Full speed ahead 🙂 with SV Meander in Alta in north Norway, between Tromsø and Nordkapp. Meander isn’t a new ship – she was originally built in 1946 and has been rebuilt several times since – but she is new up here for us, so I am more than just a little bit excited, and so is the group of 11 arctic travellers and the crew: captain/owner Mario, mate (and also captain) Heine, deckhand Bastian and chef Eek.
We went on board in Alta. A town that was completely destroyed in the second world war, so all the architecture is quite modern.
Starting in Alta. Here is the northern light cathedral in the city centre.
We left the pier on Monday late afternoon and sailed out into the fjord. Our main destinations are Bear Island (Bjørnøya) and Spitsbergen, but we will first spend some days in regional coastal waters. A very clear and easy decision, considering the weather forecast.
SV Meander in Alta.
So our first place is Årøy, a little island in Altafjord. A silent place today with only 18 inhabitants, but Årøy has a history of many hundred years. And it is a scenically beautiul place. And it has some very quick weather changes!
SV Meander anchored off Årøy in Altafjord.
Yes, the weather changes were really amazing. We spent the morning hiking over the island and we went from silent snow fall to blizzard to bright sunshine and back again! Have a look at the photos for some impressions: