The Calm After the Storm

Posted on by Pete Schloss

September 19th. Our crossing of the Barents and North Seas was hell on earth. For 36 hours we endured winds gusting to 60 mph (100 kph) and waves that the Captain estimated reached over 30 feet. The ship and crew were more capable than most passengers. Yet, a number of experienced crew commented that yesterday was an extreme experience.

About 23 years ago I spent three days in similar conditions in the mid Atlantic on a 45 foot sailboat. That experience felt more life-threatening. Yesterday‘s experience was more physically threatening in that there was such a great risk of being catapulted from one side of a large room or space to the other side, accelerating and crashing into a wall, furnishings, or fixtures. Conditions finally relented in yesterday’s late evening hours. Today was the calm after the storm. No drama (except for the Northern Lights!)

We were invited to join the Captain on the ship’s bridge.

We made a brief commercial port of call, (no passenger time ashore)…

… and our final final port of call for the day was in the small community of Torsken (pop 200), situated in a fjord on the shore of Senja, the second largest island in Norway.

Here are some pictures from the day, just pictures:

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Like a REALLY BIG video game.
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For good luck?
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Two ships berthed between mobile dry docks.
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Peace Everyone. Pete

PS. It’s a bit past midnight and there was an announcement onboard our ship. The Northern Lights are visible!

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10 thoughts on “The Calm After the Storm”

  1. Annie says:

    You already commented “Wow!” (re the lights) but the pictures you took are wow, too! The sunset pic is amazing! We once were on a cruise (Bahamas) and the waves were so bad, high and choppy that even part of the crew was sea sick (not to mention most of the guests), so I have “some” idea of what you experienced! So happy for you guys that it ended well!!

  2. PeterT says:

    Thanks for taking us to such a remote and surreal location. I have no plans to go there myself, but your pictures are a great way to be there. The Northern lights are so impressive. I have to say that that sunset picture is beyond description with its beauty and contrasts and complexity. It is right up there with the most spectacular ones I have seen in all my travels. It is hard to imagine the experience of going through that storm on a comparatively small passenger ship. You are out there living life to the full!!

  3. Bill says:

    Like a great symphony your adventure built to a dramatic finish . Thanks for showing and telling us this great saga of your northern excursion.
    Peace, Bill

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