MV Dirona travel digest for Trollhatte Canal 2019


Show Trollhatte Canal 2019 travel log map Click the travel log icon on the left to see these locations on a map, with the complete log of our cruise.

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8/15/2019: Sjotorp
A last look to the Gota Canal entry at Sjotorp as we head west to spend a few days cruising Lake Vanern.
8/15/2019: Osteron
The morning sun lighting up our anchorage off the north end of the island of Osteron in Lake Vanern. After a busy couple of weeks along the Gota Canal, we plan to take it easy for a few days and enjoy some lake cruising. 2,180 sq mi (5,650 sq km) Lake Vanern is the largest lake in Sweden and the third largest in Europe after Ladoga and Onega in Russia so we have plenty of anchorages to choose from.
8/15/2019: Yacht Controller
Investigating the possibility that overheating might be causing our Yacht Controller remote to cut-out while in the Gota Canal locks. We couldn't find any evidence of heat issues though.

Our latest theory is that the remote control used by the lock keepers to control the locks is using the same frequency and interfering with the communication between the Yacht Controller remote and the base station. It seems to only happen when the lock keepers are nearby and using their remote. We haven't had any communications instability since leaving the area where the lock keepers are using their remotes.
8/15/2019: Illegible Component Name
Our Yacht Controller remote has served us well over the years, so we have no big complaints. But it's annoying when a manufacture grinds off the component identification, preventing service.
8/16/2019: Djur Lighthouse
Djur Lighthouse at the north end of the island of Djuro, the largest island in the Djuro Archipelago.
8/16/2019: Spitfire
Spitfire performing his traditional locker inspection whenever one is opened.
8/16/2019: Handlebar Tape
Replacing the tape on our handlebars.
8/16/2019: Oil Change
Time to change the main engine oil after 250 hours of running. The last change was at 10,423 hours in May of this year and we're now at 10,647 hours.
8/16/2019: Hydraulics Zincs
We change the hydraulic system zincs ever 6 months, but they've hardly needed it recently. We used to replace them every two months, and they really needed replacement. Our suspicion is the variation is caused by zinc quality differences.
8/16/2019: Djuro National Park
View from the sheltered anchorage at Djuro National Park in Lake Vanern. The Djuro Archipelago includes over thirty islands and islets in the middle of Lake Vanern and is the most remote and isolated archipelago in Sweden.
8/17/2019: L Bratt Lighthouse
Light on the north end of the island L Bratt along the eastern shore of the Luro Archipelago.
8/17/2019: Luro Archipelago
The view south from our anchorage in the Luro Archipelago. With a total area of (600 hectares) and comprising roughly 250 islands, Luro is the largest lake archipelago in Europe.
8/17/2019: Pleasure Craft
An unusual pleasure craft, looking like a tent mounted on a picnic boat, heading south through the Luro Archipelago. The boat is German-flagged, so presumably it crossed the Baltic. You'd want some pretty calm weather with that freeboard.
8/18/2019: Stangudden Light
A flash of red from Stangudden Light as we pass along the east coast of the island of Luron in the Luro Archipelago.
8/18/2019: Lacko Slott
The medieval castle Lacko Slott is a dramatic sight at the south end of Lake Vanern.
8/18/2019: Wilhelm Tham
The Gota Canal cruise ship Wilhelm Tham was moored at Lacko Slott when we arrived. Unfortunately the entry channel to the Lacko Slott marina is between the ship and the green spar buoys, a gap considerably narrower than Dirona.
8/18/2019: Tight Squeeze
There was no way to pass the Wilhelm Tham inside the channel. With sufficient space between the first channel edge marker and the rocks, we squeezed tight up against the channel marker and passed the first mark on the outside. On the second channel mark, there was just barely room between it and the Wilhelm Tham so we passed with only inches on either side.
8/18/2019: Bird
A small bird flew in through the open salon door while we were landing at Lacko Slott. Fortunately we managed to encourage it back outside before Spitfire turned it into dinner.
8/18/2019: Phone Holder
While in the Stockholm Archipelago, we used heavy-duty velcro to mount an old cell phone on the dash running the Navionics chart-plotter app. This worked well visually, but we didn't find the location behind the steering wheel very convenient if we needed to interact with the phone. And, we didn't feel it was sufficiently secure when pounding through waves.

One of the items we brought back from Seattle with us was an phone mount for cars, so that we could mount the phone above the dash. This phone mount is designed to be attached by suction cup, but again we didn't think that would be sufficiently secure. So here James is installing it by running small screws into the tender dash through the collar around the base.
8/18/2019: Tender Charts
Our new phone mount in place on the tender dash with the phone installed. The mount works great and the new position is easier to read and the touchscreen is easily accessible.
8/18/2019: Inner Courtyard
The inner courtyard at Lacko Slott. Construction of the castle began in the 13th century as a bishop's fort and it became a royal castle under King Gustav Vasa in the 16th century. The fortification was expanded and renovated over the next four centuries and now is a national monument that is open to the public. Since 1997, the Lacko Slott Opera has staged a summer performance in the courtyard.
8/18/2019: Kungssalen
Kungssalen, the great dining hall of Lacko Slott. The raised boxes at the end of the room where for musicians so that their music could be heard, but the players wouldn't be seen.
8/18/2019: Small Castle Garden
Vine-covered trellis walkway through the walled garden along the east side of Lacko Slott.
8/18/2019: Terrace
Enjoying a glass of wine on the terrace outside the restaurant Hvita Hjorten on the Lacko Slott grounds.
8/18/2019: Dirona
View to Dirona moored below Lacko Slott.
8/18/2019: Sigrid Storrada
The 78-ft (24m) Sigrid Storrada, launched in 1995, is a full-scale model of the Norwegian Viking ship from the 900s.
8/18/2019: Hvita Hjorten
An excellent dinner at Hvita Hjorten (The White Hart) at Lacko Slott. The restaurant specializes in fresh, local produce, particularly from the Small Castle Garden and Lake Vanern.
8/19/2019: Narrow
Passing through a narrow section along the north side of the island of Kallandso as we depart Lacko Slott heading west.
8/19/2019: Dishwasher Spring
Earlier this year, one of the dishwasher door springs broke. We temporarily replaced it with a less strong spring and picked up two new ones in Seattle. Here James is replacing both springs—we'll keep the non-broken original as a spare.
8/19/2019: Fire Extinguishers
Inspecting, pressure-checking, weighing, and labelling all four portable boat fire extinguishers. A portable luggage scale worked well to weigh the tanks.
8/19/2019: Sunset
Sunset from the anchorage in the islets north of the island of Kallandso. We'd investigated a few other possibilities before settling on this one.
8/20/2019: Naven Lighthouse
The lighthouse on the island of Naven was established in 1799.
8/20/2019: Dirona
Anchored for the night off Hindens Rev, a terminal moraine marking the maximum advance of a glacier created about 11,000 years ago.
8/20/2019: Hindens Rev
Looking along the terminal moraine Hindens Rev in Lake Vanern from the tender. A few hikers are visible at the tip. The 3-mile (5km) long peninsula is at most 328ft (100m) wide, and much narrower in most areas.
