An Arctic Summer

In April, we visited a Norway that was covered in snow. In a couple of days time, we will (hopefully) be boarding Saga’s fine ship, the Spirit of Adventure, once again heading for Norway and The North Cape, and onwards to Iceland, on a trip billed as An Arctic Summer.

Choosing what to pack has been something of a challenge. We’re in the middle of summer here in the Northern hemisphere, so it shouldn’t be quite as cold as it was in April… or will it? I think its fair to say that we’ve covered most eventualities, and the suitcases are noticeably bulging as a result. We don’t expect to be needing snorkels and shorts – this is definitely not going to be that sort of a cruise – but how thick should those fleeces be? We plan to take the cable car up the mountain in Tromso and attempt to hike further, and higher, than we did on our last visit… for these sort of adventures one needs to be prepared.

The art suitcase is also bursting with stuff; plastic boards for folks to tape their paper to, many rolls of masking tape, and printed notes for the classes,to name but some of that stuff. I have three brand new classes that I’m particularly looking to, not to mention three weeks of spectacular Norwegian and Icelandic scenery to enjoy, photograph and sketch.

Tomorrow we head south, where we will be staying about a forty-minute drive from the port of Dover, where we expect to join the ship on Wednesday.

The land of the midnight sun awaits.

Bring it on…