Svesfjord, Norway
Our morning steaming along the coastline of Norway was punctuated by a presentation on Viking history from our National Geographic guest speaker, Sisse Brimberg. Sunshine, blue sky and pleasantly warm temperatures meant we all spent plenty of time out on deck as National Geographic Endeavour cruised through narrow channels and small islets, passing many tiny fishing villages. Our destination was Svesfjord, a small, isolated fjord, unreachable by road and with no permanent settlement. The bay was home to several red summer cottages, their inhabitants out on their decks enjoying the afternoon sunshine as we landed by Zodiac onto the beach below them.
This was a perfect day to enjoy away from civilisation, and as we hiked across the lush meadows we felt we perhaps understood the Norwegians better than any tour or museum could explain. No wonder nearly the whole country takes a month-long holiday in the summertime with this incredible weather and so much unspoiled countryside to explore!
Quickly past the cluster of cottages along the shoreline, the long hikers followed a small track alongside the river, hearing the rumble of a waterfall off in the trees. There was no time to stop for long though, as we were headed for greater heights! Continuing up along the trail that would eventually lead us to the neighbouring fjord, we broke off and after a bit of bush-whacking through the sub-arctic forest, emerged above the tree line. Free of branches to dodge, we were soon at the summit of Raplifjellet, a 1224-feet high peak. The view from this height was fantastic, looking out over the neighbouring islands to the open sea many miles beyond. After adding a few stones to the cairn marking the highest point and a group photograph of the summiting party, we were on our way back down the mountain.
As we arrived back at the landing site, the summer residents were just lighting their barbeques, ready to enjoy a perfect summer evening when the sun would not set until after midnight. Back aboard National Geographic Endeavour we used the late-evening sun to watch a pod of long-fin pilot whales that cavorted around our bow. We continued north with the sun slowly setting, for the last time this voyage, for tomorrow we would cross the Artic circle, and enter the land of the midnight sun!
Our morning steaming along the coastline of Norway was punctuated by a presentation on Viking history from our National Geographic guest speaker, Sisse Brimberg. Sunshine, blue sky and pleasantly warm temperatures meant we all spent plenty of time out on deck as National Geographic Endeavour cruised through narrow channels and small islets, passing many tiny fishing villages. Our destination was Svesfjord, a small, isolated fjord, unreachable by road and with no permanent settlement. The bay was home to several red summer cottages, their inhabitants out on their decks enjoying the afternoon sunshine as we landed by Zodiac onto the beach below them.
This was a perfect day to enjoy away from civilisation, and as we hiked across the lush meadows we felt we perhaps understood the Norwegians better than any tour or museum could explain. No wonder nearly the whole country takes a month-long holiday in the summertime with this incredible weather and so much unspoiled countryside to explore!
Quickly past the cluster of cottages along the shoreline, the long hikers followed a small track alongside the river, hearing the rumble of a waterfall off in the trees. There was no time to stop for long though, as we were headed for greater heights! Continuing up along the trail that would eventually lead us to the neighbouring fjord, we broke off and after a bit of bush-whacking through the sub-arctic forest, emerged above the tree line. Free of branches to dodge, we were soon at the summit of Raplifjellet, a 1224-feet high peak. The view from this height was fantastic, looking out over the neighbouring islands to the open sea many miles beyond. After adding a few stones to the cairn marking the highest point and a group photograph of the summiting party, we were on our way back down the mountain.
As we arrived back at the landing site, the summer residents were just lighting their barbeques, ready to enjoy a perfect summer evening when the sun would not set until after midnight. Back aboard National Geographic Endeavour we used the late-evening sun to watch a pod of long-fin pilot whales that cavorted around our bow. We continued north with the sun slowly setting, for the last time this voyage, for tomorrow we would cross the Artic circle, and enter the land of the midnight sun!