8/21/2019: Sunrise
Spectacular sunrise from Hindens Rev in Lake Vanern.
8/21/2019: Dalbobron Bridge
Passing under the Dalbobron Bridge at Vanersborg as we enter the 51-mile (82km) Trollhatte Canal. The canal will bring us down 143.7ft (43.8 m) from Lake Vanern to sea level on the west coast of Sweden.
8/21/2019: Pilot Boats
Pilot boats at Vanersborg. The Trollhatte Canal is an important commercial transportation route, with 3.5 million tons of cargo shipped annually through the waterway.
8/21/2019: Vanersborg Railway Bridge
The Vanersborg Railway Bridge opening for us to pass through.
8/21/2019: Calling Bridge
Calling the Gropbron Bridge to request an opening.
8/21/2019: Gropbron Bridge
Passing through the Gropbron Bridge lift bridge with another pleasure craft behind.
8/21/2019: Channel Marks
The channel marks in the Trollhatte Canal are mounted on long poles extending into the waterway. They are numbered, and are illuminated at night.
8/21/2019: Brinkebergskulle Lock
Entering the Brinkebergskulle Lock with lots of paint scrapes visible on the sides. The maximum dimension for a ship to pass through the Trollhatte Canal is 291 ft (89 m) long, with a 44-ft (13.4 m) beam and a 17.7 (5.4 m) draft and many of the commercial ships barely fit in the locks.
8/21/2019: Amalie
The pleasure craft Amalie entering the locks behind us. These locks are huge compared to the those along the Gota Canal.
8/21/2019: Spitfire
Spitfire on deck to monitor our progress as we enter the Brinkebergskulle Lock.
8/21/2019: Doors Opening
The doors to the Brinkebergskulle Lock opening after we descended 16ft (4.9m). We're now at 127.6ft (38.9m) above sea level.
8/21/2019: Rough Side
Several of the locks along the the Trollhatte Canal have only one smooth side appropriate for pleasure craft to moor against. The other side is rough, presumably because it was cheaper to not finish both sides. The rough side isn't always on the same side—the Cruising Association Cruising Guide to Sweden has a helpful list that shows which side to tie to.
8/21/2019: North Carrier
The 287ft (87.5m) by 42.9ft (13.06m) cargo ship North Carrier moored at Trollhattan. The ship is only 4 feet shorter and barely a foot narrower than the maximum allowable dimensions for the Trollhatte Canal.
8/21/2019: Current
Currents in the Gota Alv river can run at 1.5 to 3 knots. We've not noticed it much yet, but the current is clearly visible
8/21/2019: Trollhattan Railway Bridge
The Trollhattan Railway Bridge lifting for us to pass. Once it's up to 10m we can pass through, but it's lifting higher to allow the sailboat Amalie to pass through as well.
8/21/2019: Reservation
Our reserved berth at Spikon Gasthamn in Trollhattan. Reservations aren't necessary, particularly in the off-season, but we called ahead to be sure we'd have a spot as Dirona can only fit in a couple of places there.
8/21/2019: Spikon Gasthamn
We're glad we reserved a berth. The two other boats visible are travelling together and almost certainly have tied off one behind the other on the main pontoon.
8/21/2019: Pizza Napoli
We were planning to have lunch at one of the several restaurants along the canal, but all were serving only a buffet or a fixed menu that didn't appeal to us. We instead had a great meal at Pizza Napoli on the pedestrian mall Kungsgatan.
8/21/2019: Villa Stranna
Villa Stranna, built in the early 1900s, was once the town hall and now is a restaurant and hotel complex.
8/21/2019: Materia et Motus
The statue Materia et Motus by artist Ake Jonsson was inspired by Swedish scientist, industrialist, inventor and Trollhatte Lock designer Christopher Polhem whose motto was "Materia et Motus": "The whole of nature, with everything there is, consists only of two things, namely, Materia (the subject) and Motus (the movement)."
8/21/2019: Gate
Large gate on the feed to the Olidan Hydroelectric Station. It's not normally in use, but can be used to limit or shut off water flow.
8/21/2019: Trollhattans Kyrka
Trollhattans Kyrka, consecrated in 1862, is built on an island in the middle of the canal system.
8/21/2019: Kungsgrottan
Kungsgrottan (the King's Cave) contains the signatures of dozens of visiting monarchs, starting with Adolf Fredrik in 1754.
8/21/2019: Turbine Blade
A large turbine blade near the Olidan Hydroelectric Station.
8/21/2019: Olidan Hydroelectric Station
The Olidan Hydroelectric Station, opened in 1910, was the first large-scale hydroelectric plant in Sweden and is one of the country's oldest industrial buildings still in use.
8/21/2019: Engine Hall
Looking through the window into the engine hall at Olidan Hydroelectric Station in Trollhattan. Initially four turbines were installed, and this increased to 13 by 1921, each with a 10-megawatt capacity.
8/21/2019: Dry Falls
The Trollhattan Falls have been a tourist attraction since the 18th century, but no longer flow since the Gota Alv river was dammed for power in the early 1900s.
8/21/2019: Crowds
At scheduled times in the summer, the Trollhattan Falls are released as a tourist attraction. We weren't the only ones who knew. :)
8/21/2019: Trollhattan Falls
When the falls are released, over 300,000 liters of water pours through every second. It took surprisingly long for the water to actually reach and fill the gully. Watching the water pour into the gully was a fabulous experience. The ruins visible are of industry that used to operate along the rapids before the flow was dammed.
8/21/2019: Kopparklinten
After watching the falls, we walked along the Gota Alv river up to the Kopparklinten lookout for a great view to the Olidan Hydroelectric Station the river. At the far right is a pedestrian bridge that we'll cross on our return walk (click image for larger view).
8/21/2019: Portal Crane
Remains of a 42-ton portal crane built for the construction of the Olidan Hydroelectric Station. Goods were brought by regular rail to the portal crane then lowered 111 ft (34m) down to the power station level where another set of train tracks and two turntables allow rail cars to turn more tightly then would be possible on tracks.
8/21/2019: Viewing Platform
Jennifer enjoying the view from viewing platform at Kopparklinten.
8/21/2019: Pedestrian Bridge
Crossing the Gota Alv river on a pedestrian suspension bridge with a great view to the Olidan Hydroelectric Station.
8/21/2019: Elvius's Lock
The lowest of a lock system constructed in 1749. To help reduce the pressure on the gates, the lock was built in the form of a tunnel so that the overhead rock would take some of the pressure and only boats with low air draft would be able to pass through. After an construction accident killed nine workers, the project was abandoned due to lack of funding.
8/21/2019: Impeller
An old impeller from the Hojum power station that opened in the area in 1943. In 2008, the impeller in one of the generators was upgraded and the old one put on display. The impeller is 17-ft (5.3m) in diameter and could discharge 600 cubic feet (170 cubic meters) per second.
8/21/2019: Outflow
Jennifer standing on a bridge above the outflow from Hojum power station.
8/21/2019: Gota Alv River
Looking across the now-dry Trollhattan Falls to the dammed Gota Alv River.
8/21/2019: Drink
A local IPA on the deck of the Albert Kok Hotel with an awesome view to the Gota Alv River.
