The 30 mile trip from St Petersburg to the source of the Neva River at Lake Ladoga is a slow one, with a relentless contrary current, varying between 2 and 4.5 knots. We anchored half way to catch up on sleep.
Our decision to stay an extra night was made easy by heavy rain and hailstorms. Madam, who had borne the stress of negotiating pilotage arrangements, mandatory radio reporting and heaps of other bureaucratic folderol, slept for nearly 30 hours. Our anchorage was secure and Blue Dove was exceedingly snug down below.