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Big Adventure

May 2018 - December 2031
Travels in a motorhome
This blog is written to remind us where we have been and what we have done Read more
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  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,138

    Bergen

    March 31 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 8 °C

    Our final day in Norway after a great trip. We feasted on a massive breakfast at our hotel restaurant, ready to face the day. Our flight back to UK being in the evening.
    We took a morning stroll, in the old harbour district of Bryggen, and along the harbourside, trying to determine the purpose of many of the ships tied up for easter. Clealy many are rig support and some looked like special cable laying vessels.
    The old fort grounds were open to walk around, which we enjoyed prior to diving into the tourist shops in the Bryggen.    Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,137

    Bergen

    March 30 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C

    Our final day on the ship. Overnight the ship stopped off in Molde, a large town, with developments running up the hillsides.
    Short visits were made to Alesund, Torvik, Maloy and at breakfast time Floro. At Floro the ship made to moor up, but there must have been no business to do, so it just turned round in the harbour and carried on its way. Last stop Bergen in mid afternoon. On our way to Bergen the ship travelled in between many small islands, many of which had one or two small houses on them. Once again, all very beautiful. The weather fluctuated between heavy squalls of rain and blustery winds. Karen managed to do her customary walk of 10 times around deck 9. Exercise needed to offset the amount of eating we have done!
    After we left the ship we walked over to the old harbour area to check into our hotel room for the night.
    We thentook an early evening walk through the city in the sunshine. On the walk we took in the fishmarket on the harbourside which was displaying an impressive selection, much of it geared to the on-site restaurants.    Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,136

    Kristiansund

    March 29 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 6 °C

    The major town being visited today is Kristiansund, some many miles south from our breakfast location which was the harbour at Trondheim.
    The stop over at Kristiansund was for just an hour, so we opted to remain on board.
    On our way south Syd spotted the gas refinery on the mainland where he worked for a week over 30 years ago.
    The ship navigated narrow passageways through the islands prior to hitting open water on the approach to Kristiansund.
    The previous day's Phase 10 game was completed, and we enjoyed another game of Barbu in the bar/lounge as we passed by the beautiful scenery.    Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,135

    Bronnoysund

    March 28 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ 5 °C

    The outside temperatures were getting warmer as we continued southbound. With not as much ice and snow on the hill sides the landscape appeared less dramatic as we weaved our way through the islands along this coast. In the morning we passed across the Arctic Circle once again.
    At Bronnoysund the ship docked for a couple of hours,and we were able to stretch our legs in the town. We found only one small shop open for business, as Norway shuts down to celebrate Easter.
    In the evening the crew set up a game of Easter Bingo in the bar/lounge which the boys reluctantly joined in. The staff were dressed as chickens and us oldies had difficulty keeping up with the number calls, which were done in three languages. Karen won the full house, main prize, and we are now proud owners of a Havila flag signed by the captain.    Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,134

    Lofoten Islands

    March 27 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ 0 °C

    We had high expectations for today, as we knew the ship was sailing into a particularly beautiful part of the coastline. Our breakfast stop was at Harstad, where upon leaving, the ship blasted the foghorn three times. The ship's captain lives in the town and was telling his mates that he was on his way.
    A flying stop at Risoyhamn, before we hit the Ss's of Sortland, Stokmarknes, Svolvaer in the evening and Stamsund overnight. Stokmarknes is the location of the headquarters of Hurtigruiten, where the business started and where they have their museum. The stopover was for an hour - we took the opportunity for a quick walk in the snow.
    The journey was all we expected on a bright sunny day, islands linked by bridges and ferries, a narrow passage (Raftsund) between Lofoten Island and its neighbour. Sea eagles in the air near Trollfjord and little settlements tucked into the hillsides, surrounded by snow covered mountains and trees. Marvellous.
    The boys enjoyed a visit to Lotopils, a micro brewery, where they learned a little bit about the art of brewing up here, care of the founder and owner of the enterprise. They got to sample 7 of the pils and ales brewed on the premises which were very nice - the IPA being the favourite.    Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,133

    Hammerfest

    March 26 in Norway ⋅ ☀️ -6 °C

    Continuing our journey - our primary stop today was the most northerly city of Hammerfest, but first there was a quick stop at Havoysund, where one person joined the vessel and three people disembarked - to be greeted by family.
    At Hammerfes we had a quick jaunt around the bay to stretch our legs, and to replenish the tonic water supplies.
    We then moved on to stop off at Oksfjord, a remote community tucked away down a deep fjiord the lady announcer advised that her home was hereabouts, and as we left, she advised that her village was tucked up an even more remote fjord, surrounded by high mountains (1200m) and with a glacier a little further up the inlet. Apparently, in the summer months, with no night-time, sleep does not feature too strongly-parties can start at any time of the day.
    There was an early evening stop at Skervoy and overnight at Tromso and Finnsnes.    Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,132

