Lofoten Islands
So far on this trip, the weather karma on the National Geographic Explorer is incredible. We awoke to another dazzling day with brilliant sunshine and calm conditions. We were anchored just off Vaeroya in the Loftoten Islands.
The steep cliffs overshadowed a small abandoned fishing village and we landed on the old village wharf. We went for a walk around the cluster of houses that are now only used as summer holiday homes. The old hand-cut wagon trail that we walked on used to be used by the local children to walk over several miles to school on the other side of the island. We tried to imagine what it would be like to hike along conditions unlike what we experienced today.
After the morning’s excellent leg stretch we went for a zodiac cruise along the scenic Vaerouya shoreline. Straight away we had close-up looks at a kittiwake nesting site and saw several small chicks being fed by their parents. Then we were surrounded by razorbills, black guillemots and puffins. They were sitting along the shoreline’s edge and in small flocks on the water. It was magical to be so close to these beautiful birds.
In the afternoon we stopped at the quaint fishing village of Å. We explored the two small fishing museums, as fishing is a major industry in coastal Norway. It was a chance to wander around this pretty village and soak in more spectacular scenery.
After dinner we sailed in to short but stunning Trollfjord. Captain Leif Skog expertly maneuvered the National Geographic Explorer through the tight fjord and it was a lovely way to end another wonderful day in the Norwegian fjords.
