June 4. Kristiansund

 We've reached our northenmost destination now; the sun sets about 11.30pm and rises about 3.30am.

When we woke this morning we were sailing past an oil rig on the outskirts of Kristiansund. This is a fishing town spread across several adjacent islands. We hadn't booked any acivities today, so after breakfast we went ashore and walked through the town. It turns out that it's an ordinary community, not geared for tourists; most of the people walking about were from the ship looking for things to do. While we complain about places being touristy, when they're not, we're at a bit of a loss. The hairdressers, interior design shops and banks are not that interesting.

We did find the Kirkelandet Church which was very impressive (on the inside, a drab concrete on the outside). Then it was a short walk to Varden, a scenic viewing point, though not that much higher than the surrounding town.

We walked back into town and caught one of the free ferries that link the islands where they are closest to each other. However, for the reasons outlined above we couldn't decide on anything worth getting off for (not even the cod museum) and so it was a round trip.

Sundbaten Ferry

At this point we were right next to the ship, so we went back for some lunch and a break before venturing out again. We walked through the town and still couldn't find much of interest. So I set off to the western side of the island to see what was there. I stumbled on a network of hiking trails that didn't appear on google or the maps and which wound over the hills and into the little bays. I followed the trails north for some time then found a path inland and back to the town. Although it was only about 12℃ today this warmed me up.

Now, as for the last few days, we're sitting in the lounge above the bridge waiting to watch the ship leave and wind its way out through the islands.

June 3. Alesund

 If today's Tuesday, this must be Alesund, built on a spit of land amongst a network of islands connected by bridges and tunnels.. When we woke up we were coming in through the sound.

Approaching town, Slinningen in background

After breakfast we went ashore and split up - Lynn, Jacqui and Tom went looking around the town, which is small but pretty with tall, colourful buildings. I went kayaking. The group didn't go far, from a small channel we paddled out through the harbour and then west along the north side of the main island.

I'm in the back of the closest boat

We met up back on the ship about 1pm and had a quick lunch. Then Lynn and I went ashore and walked through the town and up the hill. It was quite crowded as a second cruise ship, the German Aida, arrived shortly after us this morning. Annoyingly, when we reached the top a sign said the cafe isn't open Monday or Tuesday.

Mount Aksla from the ship

Panorama

From about the half-way point, looking west

We were back on the ship in time for afternoon tea.

 

June 2. Haugesund

 Well, welcome to Norway! A quick recap... we came up the North Sea quite slowly the last two days, probably only 12 knots. The weather was very calm and we really felt no ship movement until last night. At the bottom of the North Sea, where it funnels into the English Channel, we saw a lot of shipping and a couple of oil rigs, but by yesterday we saw very little.

We woke up to grey skies and a temperature of about 12℃. Haugesund is a large town or small city, on the important channel of Karmsund which offers sheltered shipping between the mainland and the long island of Karmoy. While some of it is very industrial, the residential bits are pretty, with lots of coloured wooden two-story buildings with steep, fishscale-tile roofs.

We got tickets for the hop-on, hop-off bus and toured around for a while. We passed a copper mining town and got off at the old St Olaf's Church. This was beautiful and austere, overlooking the strait.

Near Visnes

Olaf brought Christianity to Norway C1000.

Next to the church is a heritage centre. Most of the signage was in Norwegian but with English audioguides. It was a little hard to follow but related to the viking kings who united Norway and later brought Christianity and who were based around here for a couple of hundred years.

Later we took the bus back through town, past the monumen to Harald Fairhair, the first king, then got out in town where we wandered the shopping streets then walked back to the ship.