    Kirkenes

    March 25 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -8 °C

    Some more photos from Kirkenes - the church on the headland.
    Leaving Kirkenes in the afternoon, the southbound journey promised daylight visits to the majority of ports visited in the dark on the northbound journey.
    Our first stop was Vardo, where an impressive radar station is perched above the town, followed by Batsfjord at twilight. Mehamn, Kjollerfjord and Honningsvag were visited overnight.    Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,132

    Kirkenes

    March 25 in Norway ⋅ ☁️ -11 °C

    We awoke to glorious sunshine once again. We were berthed in the port of Vadso, the last port northbound prior to Kirkenes. As we ate our breakfast we passed stunning scenery. We noticed 2 or 3 dolphins (or porpoises - hard to tell from a distance) and large lumps of ice floating in the sea. Apparently the gulf stream does not reach this far, meaning that the sea is considerably colder. The forecast for today was a high of minus 8 and a min of minus 15. Several layers of clothing were going to be necessary when we venture off the ship. As soon as we had docked at Kirkenes we disembarked and headed for a coach heading for a snow hotel. What an excursion this turned out to be!! The tour guide gave an interesting commentary as we drove through the snowy streets and uphill to reach the hotel. Before entering the hotel we visited the huskies. Many of the dogs were hitched up to sleighs ready to take groups of people for rides through the snowy terrain. Others were fastened to their kennels and were excited to see all of the people on trips. 7 or 8 sleighs pulled off, and as the last one left the dogs left behind howled and howled. Apparently the dogs really enjoy being active and running in the snow pulling sledges. Presumably those left behind will get their chance later in the day. We spent an hour or so investigating the inside of the snow hotel. We have never seen anything like it before. Temperatures inside were set at minus 4!!!! 13 bedrooms in total, each with a different theme. The bedframes, bedside tables and headboards were all carved out of ice. The walls and ceilings made from snow. How anyone sleeps in these temperatures bewilders us. In the bar area we were served a fruit drink. After visiting all of the bedrooms and the hotel reception we were given a reindeer sausage and another hot fruity drink in the restaurant area of the snow hotel. Before we boarded the coach back we visited reindeer who were living in a field behind the hotel. The males shed their antlers before winter but females retain theirs. This is because the females are usually pregnant over winter, and the antlers enable them to battle their way through undergrowth and reach more food. The coach returned us to the ship just in time for our departure. Now heading back the way we came - a 5 day trip back to Bergen. The menu on board has now changed to the Arctic menu. For lunch we had the choice of reindeer broth, fried char, smoked herring sandwich amongst other things. We eat 3 or 4 small dishes (a bit like Norwegian tapas). All very tasty.Read more

  • TravelerBig Adventure
    Day 2,131

    Honningsvag

    March 24 in Norway ⋅ 🌬 -5 °C

    We were geared up for a midnight wake-up to see the Northern Lights, but it did not happen. Clearly, the sky clouded over a bit too much.
    The voyage commenced northbound, and we passed through beautiful sounds once again, with snow laden cliffs cascading down to the waterline on either side of us. We continue to see isolated houses dotted here and there on the mountain sides. Unbelievable that people live so far north. It would not suit us with winter lasting 6 to 7 months here and bitterly cold temperatures. Temperatures inside the ship are toasty. We covered up considerably to venture outside with our camera as the -5 deg C air temperature apparently would feel like -11 degrees C with the wind chill.
    The ship docked at Honningsvag, the port that serves the vehicle transfers to see the Northern Cape.
    We strapped on our snow spikes and had a wander around the town and port side area - all very quaint and colourful. The harbour was full of small fishing vessels berthed up for the Easter break. The only shop open (it being a Sunday) was the Christmas shop. We had a good look around the 2 floors of goodies and bought a couple of wooden decorations to take home. The town looked very pretty in the sunlight.
    In the afternoon Jo and Karen attended the talk on board about the Sami people. An interesting briefing, informing us of the history and culture of the Samis. Their customs, religion and languages are now recognised constitutionally throughout Scandanavia.
    With the skies clear and predicted overnight temperature of -16 deg C, we expect that the Northern Lights may put up a show tonight.
    We were not disappointed. Just before 9pm we were informed that indeed the northern lights had appeared. Everyone rushed up to deck 9 and ventured outside to gaze at the night sky. It was bitterly cold - bbrrrr! The lights were amazing, just as we had imagined. Impossible to capture on camera, but we enjoyed the experience despite the temperatures outside.
    Leaving port in late afternoon we stopped off briefly at Kjollefjord in the daylight, and overnight at Mehamn, Berlevag, Batsfjord and Vardo.    Read more

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