Float Days 7-9 (Hammerfest, Alta, sea-day)

     Last two days in Norway, due South (naturally) from the Northernmost point in Norway (and Europe).  We were south far enough that we started seeing some birds, and more people.

    At Hammerfest, we were not signed up for any shore excursion, so it was a morning walk around town (and shoreline).  Afterwards, I saw people at the top of a ridge, and decided that if there were people up there, then I should be up there.  And there might be some birds and plants - not quite remembering that when you are up there, it gets really windy, so no trees and fewer birds.  But there certainly were a number on the way up, and the topside was a great view with lots of wildflowers (more in the pictures).

    At Alta, we toured with a group to a reindeer farm, and learned about the Sammi indigenous culture that raises them.  A wonderful 3-generation family toured us around, educated us about Sammi culture and reindeer husbandry, and sang us their yoiks (traditional yodel-like songs).  After, we rode the bus about halfway back, did some geocache stuff, and as most of the group took a shuttle back to the docks, I decided I might walk the few miles back for a last attempt to spot some Norwegian birds.  The walk was successful (I found my way back before the last tender left for the ship), but the birding less so (no new species on the walk).

    Day 9 was a sea day as we head towards Greenland, bouncing off Iceland on the way.   Middle of the ocean, so just an occasional gull.  Not much else to see, other than water and the horizon.  So...  Food.  A 5-min 'sample massage' (You are carrying a lot of tension - here is my card for a $200 appointment - you have these knots that I could work out with more time - sign up now, the slots are filling fast - so much tension).  Food.  NY times crossword.  Food.  Trivia where the questions/answers are poorly worded.  Food.  A bit of typing.  Food.  Some 'educational' reading (drink menu).  Food.  Drinks.  Food.  A typical sea day.

    Pictures!:

    Day 7 (Hammerfest):

    A side-long glance from a good-looking Common Tern:

    I took a picture of this building, because the mascot is a 6-legged dragon.  And I had never known that dragons had 6 legs.  The rest of the group was taking pictures of the very cool rock-sculptures in front of the building (I think there were 7 of them - the seagull is below).  After I took the logo-picture, security came out and told me (and our group) that no one was to take pictures of the building.  OK, then.

    Fortunately, this Eurasian Oystercatcher was not on the 'var energi' building, but was on the one next to it:

    A Common Eider and chicks:

    A church with a "Dragon Jesus"  I confess I do not recall which book in the NT might have inspired this work.

    A very nice pagoda in the town park.This is the 4th iteration of the pagoda.  One was destroyed in fire.  Another was destroyed in WW2 (Most of Norway's coastal cities were completely obliterated by Germany in that war to prevent supplies from reaching Russia by sea).

    Weather was beautiful.  Ocean was calm.  Mountains in the distance gorgeous.  Quite a pleasant day to walk the shoreline.

    Based on the logo above the company name, this seems to be an excavation service for nothing nefarious at all.

    Along the shoreline, a Common Redshank, seeming to be looking at its own reflection.  Immediately next to a Great Black-Backed Gull (the largest of the gull family, and so much larger than the Common Gull flying directly over it):

    After parting from the rest of the group to climb things, I stopped by the Polar Bear Society building, which (appropriately), contained a preserved polar bear:

    Climbed the hill to a plateau.  A lot of Northern Wheaters and Meadow Pipits at the top, but not much else.  The 'else' birds seemed to like the trees on the incline, and not the flat/windy/no-tree zone.

    From up top, a good view of the bay (with the ship) and the oil refinery (with a methane flame):

    So many wildflowers: Alpine Azelia, Moss Campion, Lousewort, Cottengrass...

    So as I continued to walk the ridgeline, where the winds are gusty and harsh on the best of days, and there is snow (and no sunlight) for major chunks of the year, and thought to myself "Self, this would be an ideal location for a disc-golf course."  Unfortunately, I will not be able to pursue this business opportunity; someone beat me to it.

    One last picture from the ridgeline before starting back down:

    Just a few dozen steps back down the side, where the wind is stifled, suddenly back to the lush and green.  European Globeflowers:

    Part-way down, a reminder of the rugged geology here.  This rockface has withstood some horrific torture:

    While I was looking at this cliffside, a couple of Great Tits started chasing each other at this corner:

    One more new bird (there were 6 new species today), a European Pied Flycatcher:

    Now back to the ship....

    Day 8 - Alta:

    This was the first day where we did not dock, but had to take tenders to shore.  So we got there pretty early to await our bus to the reindeer ranch.  While waiting, I watched the many, many, many seaguls (mostly Common Gulls and Black-Legged Killiwakes) chasing each other for scraps of food.

    Among all those seagulls, however, was a Parasitic Jaeger.  The one new bird of the day:

    We visited the reindeer farm.  It is run by a 3 generation family of the Sami culture, an indiginous population to Norway/Finland/Sweden/Russia.  we learned some about their customs and culture, and the raising/maintaining herds of reindeer.  A real highlight of the trip.  And we got to hang out with a bunch of reindeer.
    Jana feeding a baby reindeer:

    Jana feeding a young adult reindeer.  They are between seasons, and are molting their winter coats, so are looking a bit mangey.  

They have huge eyeballs with huge pupils.  Huge feet.  Which might be important when they are spending months a year with little/no sunlight, and are walking on snowpack.  Their hairs are also hollow and air-filled, so they have good insulation and they swim/float well.

    Rudolph here has some serious antlers:

    The three generations that run this business and spent time with us on this day (son, mother, grandfather), in their traditional garb:

    After, did some walking, some with others and much of it on my own.  Saw this 'car' that had room for one seat.  not sure I would fit in the cockpit.

    Walked out to the bay, where there was a scenic picnic area:

    A European Orchard Bee on some oversized clover (the flowers with 24-hr sunlight get really big):

    And a Red Squirrel, with adaptations for the cold climate (fuzzy ears, and an attitude):

    Walking a crosswalk in Norway is a formal affair:

    On a forest path, a Buff-tailed Bumblebee, rummaging through the wildflowers:

Day 9:  Sea day.  No photos of note.  Though I think I might be seeing some occasional albatrosses.  I will need to take my binoculars to an upper deck to try to confirm....