February 15, 2020 – Honningsvag and North Cape

February 15, 2020 – Honningsvag and North Cape
Last night they showed us stock fish. This is cod that has been dried on large racks. They then pound it, rehydrate it, and eat it.
There were 3 fifteen minute stops overnight. I don’t even hear them anymore. At 11:15am we arrived at Honningsvag.
The last time I was here, June 21, 2014, it was snowing and 32°F. Today the sun was bright and just a few clouds. The temperature was 28° F. As soon as we docked, I headed for our bus to North Cape. North Cape is Europe’s most northern point. The ride was scenic. The untouched snow looked like white desert sand. It took 45 minutes to get there. It was colder and windier. I put on my spikes and used my trekking poles because the land was snowy with large patches of ice. I hiked around for 45 minutes taking pictures. When I went inside to warm up, I strolled through the gift shop. I found a calendar to buy. While waiting to pay, I noticed that all the photography for the calendar was done by Peter Szivolt, our guide on this trip.
Dinner tonight was a seafood buffet. They had lots of mussels and shrimp which made me happy. They also had reindeer stew which was very tasty.
After dinner. They announced that there was Northern Lights activity. I was able to see them but they were the white type. My camera could not pick them up. By camera they look green.

After dinner, Peter showed us a movie he made of the Northern Lights. He is going to let us download a copy.
Tomorrow will be our coldest day with a high of 19°F.
Peter said if you go inland just a few miles from the coast that it is much colder everywhere in Norway. The coast is warmed by the Gulf Stream.