Life on board

Saturday - Back on Board

It's Saturday in the Arctic and we are back aboard the MS Lofoten but now heading south. The Norwegian coastal steamers complete the trip north from Bergen and back over 13 days. We left the boat in Tromso on day five and are back on board on day nine. While we were on land for three nights the boat continued north to the very top of Norway and changed course to head back south. The boat arrived back in Tromso last night about midnight and we boarded shortly after.

Tromso at dawn

Although the sun never rises at this time of year, daylight begins around 9AM with a gentle pink/orange hue. It gradually becomes lighter and by 11am the sky is fully illuminated by indirect sunlight lower on the globe. By 2PM the light starts retreating and by 3PM it is again completely dark.

Dogsledding (video)

This is a short video from the sled.  

Thursday dogsledding

We traveled about 45 minutes outside of Tromso to spend a few hours dogsledding with a team of six very strong and fast huskies.  Marlow and I took turns with one of us sitting down in the sled and the other standing on the back of the sled with one foot on the "break" and the other on the sled.  The dogs did all of the work.  The dogs wore boots to protect their paws because the snow was fairly icy.  Several of the dogs in the team of dogs have actually been on expeditions to the North Pole!

Holiday Greetings from Tromso

Above the arctic circle

We're now in Tromso, capital of the Arctic. It is daylight starting at 10 and setting at 2. These are photos from our trip today.