The title is not strictly accurate again as it will be dark and I’ll have just finished dinner when we get to Rorvik and then it is overnight to Trondheim. As yesterday, I have provided a map to help orientate readers and to give a sense of scale to the journey today, about 560km as the crow flies and we were not in a straight line. When I woke up there was noticeable movement in the ship and opening the portholes revealed rain being driven by a strong north wind. I took another dose of Stugeron to be on the safe side but the ship is very stable and we would soon be closer to shore at Nesna and then navigate between islands for much of the remainder of the day. There were two big events. The first was crossing back south of the Arctic Circle which involved a Norwegian tradition, or so they say, which is to sip a spoonful of cod liver oil. It comes on a souvenir spoon. I had a glass of prosecco so as not to be a spoil sport which was a nice mid morning treat. It took me back to my childhood, not the prosecco but the cod liver oil. No further comment required. The second came just a little while ago when we took a look at a famous mountain, Torghatten, which has a huge hole through it about half way up it’s height of 258m. The hole is a tunnel 166m long and with average height and width of 41 and 18 metres respectively. Of courses there are legends but a specific impact of glacier melting seems more likely. :-) In between the weather was wet and dry but with the constant high wind which for large parts of the cruise was at our backs. It just made it tricky on deck turning a corner and suddenly it was a trifle windy. The wind also created some impressive effects on the approach to Nesna and I have made a 45 second clip to illustrate it better than still images can. It is here. The majority of the time we cruised the Helgeland coast which is characterised by rounded mountains along the sea’s edge with sometimes short coastal areas with houses. Not actually very interesting compared to the vertical scenery yesterday. Along the way the ship visited two of the places I had been to while driving up, Bodo (in the middle of the night) and Sandnessjoen where we moored right by the Scandic I stayed in. There were fewer stops today and even less as Orne was also while I was fast asleep. So following yesterdays protocol I will present a selection of images from crossing the Arctic Circle, then Nesna to Sandessjoen followed by Sandnessjoen to Bronoysund and then of Torghatten as we headed for Rorvik. At Nesna they had to drop the anchor to stop the ferry drifting on the wind while they lashed it to the dock. A very impressive crew to be sure. I chose a nice shot of our sister vessel passing by on its way north for the headline so you can see what sort of ship I am on. 

Re-crossing the Arctic Circle

Nesna to Sandnessjoen

One passenger got off but two got on.

A feature at Sandnessjoen is the Helgeland Bridge which I drove over but on a windy day like today it might have been tricky.

Sandnessjoen to Bronoysund

As you leave Sandnessjoen you pass the 7 sisters, apparently Troll girls turned to stone. Sounds plausable.

We had a sort of police escort but the way it was moving I suspect had been high jacked by joy riders. That is our propellor turbullence they are riding.

Some typical Helgeland scenery.

The stormy weather creates some interesting skies.

The little bump on the horizon below is Torghatten of more later.

Off to see Torghatten

And the rain came and how lucky we were.