SB Day 9: Raftsundet Strait & Trollfjord

We were hoping for sunshine — or at least dry conditions — for the special Trollfjord detour that we knew was on today’s schedule … though the exact timing was not known until this afternoon.

No can do. We had overcast skies and rain … from drizzle to light and steady. Those who had stayed up for the Trollfjord cruise on the northbound leg told us that the weather was worse. Plus, they had to contend with nightfall.

Trollfjord — home to the oldest rocks in Norway — is an arm of Raftsundet Strait. Short and narrow — only about 1.5 mile (2.5 km) long and a little less than 330 feet (100m) wide at its narrowest point — access to this fjord is limited to small vessels. Coastal ferries can cruise in and out … provided conditions are optimal. That we were able to do so today is something for which to be grateful … regardless of the rain that was a constant companion.

There is a legend associated with Trollfjord that explains how the fjord was formed. As one might expect in Norway, the main characters are trolls — Vågåkallen and one-eyed Hinnøy. The story involves a feud over whose cows can graze the pastures along the Raftsundet Strait.

I am sure that if you search the web, you’ll find at least one version of the legend. The short story has the two trolls engaged in a heated fight; Hinnøy falls and his axe creates gash in the earth; when he pulls the blade out, the sea floods an inland lake; and thus the fjord is formed. There’s more to the story, which involves a goat being hurled to a mountain top, but that is neither here nor there.

Bundled up in our rain gear, we opted to watch the in/out Trollfjord cruise from the ship’s bow … deck 6 forward. There were fewer people here, allowing us to move around to various vantage points. Once we reached the head of the fjord, the m/s Havila Castor sviveweled 180-degrees in place and cruised back out the way it came in.

Once we left the fjord, we headed indoors to relax with a cup of hot tea while the ship continued onward to today’s long stop in the early evening.Read more