We crossed lake Viken a long shallow lake. In parts they had built a wall so the barges could be pulled by hand across it. We were hit by a huge thunder storm as we crossed. One minute we were sailing in a steady F3 then it went up to a F6 from another direction with lightening and thunder. At Vassbackens we stopped but with no food left onboard and no shop we decided to eat out in the small restaurant, we think it was run by Germans as the menu was more like tha...

Only 5 miles across the lake is Forsvik an old industrial community. The lock was the first to be completed in 1813 and this whole section had to be blasted out of solid bed rock. There is also the oldest surviving bascule bridge on the canal from 1813 now permanently open it was used till 1940 when a new road bridge was put in. We have arrived on the weekend of there open day with all the old factory's open and steam boats. We spent two nights here, both nights ...

The Ombo Islands are only 7 miles NE of Karlsborg and the second part of the Gota Canal. They are the most popular natural harbours in Lake Vättern. We decided to stop here the night, there was only one other yacht here. Brenda made a fire in the fire pit. In Sweden in public areas they supply tables and fire pits with barbecue equipment, they even leave a supply of timber to burn. We were going to barbecue but a shower of rain came at the wrong moment so we ate...

We arrived in Karlsborg, the weather has changed for the worse. We sat out and watched the football on the giant screen, there was only 8 people watching. We have finally been caught by another English yacht who we have been in contact with, they are leaving the Baltic so we are going to buy his gender ropes from him

Rather than cross the lake and stay in the canal we decided to spend a couple of days sailing in the lake. Askersund is as far as you can go. We left early for us now we are inland at 9.45 and sailed out, close hauled in 18 knots of wind so a hard fast sail with spray in our faces Den again on the helm. Gillian this time not moving from under the spray hood. When reaching the middle of the lake and clearing the Islands we turned north and ran down wind for a lov...