National Geographic Explorer arrived in Smøla shortly after 6 a.m. under gray skies but calm seas. Smøla is an island with a population of 2,200 people. After a hearty breakfast, guests had options for hiking, fishing, and a visit to either Veilholmen village or Brattvaeret Island village.

The former village has an active fishing community while the latter village no longer has an active fishing community. The morning hikers were taken over the local heath and bog to gaze upon the 68 wind turbines that supply power to 20,000 homes across Smøla and also on the mainland. The turbines, as elsewhere, have caused some mixed feelings amongst locals. The highlight of the hike was seeing a mountain hare race along the tops of the heather, while a white-tailed eagle glided overheard as the hiking party were nearing the little harbor to take a Zodiac back to the ship.

The area, which had been planted with spruce and pine trees was filled with the glorious voices of willow warbler, chiffchaff, fieldfare, ring ouzel, and redpoll. The weather was fine, although a little nippy atop one of the highest points on the island (a mere 550m or so), but it cleared up nicely to blue skies as the Zodiacs brought the guests back to the ship for lunch. The fishing expedition had quite a successful morning catching mackerel, cod, and coal fish. Looks like lunch is sorted for tomorrow!

In the afternoon, a visit to the Veiholmen fishing village was a lovely way to spend part of the afternoon strolling and chatting with some local people, one of whom was a teacher that had spent time living and teaching in Chicago 25 years ago. The village had a charming, relaxed atmosphere. The village is considered to be of historical importance and the government has some particular rules when it comes to changes to the houses etc.

After we returned to the ship we were entertained by a local band of musicians called the Gubbliners, which was the perfect tonic to get the energy levels raised after a long day out and about. A lovely flotilla of local boat owners provided National Geographic Explorer with an appropriate accompaniment out of the harbor in Smøla and beyond its archipelago of smaller islands.