Last night Colin managed to photograph some green tinge of Northern lights during one of the sessions. I was quite dissapionted because all I saw was grey cloud-like formations. I did read that some-times the colour can only be seen on photographs, but not with the naked eye. I kept on hoping that maybe there will be more to this… Hope springs eternal.
Sitting here in semi-darkness before our window staring out at the night sky – its just way too cold to sit on the balcony.
We just left a town called Berlevag on the last night of our journey to Kirkeness. The suitcases are packed (kinda – I still have to put my blanket back – its in current use – the balcony door is a little drafty). This blanket will always hold dear memories to me – its a grey fleece Hurtigruten branded blankie – part of the suite guest giftpack, but I love blankets so it’s going back home with me and will always remind me of this experience.
It was an early breakfast day with the North Cape excursion leaving around 11:30. We were seven Hurtigruten busloads visiting the centre. A small number of guests went dog-sledding instead. We drove through the small town situated on an island – white winter wonderland. Apparently we were lucky as we had no wind or snow and could see the landscape clearly. Normally it is snowing/fogggy and all you can see is the bus before you. We even saw the summer huts of the four Sami families that come to the island with their reindeer in summer.
The last few km’s is very tricky and we in winter is only accessable twice a day (if you are lucky) and then you drive in a convoy – after your vehicle is checked for correct spike tyres with snow chains for backup. A snow plough clears the way and leads the the convoy. Some times it is not accessable, even with the help of the snow plough.
We arrived at the centre safe and sound although the wind has picked up and it started snowing. At least we got a chance to take pictures at the ‘globe structure’, but were unable to see the ‘true Northern point’ due to fog. After the pictures we looked at the exibition and it was time to board the busses again.
We had a safe journey back to the quay and boarded the ship with 3 minutes to spare. I lost one of my crampons/spikes along the way – bummer. The friendly lady at the boat shop told me that I was advised to purchase the wrong size and that is why it fell off. I now have a smaller size and hope they will stay put this time – loads of trapezing round the snow will be required at the snow hotel.
Having missed lunch session due to the outing we had pizzas from the on-board cafeteria available to the customers who use the ferry-serivce. It exceeded expectations and was too much for me to finish.
We started packing and I went outside to take a picture of the Finnkerke – a rock formation that looks like a church and is a Sami Holy site. In the evening it is lit up to enhance the experience. While waiting for the picture moment I saw the clear sky and the beginnings of an aurora. I called Colin to bring the camera that can shoot auroras because at this stage it still resembled grey clouds. He said – those are just clouds… I said no… they are auroras and then it happenend… it turned a bright green and started dancing in a ribbon accross the sky – awesome. So bright that even my little compact camera got a good shot in ‘auto-mode’. It lasted around 3 minutes.
Well there it is… what we came for. Bucket list item checked. It was sooo awesome – I have to see it again – hence my aurra watch post in front of the window. Its cloudy here, so I probably will not be that lucky twice in one night.
Did get a pic of the rock formation too, but the excitement of the aurora overrode it 😦
Dinner was buffet style tonight – all the seafood you can eat – including fresh king crab, shirmp and langoustines. I tried the crab, but the shrimp and langoustines looked like too much effort and way too many legs… I much preferred the fresh green asparagus spears.
Tried the pannacotta with cloudberries, it was really good.
Tommorrow at 7 we have breakfast, we have to vacate the cabin at 8am and we arrive at Kirkeness at 9. We then board the busses for the excursion (Russian border visit) before we return to the town where the bus will drop us at a hotel. Here the snow hotel will collect us at 13:00 for our three night stay outside town at their premesis.
Will check in again, signal availability permitting.
Temple & Iceberg Trails: A Journey Through Asperger's 