So, here we are again... Back in town after yet another wonderful adventure, and once again, along with our friend Henning who came for a easter visit from Norway. This time to our new apartment, where we actually have a guest bedroom!
We have been planning a week long ski/snowmobile trip with Henning since the last trip we were on together this summer. We were originally thinking of tenting it, but as luck has it, a few days before Henning arrived the lottery for the cabins that are out for borrowing was up, and we got a cabin for the second part of easter. This meaning, we didn't need to take turns sitting polar bear watch during the night, and basically making sleeping arrangements a whole lot easier. With Jessica getting sick the day before we were leaving town, it was extra nice to know that we would be able to get a weeks worh of good night sleeps.
We had never been to the cabin before, and it was an exciting trip in crappy, windy, cold weather to get there, over glaciers and sea ice, in prime polar bear territory, with sledges stretched to the limit of their weight capacity. We ended up teaming up with another group we met half way there, thinking we could just follow them (they were going to a cabin close to the one we were going to) but instead it ended up beeing them following us. I can easily say it was the best snowmobile trip of my life. We had so many if's and maybees before we went, and the weather was constantly keeping us on edge wether or not we should turn back. But sea ice after sea ice crossing, glacier after glacier crossing we were making our way slowly towards our goal (we drove 140 km, not at top speeds I might add). Only a few kilometres from the cabin, the wind picked up and it was so strong it was actually hard to sit on the snowmobile. Just as we were coming through the last morraine, only a couple kilometres away, our snowmobile turned on us, screaming for gas and cooling fluid (filling gas from a jerrycan in 17m/s wind is harder than you think).
We spent a total of 4 nights in the cabin, touring on skis around the cabin, climbing mountains and sunbathing in snowsuits during the day, eating great food, drinking wine and hanging out with our neighbours at night. Weirdly enough, there was a cabin only 300 meters away. Apart from them the closest people were aprox. 100km away at Isfjord radio.
On our way home, we stopped by Isfjord Radio to say hi to our friends, drink coffee and listen to the sound of a flushing toilet! It was a fantastic way to end the trip, although you always feel a little strange sitting in your wool underwear with your dirty hair, drinking coffee in a beautiful lounge!
The next day Henning came with me to work, transporting 500 kg of food and wine to Isfjord Radio, we got to spend the night and as payment we got a free 7 course dinner with wine from Huset (thanks!!!).
Once again we had an awesome trip with, and enjoyed very much Hennings' company. While he was here this time we are already started planning our next adventure; sailing down the swedish coast for a week. Can't wait for summer!
Finally we made it to our humble cabin, "Camp Millar" i Vårsolbukta (Springsun bay)
Found a great place for taking a morning swim... if anyone had wanted to take one...
Arctic fun...
Great skiing down a 50' gulley. In the background you can see the Birkeland Peninsula. (best looking peninsula i have ever seen!)
Finally reached the summit, after 700 meters of vertical hiking with our skis on our backs.
Our view from the summit... the mountain you see in the background is where we ended up going the day after.
Jessica enjoying the evening sun
Amazing views everywhere we looked.
On easter morning we took off and built ourselves a good old snow couch, and took some walks from there to the surrounding summits.
With high fever and a really bad cough, Jessica made it to the summit.
Any single ladies out there, on the summits, looking for a hunk?
Pleasant return coming back home to our little town
