After a short stop in Germany, we returned to Bodø to start preparations for the winter lay-up – and took the opportunity for a few excursions and short hikes around the town.
Our first outing took us up Keiservarden, Bodø’s 366-metre-high local mountain. From the top, the town lay spread out like on a map, and the crisp autumn air made the views over the sea and surrounding mountains especially impressive.
At the same time, the real winter work on Anori began. First, we filled the diesel tank to the brim to prevent condensation. Next came the foresails: drying, flaking, and stowing. The engine received a full service package – oil change, new oil and fuel filters, impeller, and V-belt.
Afterwards, we attended to all systems that could not withstand frost. The seawater circuits for engine and generator were filled with antifreeze, as was the entire drinking water system. The watermaker was winterised. Everything that shouldn’t stay on the boat over winter was moved to a dry, frost-free storage space: foresails, sensitive supplies, clothing, and other items were stored there temporarily to make it safely through the cold, dark months. Our dinghy was lifted out of the water by crane (!) and stored as well.
For transporting our gear, we had rented a car for two days – and combined the practical with the enjoyable. We drove to Saltstraumen to experience the world’s strongest tidal current up close. We also returned to Kjerringøy, this time with enough time to explore the historic trading museum in detail. On our last stop with Anori on the way to the Lofoten, the opening hours had been too short to do it justice.
Before flying back to Germany, we visited the old fortress in Bodø and enjoyed the surrounding area on the fine days. On 16 September, we flew back to Germany, leaving Anori behind in good hands, albeit reluctantly. If all goes well, we plan to set off again in mid-April 2026 – ready to continue exploring the far north.
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