8/21/2019: Stromkarlen
The sculpture Stromkarlen, a water spirit in Scandinavian folklore, was erected in 1911.
8/21/2019: Touch
The park near our marina has several large-scale sculptures. This is Touch by Viktor Korneev, depicting a foot touching a sculpted, polished water surface surrounded by real water.
8/21/2019: Painted Egg
One of several large painted eggs around Trollhattan, this one in the sculpture park near our marina.
8/21/2019: Pa Vag
Pa Vag (Swedish for "En Route") by Ann Carlsson Korneev is of a figure resting on a bed, en route to new thoughts, insights and dimensions.
8/21/2019: Kraftsamlare VI
Kraftsamlare VI (Power Collector No. 6) by Ingemar Lolo Funck Andersson with Dirona visible in the background at Spikon Gasthamn.
8/21/2019: Elfkungen
The canal cruise boat Elfkungen passing under the Trollhattan road bridge to dock in town for a short time.
8/22/2019: Danubia
We loved the view to the big ships passing along the Trollhatte Canal from our berth at Spikon Gasthamn. The maximum speed in the canal is 5 knots, so the 272ft (83m) Danubia doesn't generate much wake as it passes.
8/22/2019: Aspen
The Trollhattan road bridge raised for the 270ft (82m) cargo ship Aspen of Delfzijl, Netherlands, viewed from our berth at Spikon Gasthamn.
8/22/2019: Juno
The canal cruise ship Juno en route to Gothenburg from Stockholm. We passed the Juno along the Gota Canal a couple of weeks back.
8/22/2019: Saab Car Museum
Saab Automobile was headquartered in Trollhattan before declaring bankruptcy in 2012. The Saab museum there has a great display of the company's history, including the historic Saab Long Run where in 1986 three Saab Turbos set 2 world and 21 international endurance records at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
8/22/2019: Saab 99 Turbo Rally
Saab cars were actively raced and the Saab Car Museum had one section devoted to racing. This is a 1979 Saab 99 Turbo Rally that won the Swedish Rally, the first time a turbo-charged car had won a World Rally Championship. The 2-liter turbocharged engine produced 270hp and the car could reach 0-100kph in 6 seconds.
8/22/2019: Innovatum
Old Trollhatte Canal lock gates dating from 1916, and another painted egg, at the entrance to the Innovatum area, the former manufacturing site of Trollhattan-based NOHAB that manufactured turbines and locomotives. NOHAB built the turbines for the Olidan Hydroelectric Station and the portal crane we saw yesterday was built to transport goods from the NOHAB plant. Today the Innovatum area tenants include the Saab Car Museum, a science center and several start-ups.
8/22/2019: Albino Aid
The sculpture Albino Aid by Kent Karlsson outside the Innovatum area.
8/22/2019: Water Tower
The old Trollhattan water tower, now converted to apartments.
8/22/2019: Pasion Tapas
A delicious meal on the terrace at Pasion Tapas with a California Zinfandel. We like big reds and the wine has become quite popular in Sweden over the past couple of years.
8/23/2019: Trollhattan Station
At Trollhattan Train Station on a day trip to Dalsland Canal.
8/23/2019: Mellerud Train Station
At Mellerud station on a soggy morning to transfer to Haverud.
8/23/2019: Mellerud Bus Station
When we saw signs pointing to the Mellerud Bus Station we were expecting something, well, a little larger.
8/23/2019: Hot Rod
Sure you can hot-rod a Volvo!
8/23/2019: Bus to Haverud
We were the only ones on the bus to Haverud.
8/23/2019: Aqueduct
The Dalsland Canal was conceived in the mid-1800s to provide a communications route through road-less areas of western Sweden. Only short sections of canal between large lakes would need to be built, so the construction was relatively cost-effective. Haverud rapids, however, were a major obstacle. Nils Ericson, the designer of the Trollhatte Canal and the Saimaa Canal in Finland, proposed an amazing aqueduct to carry boats over the gorge. The gorge is crossed by three forms of transport: boats in the aqueduct, trains on the bridge visible in the background, and a road bridge that we're taking this picture from.
8/23/2019: Dalslandia
We'll be taking a trip along the Dalsland Canal and over the aqueduct in the Dalslandia. We really wanted to see the aqueduct, and had considered running the tender up from Lake Vanern, but it was a fair distance, so we decided to visit from Trollhattan and take a cruise instead.
8/23/2019: Dalsland Canal
At the bow as the Dalslandia enters the Dalsland Canal.
8/23/2019: Lock Gate
The Dalsland canal is narrow—the maximum boat dimensions are 75ft (22.75m) long and 13.29ft (4.05m) wide, with a 5.9ft (1.8m) draft and a 39ft (12m) air draft. Dirona could fit on length and air draft, but not on width or water draft.
8/23/2019: Double Fill
The second locks we entered were double locks, where both were open and they filled them together. We've never experience that before—it was pretty exciting to watch a wave of water approach the boat from the other end of the second lock that then spilled over into our lock.
8/23/2019: Crossing Aqueduct
Crossing the aqueduct in the Dalslandia with a crowd of onlookers and about to pass under the road bridge we took the aqueduct picture from earlier. It's great that spectators can walk right out on the to aqueduct—we enjoyed walking around it earlier.
8/23/2019: Stern
Enjoying the view from the stern of the Dalslandia. We've just passed through four locks at Haverud and risen 32 ft (9.9m).
8/23/2019: Lunch
Our cruise included a delicious lunch of locally-smoked salmon.
8/23/2019: Lock Wall
The Dalsland Canal cruise boats are built to just fit in the canal. As we passed through a lock during lunch, the wall was right there out the window, only inches away.
8/23/2019: Krona
We'd gotten some Swedish Krona in Kalmar in early April, but hadn't spent a cent yet. Cards are accepted nearly everywhere in Sweden, with many places not accepting cash at all. But on the cruise boat, cash was the only form of payment accepted, so this is the first time we've actually spent any.
8/23/2019: Storholmen
Passing the Storholmen Dalsland Canal cruise boat that was heading south to Haverud.
8/23/2019: Lock
Approaching the Mustadfors Lock, where we'll rise another 10.2ft (3.1m).
8/23/2019: Opening Sluice
Some of the locks are operated by lock keepers along the way, while others the crew of the Dalslandia manage. Here the crew is opening the sluice at the Mustadfors Lock.
8/23/2019: Langed Locks
Approaching the four-lock staircase at Langed, the largest flight along the Dalsland Canal, and the last set that we'll pass through in the Dalslandia. Here we'll rise 43ft (13.1m).
8/23/2019: Top of Langed
Intimate and beautiful setting at the top of the Langed staircase.
8/23/2019: Anton Holmedal
We're not sure how he does it but while talking to us, but skipper Anton Holmedal eases into the lock, inches up to just about touching the front lock sill, waits for the rear does to close, and then eases back into the space made available by the closing lock doors. The Dalslandia at the maximum possible boat size for this lock system.
8/23/2019: Narrowest
Entering the narrowest section of the canal.
8/23/2019: Disembarking
Disembarking from the Dalslandia at Langbron after a wonderful three-hour cruise on the Dalsland Canal.
8/23/2019: Langbron Station
At Langbron "station" for the train back to Mellerud.
