Monday, 18 March
Steps: 8204
Cruise Day 10
Bodø – Ørnes – Nesna – Sandnessjøen – Brønnøysund – Rørvik
After breakfast, we sailed past a mountain which is supposed to look like the Sphinx. You need a bit of imagination.
At about 9:00 we went out on deck 8. It was much warmer and there was a lot less snow. It is amazing what a the difference a few days can make. We saw green trees and even sheep! At 9:20 we crossed the Arctic circle again. This morning’s ceremony involved having a teaspoon of Cod Liver oil and you could get to keep the teaspoon. David did the necessary.
At lunch time we passed the “Seven Sisters”, a mountain range which according to one version of the legend, was formed when the fiery horseman Hestmannen was pursuing the maid Lekamøya and the Seven Sisters. However, several of the sisters had taken a fancy to Hestmannen, the Adonis of the Lofoten Islands and the drama ends when the sun rose and all were turned into stone. Not sure what happened in between.
At Brønnøysund we had an hour stop, so walked through the village.
Later the ship sailed past Torghatten which is famous for the hole right through the middle of the mountainside which was created during the ice age. Although it looks little more than a postage stamp, it is 160 m long, 35 m high and 20 m wide.
We had an evening social get together in the Abbott’s cabin and after supper also had a farewell cocktail with the staff a many people were getting off in Trondheim. It was an enjoyable, but long day.
What I Learnt: With hindsight, I think I would not do the entire return trip. I think I would get off at Tromsø and spend an extra night there with more chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Kim's journey 