Norwegian Coastal Voyage

	Hurtigruta

June 22-26. 2001 we made the Norwegian Coastal Voyage, Hurtigruta, from Harstad to Bergen (map). It was great! We went up north by plane. We left Kristiansand airport Wednesday 20. June in rain and came to Harstad in beautiful sunshine. We stayed a couple of days as guests at BSIN, Officers' Training School in Northern Norway, where our son Atle has got through one year education. We were guests at a Speech Day in in the old church, Trondenes kirke. The church is situated on Trondenes, a historic interesting area with attractions as Trondenes Historiske Senter and Adolf's cannon. We made a tour by car in the Harstad distrikt, and we enjoyed the sight of the midnight sun from a ness in Kvæfjord.

Friday morning we embarked old "Lofoten" in Harstad. In beatiful weather we sailed to Vesterålen and through the narrow strait Raftsundet to Svolvær in Lofoten. There we went ashore and stayed for a night in Svolvær Sjøhuscamping. Saturday afternoon we hired a car by Bremnes Bilutleie, og took a trip to Henningsvær. In the evening we went to Kuba, the outer island in Svolvær, where a great Midsummer Bonfire were lightened. Then we embarked "Vesterålen" and continued the voyage. The weather was still nice, but we had some low misty clouds. Tuesday afternoon we came to Bergen.

	From the plane travelling north. High mountains and much snow.

	Trondenes kirke

	Harstad seen from observation tower in camp

	"Adolfkanonen", Adolf's cannon, the biggest in Norway.

	Hired car in Harstad. The camp guards had to let us through the turnpike several times.

	"Lofoten" coming to quay in Harstad

	From the bridge in "Lofoten". The ship is 37 years old.

	The island Grytøya.

	"Hurtigrutas dag": On Stokmarknes they celebrated "The Day of the Coastal Voyage". Flowers to the captain.

	On Stokmarknes the old ship "Finnmarken" is put ashore, and is connected to a modern museum.

	Jæva, a flat island east of Stokmarknes

	On our way to Raftsundet.

	The ships take a detour into Trollfjorden. They turn around close to a waterfall.

	On the way out of Trollfjorden. We go out to Raftsundet, and continue the voyage southword to Lofoten.

	Approaching Svolvær. The weather is beautiful.

	In Svolvær. Svolvær Sjøhuscamping where we stayed is the building with a dark roof in the middle of the picture.

	We hired a car and drove to the fishing village Henningsvær, 26 km westwords.

	Natural channels make a perfect harbour.

	Stockfish drying rack.

	We drove utmost on the small islands. Here is the view towards north-east (backwards).

	Near the bridge to Henningsvær there is a small fishing boat on top of a hill.

	The ship "Vesterålen" heading into the bonfire.

	In Svolvær we embarked "Vesterålen" and continued the voyage southwords.

	Henningsvær seen from the seaside. The weather was still beautiful.

	Seagulls followed the ship.

	Lofoten farewell

	Vestfjorden at night

	A lighthouse.

	After a good night sleep we got to Sandnessjøen. I had a trip ashore and came across Petter Dass, my favourite hymn writer.

	Torghatten, the famous island with a hole through the mountain. We are approaching from north, and wonder if we see the hole or not.

	The ship did a little detour south of Torghatten, and then we had a better view.

	Seaward approach to Trondheim.

	The quay area in Trondheim was dreary. But when you got as far as the channel, you suddenly were in middle of the town.

	The fishing village Bud.

	In Molde we met the little Norwegian cruise ship Gann and the northgoing Hurtigrute-ship.

	When we got to Ålesund, we got our first dark night.

	Ålesund by night.

	Mange narrow sounds, og plenty of small islands.

	Bergen tuesday afternoon.

	Harstad seen from south-east. Trondenes and BSIN is to the right.

	Soldiers in line before ceremony.

	View from the camp. The island of Grytøya is in north, - and will hide the midnight sun.

	Midnight sun seen from an idyllic spot in Kvæfjord

	Leaving Harstad on board on "Lofoten". A glimpse of BSIN to the right.

	Someone's luggage: a bike with a stockfish.

	Arriving Stokmarknes we were followed by boats and birds.

	A band entertained on board, and later on outside the museum in Stokmarknes.

	"Suger boys" were really good.

	Raftsundet, the narrow sound. An idyllic place near the gate to Trollfjorden.

	Trollfjorden, the inner end of the fjord.

	The steep mountain sides at the gate of Trollfjorden.

	On board on "Lofoten" in Lofoten.

	Entrance to Svolvær. A sculpture with a fisher's woman welcome us.

	View from our lodge. Anker brygge is on the island to the left. There we had a supper.

	Henningsvær is situated on small flat islands south of a 942 m high mountain.

	Lofotveggen, "the Lofot Wall", continues westwords. A fish drying rack to the left.

	The Lofot Wall seen through stockfish.

	Utmost on the islands there is a football ground. We parked the car there.

	We found a nice picnic area in the sunshine. We shared some of our lunch with the seagulls.

	We returned to Svolvær, where they celebrated Midsummer Day with a great bonfire.

	"Vesterålen" saluted the bonfire by blowing the horn.

	Food on board was excellent. Here I am having a breakfast.

	Visiting the bridge on "Vesterålen". We got information about the equipment.

	Midnight sun at Vestfjorden. We are sailing southwords.

	Alstadhaug fekk vi sjå. Kirka er midt i bildet, men "dei sju søstrene" gjømmer seg i skodda.

	In Brønnøysund a sailing ship came in. "Vesterålen" can be seen behind it.

	Torghatten from north. Yes, - there is a hole there, - or is it just something shiny?

	The mountain is big, and the hole is really big also. Compare with the red house down to the left.

	Kristiansund is a charming town with a good harbour among the islands.

	Kristiansund farewell.

	The new Molde stadium seen through the panorama window.

	Molde is a nice town, with plenty of roses and flowering trees.

	Tuesday morning we pass an island in Sogn, - I think -.

	In Bergen the airport bus drove into town and then over a bridge where we got our last glimpse of "Vesterålen". Bye bye!

Sist endra: 14.08.2005

© Harald Storaker