8/23/2019: Langbron Bridge
We'd booked only a half-day cruise, but the Dalslandia continues north to Bengtsfors on a full-day trip. Here it is waiting for the Langbron road and railway bridges to open before it can proceed.
8/23/2019: Train to Mellerud
On the train to Mellerud. All the customers that took a half-day cruise like us are returning to the start of the cruise, but we were the only passengers after Haverud.
8/23/2019: Aqueduct From Train
The train stopped on the bridge so we could take pictures of the aqueduct. What an engineering marvel it is—we thoroughly enjoyed our day along the canal and are very happy to have seen and travelled on the aqueduct.
8/23/2019: Nina Bres
The cargo ship Nina Bres passing under the Trollhattan railway bridge as we return back to Dirona.
8/23/2019: Carl-Oscar Lysander
Carl-Oscar Lysander from the local newspaper Ttela had arranged to interview us after we returned from our Dalsland Canal trip. A few times a year, a local newspaper notices are home port is quite distant and comes by to talk to us. For the next couple of days, people all over were recognizing us from the newspaper.
8/23/2019: Karl Johans Park
Looking across Karl Johans Park to Villa Stranna
8/23/2019: Butlers
A delicious meal over a bottle of Barolo on the terrace at Butlers in Trollhattan.
8/24/2019: Cycling
Cycling along the Trollhatte Canal to tour the locks, about 2 miles (3km) south of the marina.
8/24/2019: Rix River
The cargo ship Rix River filling the basin as it rises in the uppermost lock at Trollhattan. The 288ft (88m) by 42ft (12.8m) ship is only three feet shorter and two feet narrower than the Trollhatte Canal maximum dimensions.
8/24/2019: Bow
The bow of the Rix River towering above Jennifer as the ship is nearly at the top of the lock.
8/24/2019: Pleasure Craft
Two pleasure craft readying to lock down after the Rix River has departed. Commercial craft have priority.
8/24/2019: Middle Lock
Two more pleasure craft locking up in the middle lock of the Trollhattan flight.
8/24/2019: Passing
We've not seen this before—the upper lock was drained while the middle lock filled, then the doors opened between them and the pleasure craft passed in the flight, heading in opposite directions.
8/24/2019: Door Closing
The door closing behind the pleasure craft in the upper lock of the Trollhattan flight.
8/24/2019: 1844 Middle Staircase
The first set of locks were completed at Trollhattan in 1800 and in 1844 a new set of locks was constructed to match the maximum dimensions of the newly-completed Gota Canal and allow ships to travel from Stockholm to Gothenburg. In 1916, another set of locks was built to allow even larger ships and these are currently in use today. Pictured are the remains of the middle staircase from the 1844 locks.
8/24/2019: 1800 Lower Staircase
Looking down the lower staircase of the original 1800 locks at Trollhattan.
8/24/2019: 1800 Upper Staircase
The upper staircase of the original lock system built in 1800.
8/24/2019: Museum
The Trollhatte Canal museum details the history of the canal and the industry around it. We were surprised to learn the canal is open through the winter, with icebreaking tugs working to keep the route clear for ship traffic. This model shows the current 1916 locks at the far left, the three staircases of the 1844 locks run from the top right, across the middle to the basin where the ship is, and then up parallel to the 1916 lock. The two staircases of the original 1800 lock are at the far right bottom right and second from the right at the top.
8/24/2019: Trollhattan Kyrka
Trollhattan Kyrka (church), consecrated in 1862, is built on an island in the middle of the canal system.
8/24/2019: Trollhattan
Beautiful clear and calm night at Trollhattan on the Gota Alv river.
8/25/2019: Fog
Spitfire starting his morning inspection of the boat and marina area as daylight approaches in the fog. We have a big day planned where we will be attending the Motorcycle Motocross GP in Uddevalla 30km away.
8/25/2019: Railway Bridge
We're on our way to the Uddevalla Motocross GP motorcycle race but we decided to stop at the railroad bridge and watch a group of sailboats pass through. It looks like we're going to have a great day at the racetrack where the fog has lifted and bright sun now dominates. The day already is fairly warm.
8/25/2019: Bus to Uddevalla
We're underway from the Trollhatten Bus and Railstation to Uddevalla by express bus. We'll only stop once on our way to Uddevalla. From Uddevalla we'll have to find a bus or taxi to get to the racetrack but, since 30,000 others are making the same trip, we're sure to find a way.
8/25/2019: Parking
It took a while to get a taxi in Uddevalla but, after about 25 min, we were underway. Here we're close to a mile from the track and the highway is already completely lined with parked cars. It's surprising to see every nook where a car could possibly be parked taken this far from the racetrack. We're expecting the combination of great weather and a world class racing event is going to draw a record crowd.
8/25/2019: Grooming
The line up for admission wasn't that bad and here we are just getting our first view of the Uddevalla Motocross GP race track. Heavy equipment is working throughout the track preparing it for the afternoon of racing. Here they are grooming the up-side of a hill that will later be launching motorocycle riders 20+ feet into the air.
8/25/2019: Gebben Racing
Over the years having attended many forms of racing from dirt track Sprint Cars through to Formula 1, we've learned that it's really useful to have access to the Paddock where the race vehicles are worked upon. Since there won't be racing on the track for another hour and half, we went straight to the paddock where we will see and learn more about the motorocycles beeing raced, meet some crew members, and get a more detailed perspective on what to expect. Here the Gebben Racing Kawasaki's are ready to go racing.
8/25/2019: Mmm ... Tools
Milwaukee, of our favorite power tool suppliers, was out in force and demonstrating their vast array of portable, battery-powered tools.
8/25/2019: Air Show
Motocross GP racers spend such a large percentage of their time flying off jumps that an MXGP event is often appropriately referred to as an "airshow." And what better way to kick off the flying action than to have a Swedish fighter aircraft performing low level maneuvers over the racetrack. The performance lasted for nearly 20 min and at times the plane was remarkably close overhead.
8/25/2019: Flying
The action has begun and, if you have never been to a Motocross GP event in the past then you would be, like us, amazed at the heights the speeding bikes are launched to. This is the last jump prior to the leap at the finish line we're thrilled at how close we are to the action, the heights the bikes are leaping to, and how near the bikes are to each other in the air.
8/25/2019: Fans
Here at the edge of the paddock, the racers pass through a tunnel under the track to get to the starting line. Fans line up to cheer on their favorite drivers as they head toward the track and many of the drivers do quick hand shakes on the way past.
8/25/2019: Finish Line
Here you can see two racers crossing the finish line only a foot or so apart in the air. The bikes run remarkably closely, touching frequently in the corners and sometimes even in the air.
8/25/2019: BMK Uddevalla
A panarama of BMK Uddevalla racetrack (click to enlarge). It's a tight 1 mile (1.6km) of hard pack clay with difficult corners and lots of hills. Most drivers will spend a good part of every lap in the air.
8/25/2019: Trophy
A Kawasaki race bike on display in the paddock area with the last trophy the team has won.
8/25/2019: Engine Replacement
The racing is hard and close and there are flying rocks and colliding bikes, so there is always some acction in the paddock where parts are being replaced. But, other than tires and clutches, mechanical failures are rare. Here one of the Yamaha factory teams are changing an engine and it's the only change we saw that day.
