Preparing to arrive at Hammerfest, I wanted to do three things. First and foremost, was to
visit the Polar Bear Society Building - and secondly, I wanted to photograph the unusual
St Michael's Church. Thirdly, I wanted to replenish my stock of film, now running low
despite the long hours of darkness throughout the days!
The boat arrived three quarters of an hour late at Hammerfest's quay, and therefore
I had to travel quickly as that meant that the stop would only be for an hour. I walked excitedly to
the Polar Bear Society building ( a special room in the town-hall ), became a member and took a
photo outside their entrance. Whilst inside the club's enrolment room, I wandered around their
interesting exhibition of polar animals (all dead and stuffed,- poor buggers). They included not only
bears, arctic foxes etc, -but all manner of creatures from these cold parts. Whilst becoming a member,
one gets a membership card, stickers for cars and windows - plus an assortment of paperwork - and,
it appears, most people's favourite item, a polar bear badge for one's jacket or whatever. MY favourite
items are my membership card and the certificate of membership.
I then progressed along Kirkegata, having left Sjbgata, and headed uphill to the fabulously
attractive church in a modern style. At St Michael's Church, despite it being midday, the sun was still
very low and thus the light was a little difficult, photographically, for a very ordinary non-specialist
disc camera with ordinary non-special film!! Furthermore, a difficulty was added due to the sun
quickly setting behind a mountain.
I progressed further beyond the Church a fair distance, then down the hill again, looking all
the time for photographic shops ( or their equivalents ) which might sell disc films. No one, not even
Kodak agents, has them or even knows about them! It has been the same in all towns in the last
couple of days or more. Whilst visiting these shops, getting items in and out of pockets, I noticed that
I had lost my membership card for the Polar Bear Society. Revisiting them, I failed to find evidence
that it had been handed in.
Back on the boat, I then needed to do two things - firstly to find a means of getting a
replacement membership card - and secondly, to try and get a disc film for the disc camera. The
waitress, on board, arranged a meeting with the Chief Steward for obtaining the film - and I provided
him with an actual sample of the box that it comes in ( for his contacts) - and he said that he'd have
one for me tomorrow - and the cost would be 45Kr..
The arrival at Oksfjord (not Oxford) was late. This was not due to "leaves on the line" but
to head winds and head-currents. It wasn't the last stop before Paddington either!! Some couples got
out with their prams and their offspring. One lady with a dog, whose legs were only just longer than
the depth of the snow, made their excited way to the interior. By contrast, one dog got ON and had
legs "as high as an elephant's eye" (I quote). He proceeded to take his `keeper' to the 3rd floor lounge
of the Lofoten - not understanding the sign restricting dogs there. But at his size, who was going to
tell him!!
Because we were so far behind time arriving at Oksfjord, we only had a ten minute stop there
for getting the essential unloading of cargo done, together with the loading of some other freight. Then
we were on our way to Skjervoy, a leg lasting three hours. As we were one hour late at this point,
the evening meal shouldn't be interfered with by that stop!
I tell myself to "have a kip now lad" as I got up early enough last night - and early enough
this morning ( the fact that the sun set at NOON was kinda-curious!) This evening, I saw no Aurora
at 6pm (when I had high hopes of doing so!) and had three dinners between 7pm and 8pm. There was
an unusually different, exciting Fish Cake, far different from the hum-drum UK equivalent of the same
name. There was also a somewhat different Chicken Curry, - then a beautiful salad! What fantastic
food on this floating, travelling restaurant! After we pulled into Skjervoy, I went for a small walk
from 8pm. The walk was with a Norwegian and we had a very interesting chat.
This was a nice little village neatly moulded with the harbour. I was so glad to have seen it
as I had missed it on the journey Northwards - being a 10.30 pm stop after the exciting time in
Tromso earlier. After leaving Skjervoy, I filled in the NSR questionnaire on the trip. I hoped to witness
the Aurora later - but at 8.45pm it was NOT to be seen. Today had been so eventful that, being so
tired and happy, I rested on my cabin's bed fully clothed - and fell asleep!!
O o - - - - - o O
.