Day 15 - Stormy day at sea

Another leisurely morning

We had another very rough sea overnight – the worst yet.  It really did feel like a roller coaster and we looked out in the early hours to see very high waves.  It took a long time to get to sleep and even when we did it was disturbed by the turbulent sea.

We eventually woke around 5.30 to find us approaching Trondheim.  We were only there until 10:00 and as it was a long walk to the city and we had seen everything on our list the previous week, we decided to concentrate on packing ready for our departure the following day.

We then had a leisurely morning in the panoramic lounge watching the tiny islands on the west coast of Norway which are now green with very little sign of snow.  So spring has arrived in Norway along with the March winds!  We  which were making the boat rock a lot.  

Scenery today

Change of plan

We were just finishing lunch when an announcement was made that a very bad storm was forecast further south at around midnight when we would be sailing in open sea.  Therefore the ship would make a stop at the next port – Kristinansund - then speed up and leave out the next 3 ports in order to get past the open sea before the storm really kicked in.  This meant that our last excursion to the Bergstad Marble Mine was being cancelled and for the first time we did not get off the ship all day.  We did go on deck quite a lot and didnt need a coat as it is now quite warm if not windy.  At the daily update meeting we were shown a short film of what we would have experienced if the ship had stuck to its normal route and it was not pleasant.

Kristiansund

Kristiansund

Scenery south of Kristiansund

Ship alongside ours in rough seas

Our next stop will be at Maloy where the Captain hoped to dock at around 1.30 tomorrow morning, some 4 hours ahead of schedule.  This will give everyone a chance to get some sleep tonight.  However we were all warned that for 90 minutes, the ship would have to enter the open sea where there would be waves of around 12 meters high and this would be very uncomfortable.  They also have been sealing the portholes in the cabins on the lower decks to prevent water getting in.  We are on a higher deck so not affected.  

Norwegian Folk Dancing

The crew laid on some entertainment for us on the last evening in the form of a demonstration of traditional Norwegian Folk Dancing in which we all had a chance to participate.  3 dances were demonstrated and then we had a go ourselves.  It was very funny and very enjoyable.

Expedition Crew and Hotel Manager demonstrating 

a Norwegian Folk Dance