Svesfjorden, Norway
Though we finished yesterday under clear skies and bright sunshine, today really marked our first full day of sunlit fjords and sparkling seas. We sailed throughout the morning ahead of a following wind en route to Svesfjorden and our landing at Sandvika, a small settlement of mostly sheep farmers and summer homes tucked away inside one the fjord’s many sheltered coves. And though our morning and early afternoon presentations on Norwegian history and sea birds certainly enlightened our minds and piqued our interest, we would have been woefully remiss should we have spent such a glorious day indoors. So, upon arrival just outside the hamlet of Sandvika, the staff set in motion a flurry of activities, and decisions had to be made.
Should we kayak, or go for a Zodiac cruise? Or maybe we should hike alongside one of the naturalists and explore the headland. But if so, should we take the more strenuously vertical route, or perhaps the less challenging, more relaxing meadow trail? Everyone, of course, had their own preferences, and yet all returned equally pleased. In such sublime conditions, how could you not have a spring in your step and a smile on your face?
The kayakers fell into rhythmic strokes and explored the shoreline; the hikers sauntered passed curious sheep and up to panoramic vistas; and the Zodiac cruise sampled a little of everything by moving in for a closer inspection of the tidal zone and out into the middle of the bay for a better vantage point of the fjord’s towering cliffs. Along the way, we spotted more of the local fauna; some new to our trip, like the barnacles and limpets anchored at the tide line, and others familiar though still delightful, like sea eagles spying down on us from the skies above or the pied oystercatchers scurrying about the rocky shore. Still, above all else, the landscape and weather stole the moment and enhanced the day. Norway’s coastline is indeed stunning under most any conditions, but in such near perfect weather, the postcard-worthy vistas seemed to leap out from every angle. And since tomorrow we’ll cross the Arctic Circle and into the night-less summer, the timing was prefect for our best and last sunset of the trip just after midnight.
Though we finished yesterday under clear skies and bright sunshine, today really marked our first full day of sunlit fjords and sparkling seas. We sailed throughout the morning ahead of a following wind en route to Svesfjorden and our landing at Sandvika, a small settlement of mostly sheep farmers and summer homes tucked away inside one the fjord’s many sheltered coves. And though our morning and early afternoon presentations on Norwegian history and sea birds certainly enlightened our minds and piqued our interest, we would have been woefully remiss should we have spent such a glorious day indoors. So, upon arrival just outside the hamlet of Sandvika, the staff set in motion a flurry of activities, and decisions had to be made.
Should we kayak, or go for a Zodiac cruise? Or maybe we should hike alongside one of the naturalists and explore the headland. But if so, should we take the more strenuously vertical route, or perhaps the less challenging, more relaxing meadow trail? Everyone, of course, had their own preferences, and yet all returned equally pleased. In such sublime conditions, how could you not have a spring in your step and a smile on your face?
The kayakers fell into rhythmic strokes and explored the shoreline; the hikers sauntered passed curious sheep and up to panoramic vistas; and the Zodiac cruise sampled a little of everything by moving in for a closer inspection of the tidal zone and out into the middle of the bay for a better vantage point of the fjord’s towering cliffs. Along the way, we spotted more of the local fauna; some new to our trip, like the barnacles and limpets anchored at the tide line, and others familiar though still delightful, like sea eagles spying down on us from the skies above or the pied oystercatchers scurrying about the rocky shore. Still, above all else, the landscape and weather stole the moment and enhanced the day. Norway’s coastline is indeed stunning under most any conditions, but in such near perfect weather, the postcard-worthy vistas seemed to leap out from every angle. And since tomorrow we’ll cross the Arctic Circle and into the night-less summer, the timing was prefect for our best and last sunset of the trip just after midnight.
