Coastal Steamer 2

While on board the Coastal Steamer, you regularly make stops at ports all along the coast. While most stops are very brief, several are a few hours in length allowing for some quick exploration. This is Trondheim, with its distinctive waterfront warehouses.

On board we had the good fortune of meeting Dave and Jan, who have a dream of a job. They are free-lance photographers and writers, who make a fine living by traveling the world, taking photographs of it. They are a good example of what extensive travel and true happiness can do for the soul. We thoroughly enjoyed their company aboard our ship, the Nordlys, and look forward to seeing them in their home in New Mexico. And we actually will see them much sooner than that--on October 12 they will be in Malaga, Spain and so will we, vacationing with Rich's family.

A sunny, but refreshingly cool, day on deck. While some sun-deprived fools were out there in tank-tops, not us.

Kaiser Wilhelm II, King of Germany and great explorer, was somewhat nervous when he traveled these waters over a hundred years ago. This part of the voyage takes us through mountains and islands which requires great navigational skills, especially when the boat is as huge as the Nordlys. Our captain seemed to have no problem.

If we had a dollar for every charming light house that we saw on the western coast of Norway, we would be rich enough to be able to eat meals in the dining room of the Coastal Steamer.

The sun is shining, but the wind is picking up as we travel closer and closer to the Arctic Circle.

Leaving behind us the beautiful fairy-tale scenery, we head north into the open sea for the evening. When we wake up, we will have traveled across the Arctic Circle.

Our last day on the Coastal Steamer was a lot of fun. The weather outside was cool and wet, but we still spent most of the morning enjoying the scenery from outside on the deck. We have found that while the fog does obscure visibility, it creates a mysterious and calming mood.

During the afternoon, we enjoyed the warm and festive atmosphere inside the ship. Meet Inge. This kind Norwegian fisherman went into the town of Bødo during a stopover and purchased fresh shrimp, sandwich fixings, beer and wine so that the three of us could enjoy a nice Norwegian picnic during the afternoon. We were touched by his generosity and warm personality. Inge is a very interesting man. He is the fish master for a fishing boat off the coast of Newfoundland in Canada for several months out of the year. He oversees a group of 20 or 30 Russian seamen who do not speak English. Inge does not speak Russian either. However, he does know when they are talking bad about him by the tone of their voices. Inge has invited us to visit him and his family in the northern coastal town of Tromso next year after he builds his new house. Keep a light on Inge, because, while it will probably not be next year, we will come knocking on your door some day.

This was perhaps the most oddly lovable guy on board. We called him the "Nutty Professor" but he was no nut. He was, though, an overly intelligent, Rain Manesque, Cambridge trained professor from England who could engage you in academia laced monologues at the drop of a hat. Speaking of hats, he gets our vote for the best hat of the trip: a green number with fold down ear flaps, which was always smartly strapped beneath his chin.

The Hurtigruten Coastal Steamer continues onward towards Stamsund where we disembark to explore the beautiful Lofoten Islands.

Continue with us as we explore on dry land at Stamsund in the Lofoton Islands.

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