: 63°6.82’N, 7°44.09’E Snowfall Christmas morning. We’re really enjoying our winter in Norway.

Ocean Pride Position: 63°6.44’N, 7°43.70’E The offshore supply ship Ocean Pride, viewed on a Christmas Day tender tour of the Kristiansund area.

Kristiansund Base Position: 63°6.11’N, 7°42.75’E Looking way down Bremsnesfjorden to an oil rig moored at the docks of Kristiansund Base, a multi-purpose base and a oil-industry supply specialist.

Sub Sea Services Position: 63°5.55’N, 7°46.87’E What appears to be undersea pipeline stacked outside Sub Sea Services near Kristainsund. The company specializes in drilling, production vessels and subsea applications.

Ocean Art Position: 63°6.18’N, 7°47.01’E The distinctively-painted offshore supply vessel Ocean Art moored at Kristainsund.

Tender Position: 63°6.73’N, 7°52.39’E Bundled up for a Christmas Day tender ride around the island of Nordlandet in Kristiansund.

Skala Position: 63°8.02’N, 7°51.32’E Beautiful aluminum footbridge across a surge channel to the islet Skala at the eastern tip of Nordlandet.

Torpedo Battery Nordlandet Position: 63°8.10’N, 7°51.16’E Ruins of Torpedo Battery Nordlandet on the eastern tip of the island. Built to protect the entrance to Kristainsund, this was one of nine torpedo batteries the occupying Germans constructed along the Norwegian coast during World War II.

Skarven Position: 63°8.12’N, 7°51.07’E Ferry crossing Korndesfjorden with snowy 2,939-ft (896m) Skarven in the background, viewed from eastern tip of Nordlandet.

Anna’s Footsteps Position: 63°7.75’N, 7°48.12’E Portion of a cliff-side trail to the Kvitnesset lighthouse at the northeast end of Nordlandet. The trail is named “Anna’s Footsteps” after a former lighthouse keeper. Visible near the cliff wall are rock climbing ropes.

View Homes Position: 63°7.66’N, 7°47.70’E Modern view homes perched on the cliffs on the northeast side of Nordlandet.

Abyss Position: 63°6.92’N, 7°45.61’E Kristiansund-based Abyss operates one of Norway’s largest fleets of work boats, ROV and diving/service vessels. They provide above and below the water service in the oil, aquaculture, and sea contractor industries.

Dunkarsundet Marina Position: 63°7.42’N, 7°45.27’E Snow-dusted launch ramp at the Dunkarsundet Marina.

Kvernberget Position: 63°7.43’N, 7°45.81’E The 446-ft (204m) mountain Kvernberget on Nordlandet is the highest in the Kristiansund area, and a popular day hike for its great views. The mountain also contains a drinking water reservoir. We’re not sure what this distinctive-looking structure is, likely it is related to the water reservoir. Update: Blog reader Ron Hellmann tells us this is a VHF Omnidirectional Radio Range (VOR), an aircraft navigation system operating in the VHF band.

Divers Position: 63°6.91’N, 7°44.91’E Returning to Kristainsund harbor we were surprised to see about a dozen recreational divers in the channel, marked with orange floats.

Erik Bye Position: 63°7.03’N, 7°44.23’E The 67-ft (20.4 m) Redningsselskapet (rescue service) ship Erik Bye, named after the 20th-century Norwegian artist.

Warehouse Position: 63°7.14’N, 7°44.04’E Brightly-painted traditional warehouse along the Kristiansund waterfront. It’s hard to date this building, but much of Kristainsund was destroyed in World War II bombing.

Slippery Position: 63°6.88’N, 7°43.94’E Walking up a slippery snow-covered road in Kristiansund. Most of the vehicles have studded-tires or at least winter tires, and seem to have little problem with these roads that we’re even having trouble walking on.

Kirkelandet Church Position: 63°6.86’N, 7°43.57’E Kirkelandet Church was considered one of the most daring modern church buildings in the country when completed in 1964, and was nominated for Norway’s “Building of the Century 1905-2005”. Architect Odd Ostbye broke with traditional church architecture in this modern replacement for the earlier Nordlandet Church that was destroyed during German World War II bombing.

Carl Gustaf Backstrom Position: 63°6.93’N, 7°43.37’E Memorial to Kristiansund city engineer Carl Gustaf Backstrom at Vanndamman Park.

Vanndamman Park Position: 63°6.89’N, 7°43.24’E The lakes at Vanndamman Park once provided the water supply for Kristiansund and form part of a popular and extensive park area called Kringsja. It was an ideal setting for a Christmas Day walk.

Varden Watchtower Position: 63°7.00’N, 7°43.11’E The old Varden Watchtower on the hill of the same name has 360° views to sea and Kristiansund. The tower was used between 1742 and 1892 to look for enemy activity in times of war and for ship’s pilots to see ships during times of peace.

Varden Position: 63°7.01’N, 7°43.16’E View to sea from the hill Varden in Kringsja Park. Even better views can be had from the tower, but it was closed, likely due to the pandemic.

Kringsja Park Position: 63°6.96’N, 7°42.51’E Kringsja Park in Kristiansund is full of beautifully-constructed raised walking paths. It was a real treat to be walking along them in the snow on Christmas Day.

Ruins Position: 63°6.89’N, 7°41.81’E Taking the steps up to old ruins in Kringsja Park.

Havstien Position: 63°6.82’N, 7°41.81’E Walking right along the coast along the trail Havstein (The Sea Path) in Kristiansund’s Kringsja Park.

Evening Lights Position: 63°6.85’N, 7°43.02’E Evening lights reflecting into the lakes in Vanndamman Park as we loop back to Dirona. We really enjoyed our Christmas Day walk.

House Position: 63°6.90’N, 7°43.50’E Traditional house near Vanndamman Park in Kristiansund.

Festiviteten Position: 63°6.70’N, 7°43.51’E Kristiansund’s dramatic theater building, Festiviteten, was built in 1914 and is home to Norway’s oldest opera company.

Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise. On the map page, clicking on a camera or text icon will display a picture and/or log entry for that location, and clicking on the smaller icons along the route will display latitude, longitude and other navigation data for that location. And a live map of our current route and most recent log entries always is available at mvdirona.com/maps.