8/25/2019: Clutch
Here you can see the race bikes are using multi-disk clutches. The clutches are easy to access and can be changed fairly quickly.
8/25/2019: Audience
Racing has been underway for a couple of hours now and it's been so exciting, that between watching the competition on the track and watching the service work in the paddock, we hadn't looked up at the crowd. Pre-race estimates were that the race day crowd would top 30,000 and it looks like the good weather has brought in a group at least that large.
8/25/2019: Side-By-Side
Two racers competing for position. They left the ground side-by-side 20 ft back on the track and you can see where they will be landing still side by side into a hard right hand corner and up to another large jump.
8/25/2019: High
Here we're remarkably close to the track beside a jump about midway between the start of the track. With a track marshal just barely visible in the lower part of the frame, this position really gives a perspective on how high the bikes are flying. As the bikes climb, you can hear the racers back off the throttle since, in the air, there is no upside to having the power down as the engine will just shoot to max RPM without resistance. Most of the drivers back off in the air, rev once as the ground approaches, and then go back to max throttle just before they land.
8/25/2019: Start
The starts are exciting. Each bike is mounted onto a rigid launch platform with a metal bar across the front wheel. The metal bar drops down all at once for the start. Prior to the start, each bike has its suspension pushed down and locked off in the fully compressed position. The suspension travel is long on these bikes since they need to be able to safely land from 10 to 20 ft in the air. The suspension is locked in the down position for the start to get maximum acceleration out of the launch platform. This is referred to as a hole shot and the suspension lock will release at the first major bump and return to the full travel needed for racing. If you look closely you'll see the driver in the blue bike at the center of the frame has his elbow extended and is leaning to block the driver to his right. In this case, the driver in the blue bike prevailed and entered the first corner in front. The run to the first corner is explosively fast and very aggressive with lots of jostling and contact at speed.
8/25/2019: Triple-Parked
As we left the track, we found that the the ditches around the road were full of parked cars. As those areas filled up the shoulders on both sides filled as well. What's amazing is some drivers got desperate and parked their cars on the highway beside the cars on the shoulder leaving only a single lane for the highway traffic. The highway traffic has been slowing and passing these numerous single lane segments carefully but, after the race, the traffic levels go up and these single lane sections are just about completely stopping traffic. Leaving the track is going to take a while.
8/25/2019: Gridlock
It had to happen. There were numerous cars actually parked on the highway. As long as traffic was light, cars could make it past these single lane segments a bit more slowly, but the highway was still flowing. As the traffic increased after the race, we eventually achieved gridlock where one single lane segment has cars flowing in one direct and the next single lane segment had card flowing in the opposite direction. Neither line of cars can move since each is blocked by a single lane segment in the opposing direction. This was made more difficult to clear up with several large buses and trucks in the blocked group.

After about 20 minutes of no progress the driver of this blue Scania truck in the center decided he could break the gridlock by backing his truck in and out of gaps and single lane sections. Somehow he managed to back his truck more than a 1/2 kilometer, weaving through tiny gaps and managing to avoid the crowds of pedestrians heading to their cars. This got our bus back underway.
8/25/2019: Pizza Napoli
Back in Trollhatten after an amazing day at the race track. The bus ride back was a long one since it was a non-express bus that stopped more frequently and we were stationary for more than 20 min in the masses of traffic leaving the track, made worse by some attendees deciding to use the highway traffic lanes for parking. We decided to go straight from the bus stop to Pizza Napoli to enjoy an excellent pizza dinner before heading home to Dirona.
8/25/2019: Evening
The light was beautiful as we returned back to Dirona after a big day of motorcycle racing. You can see the boating season is drawing to a close and we're almost alone in the normally busy Spikon Gasthamn in downtown Trollhatten.
8/25/2019: Trollhattan
As dusk settles over Trollhatten, we're outside enjoying the still wonderfully warm evening and projected images that are visible on the wall on the other side of the Gota Alv river. Trollhattan really is a beautiful town with great civic pride.
8/26/2019: Ttela
Carl-Oscar Lysander's interview with us was printed in the paper Ttela yesterday. Trollhattan resident Jan Leverin dropped off a copy (click image for larger view) along with a translation to English.
8/26/2019: Trollhattan Road Bridge
The Trollhattan road bridge opening for us to pass through.
8/26/2019: Trollhatte Canal
A beautiful clear and sunny day along the Trollhatte Canal.
8/26/2019: Trollhattan Locks
Moored for the night at the top of the Trollhattan locks. It wasn't a very long trip for the day, but we decided it would be a fun place to stop for the night and watch the lock traffic.
8/26/2019: Skagern
The cargo vessel Skagern passing through the lock flight at Trollhattan.
8/26/2019: Flow
The Trollhattan locks are unusual in that rather than open sluices at either end of the locks to raise and lower the water level, the water instead is flows in and out through grates in the lock floor. This produces much less turbulence in the lock, particularly when rising, than other locks we've been through.
8/26/2019: Skagern Exiting
Skagern exiting the upper Trollhattan lock next to Dirona.
8/26/2019: Kello's
A good lunch at Kello's a short walk from the Trollhattan locks.
8/26/2019: Russian Crane
The Russian Crane was commissioned in 1922 by local manufacturer NOHAB to ship an order of 1,000 locomotives to the newly formed Soviet Union. The railway guage in Russia was larger, so the locomotives couldn't be shipped by rail. The locomotives were run from NOHAB facility to the Trollhatte canal on special Russian-gauge rails, and the crane was used to transfer them to barges for shipment by water.
8/26/2019: Lady Alexandra
The cargo ship Lady Alexandra about to descend in the upper Trollhattan lock.
8/26/2019: Olle Skold
We meet a lot of fun people with a wide variety of different interests through the blog. Today Olle Skold drove over to see the boat. It's not that unusual for someone to be interested in seeing the boat but Olle's interest was unique. He's building a radio-controlled model of the Nordhavn 52. He found a video of Dirona on YouTube and decided to build one using a 3D printer. You'll be impressed with his work. We were.
8/26/2019: Dirona Model
Having found the Dirona YouTube channel back in 2018, Olle used all the data he could find there, on our website, the Nordhavn website, and other pictures and descriptions on the web to get a good understanding of the layout of the Nordhavn 52. He drafted it up and then printed it out using his 3D printer. It's not yet finished but it's close, with full interior detail. All that remains to be done is glue the sections together, do final fairing to get a yacht quality finish, and install the motor and radio control hardware.
8/26/2019: Dirona and Dirona
Olle with the model of Dirona in his hands standing in front of Dirona. It's an incredibly accurate Nordhavn 52 and, since it's 3D printed rather than hand assembled, he can make more. If you are interested in a Nordhavn 52 model, Olle is able to print and complete one for you. And, if you are interested in a model of another member of the Nordhavn fleet, we're sure he would consider drafting the changes for a different boat. You can see a wider variety of his work and get in touch with Olle at http://depronized.com/. Even better, if you want a model that can actually be sailed under RC control, he can do that as well.
8/26/2019: Lock Traffic
Taking in the Trollhattan lock traffic from the cockpit over dinner on a warm and sunny evening.
