Day Forty Sunday 28th August

Another stunning location this morning. The boat set off at 7.30 and arrived after breakfast at Vadnesta, and moored right beside the moated medieval castle. I am aware that I am running out of superlatives trying to describe these places, but they really are all so lovely and beautifully cared for. The whole of the Gota canal is of course reliant on its visitors, so I suppose that keeping everything smart and clean is important. It is all picture perfect. We first visited the church and monastery of St Birgitta, travelling through the quiet, Sunday morning town on one of those little tourist trains (with Geoff running/walking almost alongside - everyone has got used to him by now!) Once again an hour was simply not enough to take it all in. Birgiitta (1303 to 1373 ) was clearly a very feisty, determined lady and we shall delve more into her life story. She founded the original order, but of course the buildings have undergone many changes since then. One of the things which we have found interesting is the way old buildings have been reconstructed incorporating as much of the original as has been discovered. The sAme was true of the castle, which we visited next having returned on foot via the lakeside walk - and beaten the little train back. Again, the oldest parts dated back to the thirteenth century. A number of huge rooms are used for weddings and other celebrations and must make a lovely setting. There are rooms/halls on three floors - loads of stone stairs - including on the third floor, added, I think, in the 16th century, a suite of furnished rooms. The high ceilinged chapel had wonderful acoustics. There is a Swedish girl rock singer amongst the passengers. I encouraged, and bravely joined her, to start singing Amazing Grace (I suggested it just in the hope that it was a hymn she might know) and six or so other passengers joined in as we sang the first verse together ! It was a lovely, special moment. We sailed on at midday. This is definitely a place I would like to revisit. There was a very nice looking, grassy Camperstop right by the castle which we have made a note of for future reference. We have noted several already along the canal. Lunch (delicious as ever, and today the closest we will get to Swedish meatballs - a meat patty with the traditional accompaniments of mashed potatoes, creamy gravy and lingonberry sauce ) was followed by yet another peaceful afternoon's cruising through wide and narrow parts of the canal, across lakes and through locks and swing bridges. At Forsvik lock we were greeted by the Kindbom family. It had been explained to us that they are a religious group who have made a tradition of greeting the boats with music as they come through the lock since 1926. They do this at least twice a week during the season. Our tour manager said that, although not everyone would share their views, she hoped all would respect their sincerity and goodwill. As we arrived we were greeted with "How great Thou art " accompanied by brass instruments and accordions, followed by Swedish hymns as we rose in the lock. They presented flowers to our tour manager, and she in her turn presented them with a gift of biscuits. We left the lock to. .... Amazing Grace. Quite a crowd had gathered to watch around the locks, and it was very moving. We docked at Hojstorp at 9.30. We are in the middle of nowhere, moored at the top of Thomas Telford Lock, built in 1822. TT was an adviser when the canal was built.