Þistilfjörður Bay & Grímsey Island, Iceland
At wakeup call our ship had already rounded Fontur, the tip of Langanes (which translates Long Peninsula) the most northeasterly point of Iceland. A grey and windy morning it was, not at all promising for our expedition day. So, we sailed further into Þistilfjörður (Thistle Fjord) on the northwest side of Langanes to see if conditions were better at the head of the bay. At Rauðanes (Red Peninsula) the sea was much calmer and it was clearing up so we started with our activities.
This was our first opportunity to go kayaking and many were eager to try this mode of travel under the high cliffs of Rauðanes with kittiwakes and fulmars flying above. Others went on Zodiac cruises to get a better view of the beautiful stacks at the end of the peninsula. Still others made a landing to stretch their legs, the long walkers going all the way to the end of the peninsula to see the stacks from there as well as looking at the gulls and puffins flying by.
Back on board, the ship headed out of the bay and made its way towards Grímsey Island. Meanwhile, photo experts Jim Richardson and Michael Nolan had a meeting with all those interested in photography and gave them advice on composition and how to get the most out of their cameras.
Later in the afternoon, Vinnie Butler, our onboard archeologist, gave his talk on Vikings; who they where and what we can learn about their ways of life from archeological findings.
Just as Vinnie had finished his lecture we heard an announcement that a humpback whale had been spotted. Everyone rushed out. There it was, very close to the ship. It stayed there for half an hour until it finally took a deep dive and waved us goodbye.
Our second lecture today was given by our guest lecturer, astronaut Jim Lovell, about his three space trips on Gemini 7, Gemini 12 and Apollo 12, and what he thinks will happen in the future regarding space travel.
After dinner we made our second landing today, this time on Grímsey Island. We walked up the road to the airport, passing thousands of Arctic terns on the way. At the end of the runway there is a signpost which shows the distance to various faraway places in the world. We had reached the Arctic Circle and we toasted our achievement. Many people walked on to the nearby cliffs to see the guillemots and puffins and some went even further with a GPS in their hands to find the true Arctic Circle since it has moved somewhat from the signpost’s location due to the Earth’s wobble.
As we came back to the ship around midnight, a few brave ones had just finished their swim in the Arctic Circle, quite happy but a bit cold.