8/27/2019: Upper Lock
Entering the first of four locks at Trollhattan. Each lock is about 30ft (9m) deep and we'll descend a total of 127ft (38.9m).
8/27/2019: Swapping Lines
The Trollhatte locks have fixed bollards set into the lock walls that are about 15ft (4.5m) above each other. The bollards are sufficiently far apart that we can only easily reach one from Dirona, so we just use one line pulled tight amidships to hold us against the lock wall. We gently let line out as the boat descends, and once we're down about 15ft we put a second amidships line onto the bollard that is now visible close to the water line. Once it's holding securely, we release the line above and essentially just crab our way down the lock wall.
8/27/2019: Gates Opening
The gates opening at the upper Trollhattan lock.
8/27/2019: Entering Flight
Entering the flight of three locks at Trollhattan.
8/27/2019: Opposing Traffic
As with the pleasure craft we'd watched earlier, the upper middle locks are brought to the same level with pleasure craft in each and they pass each other in the locks. This is more efficient in that boats can be moving down the flight of locks at the same time that others are moving up, but it's not a very common approach. Most flights we've been in move one or more boats all the way down or up before running the other way.
8/27/2019: Middle of Flight
In the middle of the three-lock flight, looking down to the lower lock.
8/27/2019: Lilla Edet
James taking us into the final lock on the Trollhatte Canal at Lilla Edet. This will bring is down 21ft (6.4m) to sea level.
8/27/2019: Bohus Fortress
Bohus Fortress, our destination for the day, dominates the landscape as we approach.
8/27/2019: Dirona
Dirona moored behind Bohus Fortress.
8/27/2019: Sheep
The land around the fortress is full of sheep. Some were even walking on the dock beside the boat. This one believes it's the stand-on sheep and that Jennifer will have to give way.
8/27/2019: Blockhus Gate
At the Blockhus Gate entrance to Bohus Fortress. Construction of the fortress began in 1308 by King Hakon V Magnusson of Norway to defend Norway's southernmost border. Bohus was considered one of the biggest and strongest in the Nordic region—it survived 14 sieges and was never captured.
8/27/2019: Fars Hat
The large northern tower Fars Hat (Father's Hat) at Bohus Fortress.
8/27/2019: Dungeon
The medieval dungeon in Fars Hat. Prisoners were lowered into the 20ft-deep (6m) chamber through a hole in the floor and the hatch was then covered, admitting no daylight at all.
8/27/2019: Fortress Model
Model of Bohus Fortress showing how it looked when in use.
8/27/2019: Fontin Fortress Park
We walked into the nearby town of Kungalv through Fontin Fortress Park. The park had wonderful trails and several excellent viewpoints. This is looking back to Bohus Fortress. Dirona is moored in the river on the other side. The water is too shallow for us to reach or moor at the marina in the foreground.
8/27/2019: Gustus Gastrobar
An excellent meal with local microbrew on the wonderful patio at Gustus Gastrobar. It was still so warm that we wanted to be out of the sun.
8/27/2019: U 137
A concrete foundation in the river looks like a submarine, so was painted with the markings of U 137, the Soviet submarine that went aground near Karlskrona on the southeast coast of Sweden during the Cold War.
8/28/2019: Current
The Gota Alv river current is running about a half-knot with us. We're doing 8.6 knots when at 1839 RPM we'd typically be doing closer to 8 knots.
8/28/2019: Waiting
Tied off to a siding to wait about 30 minutes for the Marieholms rail bridge to open. They need a gap in the scheduled traffic.
8/28/2019: Marieholms Bridge
Passing through the Marieholms railway bridge.
8/28/2019: Approaching Gothenburg
Approaching Gothenburg. We'll be mooring just beyond the prominent white and red building.
8/28/2019: Gota Alv Bridge
Passing under the Gota Alv Bridge.
8/28/2019: Goteborgs Gasthamn
Dirona moored at Goteborgs Gasthamn with the bow facing up-river.
8/28/2019: Water Leak
We have been finding large amounts of water on top of the freshwater tank where we store supplies. When we first found it, there there was evidence of the shower drain leaking. We fixed that and leak-tested it carefully so put it all back together. A week or so later, there water on top of the tank again. We're pretty sure the shower was leaking but it's definitely not now.

We chased this for a while before finding that it's coming from the master stateroom air conditioning unit. Normally these leaks are easy to find. If water accumulates in the tank, it's easy to see and clearing the drain will fix the problem.

In this case the drain is clear and the condensation is draining properly. What we didn't see was at the back there is an area where dust has accumulated and formed a damn that just includes a small part of the tank below it. Just this section is dropping condensation below. It's a difficult to get to area only accessible when everything is removed behind the head. From there a panel can be removed and the leak can be seen. Not super hard to fix but quite hard to find.
8/28/2019: Sunset
Fabulous sunset over Gothenburg.
8/28/2019: Viking
The 387 ft (118 m) barque Viking, built in 1907, is believe to be the largest sailing ship ever built in Scandinavia. The ship is now permanently moored along the Gothenburg waterfront and is a 3-star hotel,
8/29/2019: Cleaning HVAC Unit
Here we have the master stateroom HVAC unit detached from the floor and lifted so we can clean it thoroughly and dry the sound insulation below where water has been leaking. The leak was due to accumulated condensation-soaked dust that made a path for a portion of the condenser run-off to run down the outside of the drain pan. James is visible on the other side, where we have the panel underneath the head sink off to access the back of the HVAC unit. This was a time-consuming fix but we can't complain too much in that in 10 years of use, this is only the 2nd leak problem we have had to chase down.
8/29/2019: Rix Crystal
The Gota Alv bridge open for the cargo ship Rix Crystal to pass.
8/29/2019: Clearing Vent
When filling the fresh water tank, we noticed there was pressure in the tank and the vent was plugged. Here James is removing the vent from where it connects to the tank so he can check the vent is clear both from the hose to the vent vent but also from the fitting to the tank.
8/29/2019: Americas Cup
Across the river from where we were moored in Gothenburg, we could see several Team Oracle America's Cup containers probably from the last races in Bermuda. We don't know the story of how they got here.
8/29/2019: Trimaran
An interesting boat design on this trimaran. In an effort to get the speed advantages of a multi-hull without paying the normal width penalty, this boat has hinges that allow the two outer hulls to be folded back up against the main full. This allows the trimaran to fit in a monohull slip but, once it leaves, it can open back up and travel as a trimaran.
8/29/2019: Pinchos
A delicious and fun meal at Pinchos Tapas restaurant. The establishment has no printed menus—patrons download their app and order directly from it, entering their table number. Customers are notified through the app when food or drinks are ready to pick-up. The tapas are served on wooden planks that fit double-deckered on holders built into the tables. It's a casual and fun place to eat, with good food.
8/29/2019: Sunset
The days are getting shorter and we're seeing a lot more sunsets now.
8/29/2019: Goteborgs Gasthamn
Looking east across Goteborgs Gasthamn towards downtown Gothenburg.
8/30/2019: Volvo Museum
Volvo is headquartered in Gothenburg and the Volvo Museum there covers the company's history from its start in 1927 to present day.
