Changes in Latitudes

Our bedroom has been taken over by building supplies, dirty and drying laundry, and all of the things from our entry room. But now we have a nice new floor in the entry!

 Tron and Rigmor took us on a trip to the Lofoten Islands, and luck was on our side! We had clear, blue skies all three days while we explored Svolvær, Henningsvær, Nusfjord and Reine. The accommodation was amazing and a real treat! [Dried fish was a common site and smell in Lofoten] [Cooking burgers and hotdogs in Trondheim] The trip back south began with an overnight in Trondheim again, and then a day spent in the city and the cathedral was the highlight! Following Trondheim, we swung down to Ålesund - great city for architecture buffs, and the museum was worth going to. Lucky on the weather again!! No rain during the day! [4 people living out of a car = constant repacking]  Following Ålesund was the famous Trollveggen and Trollstigen (the Troll wall and road). The landscape was spectacular and a great entry into Geirangerfjord. In Geiranger we went on a fjord cruise and took a hike up to a waterfall. However, we were not very impressed wit...

Mom and Dad came to visit Norway on August 3rd - "No luggage, no status..." upon arrival to Bergen. So for two days they explored some of Bergen in hopes of news of their suitcases by Sunday so that we could begin our adventure. Sure enough, Sunday afternoon, the next flight in from Iceland had landed with their luggage and the tour of Norway began. Our first night we stayed in Geilo, where Marius' company has a condo. The first hike of the trip was the next day with a trip up behind Prestholtsetter, where Marius and I had skied earlier this year. The trail was being worked on by Nepalese Sherpas, and at the bottom we enjoyed some rommegrøt just in time to dodge the rain. [Gjelvågan summer home] The next afternoon we set out for Synnfjell (the Engebrethsen's winter cabin) for an overnight, then continued on to Trondheim. We camped at a town called Levanger, just north of Trondheim. Each day we were fearing the rain, but we were really lucky and did not have a...

[Learning how to fillet mackerel] The ecosystem survey finished July 27th, and we arrived to Bergen around 7AM. I was surprised how it hit me that the cruise was over. A month goes by fast! The last week was full of bad weather, data processing, eating, playing cards and watching movies. When the weather was bad it was hard to concentrate on work. The next four months will now be spent analyzing the data. This survey has been an amazing learning experience and I am so happy to have been given such an opportunity. Now comes the hard work! [Surface-feeding mackerel] [Last night on M/S Brennholm - the officemates] [Saw orcas a few times on the boat but never got a good picture. Photo: Sara Wennerqvist] [My boat swap. Photo: Sara Wennerqvist] [Faroe Island puffin. Photo: Sara Wennerqvist]

[There's something wrong with the synchrony of the acoustics] My job aboard Brennholm is to work on the acoustic part of my thesis. So I am practicing some sonar and echo sounder scrutinozing. I am also relating the mackerel movement to the currents, but this will be hard since mackerel are so hard to see at all on any of the acoustic equipment since they lack a swim bladder. It is nice to just have a 7:30 to 10 work day though and I have my supervisor right next to me for help. Everyone on the cruise has gained weight, and despite doing some exercise almost everyday I am no exception. We are feed too well on the boats and you don't move around too much. (I was even convinced to try salted and dried whale meat from the Faroes. I stayed far away from the blubber!!) At least I have been able to run 13.5 km the past couple of days with the calm seas. There aren't many options for exercise on this ship compared to G.O. Sars. [The "gym" in the bow of th...

This morning we arrived at the Faroe Islands. I am now aboard Brennholm. To clarify how that happened since I didn't have time to explain yesterday - The small orange boat (don't know the technical name for it) was lowered for me to get on from the second deck and we took the boat to the opposite side of Brennholm where there was a built-in ladder in the side of the boat for me to hold on and climb up. My bag was pulled up with a rope. I felt like a combination of James Bond and Bear Grylls! On Brennholm there are fewer cabins, so now I am sharing a cabin with the other American girl (Sarah) who shares my office with me at the IMR. So back to the Faroes - after lunch I explored the world's smallest capital, Torshavn, with Ørjan, Jostein and Sara. We were given a good tip for a day trip and jumped at it, even though it was a little pricey - but how often does one go to the Faroes?? We took a bus about 40 minutes northwest to Vestmannen and took a scenic tour of the coast ...

Today I moved from G.O. Sars to Brennholm, and in such style! I was taken on the small boat with Leif (my supervisor and the cruise leader). When we got next to Brennhom I had to climb up the side of the boat using the "ladder" which was built into the side. I really hope Leif took some pictures because it was so much fun and it felt really cool climbing up the side of a boat in the middle of the Norwegian Sea!! Thank you, G.O. Sars for such an experience the last 17 days...tomorrow we will be at the Faroe Islands! photo 1: GO Sars photo 2: Faroe Islands boat