Day 7 - North Cape (Honningsvag) Norway

We woke to a morning that was colder as we were close to the Arctic circle and the wind was increasing.

This day was foreshadowed as a highlight reaching the North Cape the farthest Northern Point and the situation where we are well into the Arctic Circle.

The port and township of Honningsvag is the Capital and principal town of North Cape. It consists of 2,800 residents and is literally in them middle of nowhere.

The township is an excellent and enjoyable town used for restocking ships of all sorts. It has several well-known attractions.

So it is relevant to call out the small township and check out the small Perleporten Kulturhus, (the local cultural centre, the Once upon a Dream Art Gallery, and the Artico Ice Bar. The church is memorable but also carries the reputation that it was the only building left standing in the town after world war 11.

Naturally, the most popular attraction is a visit to North Cape, the northernmost European settlement in Norway that is easily reachable.

The aim is to stand at the edge of the Cliff, look down and see the dramatic cliff face and take in the iconic globe monument, and gaze across the Ocean. However, on many days this is impossible with winds in the 60 -80 mph range, often fierce storms and rain squalls.

We were to visit 3 years ago when we cruised with Hurtigruten to various ports, but the day was abandoned, we were holed up in Honningsvag sheltering from the wind and storms.

So we departed with a sense of trepidation knowing a squall and storm were to come through late morning , or early Afternoon.

It was a dramatic drive up the twisting road and in dealing with the rising wind and rain squalls. We arrived at the magnificent Visitors center, it wasn’t too bad and we intended to enter the centre walk down the several ramps with displays and history and exit the building and walk outside to the Globe Memorial.

But in that 20 minutes the weather changed dramatically, We get to the bottom, the wind is at 60 mph and the outside is being evacuated by fellow tourists.

Ken and others do walk outside in jackets and beanies. They go to the cliff, and take pictures of the Globe and of the building, but then it begins to pour rain and they decide the better judgement is to return to the warmth and safety of the Centre. Jeanette visits the shop and purchases some small souvenirs. We also visit the displays, take in the grim weather and return to have coffee in the restaurant.

We ere very pleased to have made this trip and to have arrived prior to the significant weather change occurring.

Our departure is delayed by 30 minutes and this proves a wise decision as the wind moderates a little.

Now to be fair, the location of North Cape which fdeels like the end of the Earth is so far North that the Svalbard Island separate us from The North Pole. It is easy to say clean butter air with amazing vistas extend to where the sea meets the horizon, but today we can see little of this.

It is also a place where tourists come for photos of the Northern Lights. We had no luck last night, but we are assured that we may see them over the next 2-3 nights as we sail to the West of Tromsi.. Jeanette and I did see them 3 years ago but they were quite pale. We hope to see or observe better over the next 3 nights at Sea.

In the mid summer period with 24 hour sunlight the visitors mat well meet some of the sammi people, before witmessing the Midnight sun.

A surprising fact is that in the spring the Norwegian Army will use landing craft to transport some 3,800 reindeer across the Mageroy Strait to their summer pastures upon Mageroy Island. However, in Autumn/ Fall as the animals desire to return the reindeer and their calves to the snow clad plains of Karasjok, they swim across the the mile plus wide strait, Their natural instict takes over.

I need to comment that the change in weather robbed us of the chance to visit ther Gjesvaerstappen Nature Reserve, world wide known for the millions of Arctic birds who flourish during the summer nesting period.

Back to the ship via a short stopover in Honningsvag. We enjoy a luncheon with 2 other couples and talk actively as to the amazing morning at North Cape. A highlight. Really like nothing else we have seen.

The ship departs at 4.10 pm after all aboard at 3.30 pm. A memorable day.