8/30/2019: Volvo 1800 S
The Volvo 1800 S was made famous as the car Roger Moore drove in the TV series The Saint.
8/30/2019: 1933 Volvos
Volvo PV655 and and PV654 from 1933 with some other historic Volvos.
8/30/2019: High-Speed Volvos
Volvo isn't just about sedate and safe road cars. The company also produces jet engines and Volvos are actively raced. The 37 Viggen fighter, equipped with a Volvo RM8B engine, was one of the most powerful fighters of its time.
8/30/2019: Volvo D16
The Volvo D16 Euro 6 is a 16.1 liter engine able to reliably produce 550 hp up to 750 hp in different configurations all with a torque of 3,550 Nm (2618 ft lbs). The engine meets the modern Euro 6 emission regulations using Diesel Particulate Filter and Selective Catalytic Reduction. We're not sure what we would do with a 16.1 liter diesel engine but we know we want one. :-)
8/30/2019: Volvo B10M
A 1979 Volvo B10M bus chassis that was built from 1966 through 2000. This is what a bus looks like prior to the body being installed and many bus builders like Scania, Mercedes, and Volvo sell chassis with all mechanical components installed like this one to bus coach builders like Setra that build finished buses. This puts the major bus manufacturers in the position of both producing finished buses and providing chassis to competing bus manufacturers. The upside is it allows them to target more markets and gives them more opportunities to be the bus manufacturer that a given customer chooses.

The B10M sold 51,492 buses during its 35 years of production. The particular configuration has the engine mounted centrally rather than at the rear of the bus which is more common in highway buses. Mounting the engine centrally requires that the inline 6 cylinder engine be leaned over 90 degrees to fit between the interior floor and the bottom of the bus. Having the engine lying on it's side allows the engine to be centrally located but leaves the bus interior space unchanged.

One applications of this chassis was a double articulating design from Volvo Metrobus that seats a surprisingly large 270 passengers. Because the oil pan is no longer the lowest point of the engine in these central engine bus designs, they have to run dry sump oiling systems where the oil is pumped out of the engine during operation to a separate reservoir and then pumped from the reservoir into the pressure oil system. Dry sump oiling is also common in race cars where they want to mount the mass of the engine as low as possible and they don't want high-g acceleration to cause oil starvation as the oil moves around in the oil pan. Putting an inline 6-cylinder engine on its side is a nice solution for the central engine layout common in articulating city buses and many passenger trains.
8/30/2019: Port Arthur
A good dinner in a great environment at Port Arthur on the island of Hisingen. The neighbourhood pub was established in 1918 when the area was a shipyard and is the oldest seaman's pub in Gothenburg.
8/30/2019: Chalmers
Striking modern buildings at the Chalmers Lindholmen University College, a campus of the Gothenburg-based Chalmers University of Technology. We'll be taking a ferry back to Dirona from here.
8/30/2019: Juno
The Gothenburg-based cruise boats Juno and Wilhelm Tam that we saw along the Gota Canal, viewed from our ferry back to Dirona.
8/30/2019: Dirona
Dirona moored at Goteborgs Gasthamn, viewed from the ferry from Hisingen.
8/30/2019: Opera House
The modern Gothenburg Opera House, completed in 1994, stands adjacent to Goteborgs Gasthamn.
8/31/2019: Canal
Gothenburg was founded in 1621 and has long been an important ice-free Swedish port. In the 17th century, architects from The Netherlands helped design a canal system in the center of the city to facilitate trade and transport.
8/31/2019: Kampebron
Kampebron, first built in 1625, is one of the oldest bridges in Gothenburg.
8/31/2019: Gothenburg City Museum
The Gothenburg City Museum details 12,000 years of the area's history in East Indian House, the former 18th-century headquarters of the Swedish East India Company.
8/31/2019: Bridges
Like Amsterdam, Gothenburg has a lot of bridges spanning it's canals, many decorated with flower baskets.
8/31/2019: Lock
The outer canal is at a higher level than the inner canal, with a lock between them.
8/31/2019: Stora Nygatan
Handsome 19th-century buildings fronting the canal along Stora Nygatan.
8/31/2019: Kunsportsbron
Elegant Kunsportsbron crossing the Gothenburg canal.
8/31/2019: Tour Boats
We've seen a few very low-air-draft tour boats pass by the marina—this is their home base.
8/31/2019: Statue
One of Gothenburgs many statues, poised above the canal.
8/31/2019: Puzzle
One of the canal bridges had been temporarily removed along with the reinforcing banks. To ensure proper replacement of the historically-significant stonework, each was numbered with a line connecting it to the appropriate adjacent stone.
8/31/2019: Feskekorka
Feskekorka, a fish market in a building designed after a Viking church.
8/31/2019: Cranes
A view to the defunct gantry cranes along the north side of the Gota Alv river.
8/31/2019: Stena Carisma
Evidence that not all really excellent designs are economically a good idea. Stena built 4 high speed ferries where they took the "high speed" part seriously. The Carisma can carry 1,520 cars, at a 40 kt service speed and 50 kts when running wide open. In sea trials it delivered 51 kts running light. This is a truly amazing feat of engineering. Delivering these speeds required two GE LM2500 and two GE LM1600 gas turbines for a combined horsepower of 91,000 driving KaMeWa water gets.

The 40 kts service speed is highly appealing to customers and clearly beats all competitors but the lesson here is the same lesson many ship operators are learned: many customers get very interested in traveling at 40 kts but oftentimes, they are less interested in paying for it. As fuel prices rise, these 4 USD$80M boats become increasingly difficult to operate at a profit. None of the four are currently in operation and one of them was sold off so inexpensively it became office space in Turkey. These boats are wonderful examples of technology, but were economically unsuccessful.
8/31/2019: Sjomanstornet
The 230ft tower Sjomanstornet, topped with a statue of a seaman's wife saying goodbye to her husband as he heads to sea, was erected in 1933.
8/31/2019: Eriksberg
The gantry crane from defunct shipbuilder Eriksbergs Mekaniska Verkstad. Founded in 1850, the yard was part of Gothenburg's extensive shipbuilding industry that collapsed in the 1980s. The old dry dock is now a marina and much of the shipyard is now residential apartments.
8/31/2019: Alvsborg Bridge
The Alvsborg suspension bridge over the Gota Alv river, built in 1966.
8/31/2019: Goteborg Energi
The Goteborg Energi Rya Combined Heat and Power plant is unusual for a power plant in that it's a beautiful structure. This plant is a relatively clean gas plant capable of 261MW of electricity and 294MW of heat. The plant is expected to be needed about 9 months each year and it will consume roughly 300 million cubic meters of gas during this 9 month period.
8/31/2019: Svitzer Tugs
The Svitzer Gaia and Geo on dock but fully crewed and running waiting for the next job. These two sister ships are both Faroe Island flagged tugs designed by the Svitzer in-house design team and built in Klaipeda, Lithuania. They are diesel electric designs with Schottel drive. By going with an all electric design, they eliminate the need for hydraulics and allow the system to operate using only the power needed. Ship assist tug customers want high power to ensure they ships are kept in control and each tug delivers 6,100 hp from 3 Wartsila 8L20. But, ship assist tugs spend most of their time waiting or moving between jobs when only relatively tiny amounts of power are needed. In this mode, they only need to run one of the three engines and they expect a 10% reduction in fuel consumption from this design with an 80% reduction in NOx emissions.
8/31/2019: Alvsborg Fortress
Alvsborg Fortress at the mouth of the Gota Alv river on the outskirts of Gothenburg. The fort was built in the mid-1600s to protect newly-founded Gothenburg and Sweden's only access to the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean
8/31/2019: Fortress Interior
Looking north across the interior of Alvsborg Fortress.
8/31/2019: Port of Gothenburg
View to the Port of Gothenburg from Alvsborg Fortress. The Port of Gothenburg is the largest in Scandinavia with over 11,000 ships visiting annually from 140 different ports worldwide.
8/31/2019: Volvos
Rows and rows of brand new Volvos awaiting shipment by sea at the Port of Gothenburg.
8/31/2019: Langedrag Vardshus
An excellent lunch overlooking the water at Langedrag Vardshus.
8/31/2019: Sailboat Race
Every child in Gothenburg must race sailboats or it sure seems that way. It's rare we see so many dinghy racers in a single race and operating in such close quarters. They were fun to watch.
8/31/2019: Elfsborg Fortress
View up to Elfsborg Fortress, built in the early 1900s and closed permanently after World War II.
8/31/2019: Ship unloading
Here cranes are simultaneously loading and unloading containers at the Gothenburg container port.
8/31/2019: Crane Operator
A view of a container crane operator that is rapidly and repeatedly picking up a container from directly below the crane. As the container quickly rises towards the operator he swings it out over the ship, clearing other container, and prepares to lower it into the ship. This requires great skill in that the operator has as much as 80,000 lbs literally swinging from cables and in motion in multiple dimensions.

The operator has to avoid the natural swinging of the container like a pendulum on the end of the cables. They do this by swinging the container past where they are planning to lower it into the ship. They then cancel the swing by moving rapidly back again towards shore and then outward again to where they want to lower the container.

They want to be efficient so this pendulum cancelling dance is done while the container is on the way down with a goal of having it stable with no swing before the container gets down to the level of the container stacks. As it reaches the stacks, they slow to make final adjustments, do the final lower, and then gently place the container on the stack aligned with all the other containers in the group.

With a press of the button, that container is released and the next is picked up so that the swing back to the shore will be taking a container off, fully utilizing each movement of the crane. It's a high-precision ballet performed with 80,000 lb containers with the operator way above the ship at the top of the crane making minute adjustments using joystick controls looking through a glass floor.
8/31/2019: Gotheborg
Gotheborg, a 2000s replica of the Swedish East India Company ship Gotheborg I that was launched in 1738. The 190ft (58m) ship is one of the world's largest operational wooden sailing vessels.
8/31/2019: Poseidon
The impressive Swedish Coast Guard multi-purpose vessel Poseidon is a sister-ship to Amfitrite that we saw in Karlskrona earlier in the year.
8/31/2019: Dirona
Dirona at Goteborgs Gasthamn as we pass by in the tender.
8/31/2019: River Savean
Running the tender up the lush and secluded river Savean northeast of Gothenburg.
8/31/2019: Boathouses
Colorful boathouses along the river Savean.
8/31/2019: Masthuggskyrkan
After our tender tour, we returned to Gothenburg on foot to take in some views. This is the interior of the church Masthuggskyrkan. Complete in 1914 high on a hilltop above Gothenburg, the church has long been a landmark for those arriving into the city from the sea.
8/31/2019: View from Masthuggskyrkan
The sweeping view across Gothenburg from the Masthuggskyrkan grounds (click image for larger view).
8/31/2019: Classic Car
Classic American cars are very popular in Sweden. We see them everywhere.
8/31/2019: Brewers Beer Bar
A refreshing pint streetside at Brewers Beer Bar in Gothenburg's Haga district.
8/31/2019: Tacos & Tequila
An excellent meal on the terrace at Tacos & Tequila in Gothenburg's Haga district. The restaurant is incredibly popular and had a line-up almost the entire time we were there.
8/31/2019: Tacos & Tequila Interior
The interior of Tacos & Tequila is as appealing as the exterior.
8/31/2019: Tredje Langgatan
Restaurant-lined Tredje Langgatan in Gothenburg's Haga district. The district is the oldest suburb in the city, dating to the mid-1600s, and now is full of restaurants, boutiques and trendy shops.
8/31/2019: Skansen Kronan
The redoubt (enclosed fortress) Skansen Kronan was built in the late 1600s to help protect Gothenburg from Danish attack.
8/31/2019: Skansen Kronan View
Great view to Gothenburg from Skansen Kronan.
8/31/2019: Hagakyrkan
Hagakyrkan, consecrated in 1859.
8/31/2019: Kopparmarra
Kopparmarra, a statue of Karl IX , in Kungsporten square.
8/31/2019: Gustaf Adolfs Square
Statue in Gustaf Adolfs of king Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden, the founder of Gothenburg.
8/31/2019: Sunset
Another beautiful sunset over the Gota Alv river as we arrive back at the marina.
9/1/2019: Garbage
Taking out a load of garbage in our folding cart.
9/1/2019: Hempkop
The excellent produce selection at Hempkop near Goteborgs Gasthamn.
9/1/2019: Groceries
When you only shop once a month, you need to buy a lot of groceries.
9/1/2019: Plugged Drain
We had a plugged galley drain once when the boat was new but it's been nearly 10 years since the last one. This plug is solid and is absolutely immovable even when forced with a toilet plunger so we brought out the big guns. The shop vac and an adapter that allows the vacuum to seal with the sink drain. We first apply vacuum and pull up the entire pipe load of water and hopefully the debris. Then we apply water and pressure from the vacuum and out came the food debris plugging the drain.
9/1/2019: Maritime Museum
One of the recommended stops in Gothenburg was the Maritime Museum. The prize members of their fleet of display ships are the J19 HMS Smaland, a Swedish Halland-class destroyer, and the S321 submarine HDMS Nordkaparen.
9/1/2019: HMS Smaland
Jennifer at the wheel of J19 HMS Smaland, a Swedish Halland-class destroyer. This ship was launched in 1952 and served until 1979. This 398ft destroyer had a service speed of 37 kts and a range of 3,000 nautical miles at 20 kts.
9/1/2019: Boiler
One of the two oil fired boilers aboard the HMS Smaland that combine to deliver enough steam to drive the two steam turbines that together deliver 58,000 hp. This would propel the 398ft destroyer that displaces up to 3,344 tons at up to 37 kts.
9/1/2019: Nordkaparen
The Nordkaparen is a 144 ft (44m) Danish diesel electric submarine displacing 457 tons surfaced and 508 tons submerged. She is capable of 10 kts surfaced and 17 kts submerged. It carries 4 officers and 18 enlisted men and has 8 21-inch torpedo tubes. It is powered by 2 Mercedes Benz V12 engines producing 600 hp each and driving a BBC generator. The drive motor is a single 1,300 hp motor.
9/1/2019: Nordkaparen Helm
Jennifer at the help of the Danish diesel electric Nordkaparen. The submarine was launched in 1969 and was in active duty until 2004.