The Record Goes Above the Arctic Circle
By Ralph Johnson
A few weeks ago my wife Carol and I flew to Copenhagen and spent three days touring the city before boarding the Serenade of the Seas for an eleven day cruise along the Norwegian coast. While in Copenhagen, we took a canal boat ride through the city viewing the many sights, including The Little Mermaid, opera house, and palace of the queen.
After boarding the ship we made a run toward the Arctic Circle and the land of the midnight sun. It was strange to us not to experience nightfall; however above the Arctic Circle it stayed daylight for three days. When we reached the northern-most terminus of our cruise at the port town of Honningsvag, it was raining and cloudy offering us a monochromatic view of the fjord and small town. When the sun eventually made an appearance, this town and the subsequent towns were quite colorful. We were above the tree line which afforded us a view of the sharp granite bluffs that made up the many fjords.
While there we experienced several types of weather, from snow to sleet as well as rainbows and sideways rain.
When we go to dine we were made aware of the diverse population of the cruise by listening to the cacophony of languages that swirled about our table.
We took many excursions while on our trip. Our favorite was a crab feast that entailed an exciting ride on a Zodiac. We caught king crabs and had them cooked fresh. We ate our fill before our return trip on the Zodiac over the open water.
Another excursion involved a bus ride up seventy switchbacks to the top of Mount Dalsnibba near Geiranger Fjord. The road opened the week before and the snow banks were higher than the bus. I can hardly explain some of the sights cruising the fjords; the cascading waterfalls, high glaciers, and sheer granite cliffs—the absolute beauty of the Norwegian Fjords defies description.
We left the ship and spent three days in Amsterdam cruising the many canals that ring the city. The many houseboats of all shapes and sizes that are afloat on the canals help to alleviate the crowded conditions of the city’s housing market. We found out that there are approximately 500,000 bicycles in the city that are used as a means of transportation because of the high cost of gasoline. Young and old ride bicycles which help keep everyone fit.
This trip made me think of how much my world has grown from my childhood in Renovo. My life centered around my church, St. Joseph’s, my school – Renovo High School, and the YMCA. How fortunate I am to be able to explore our majestic earth from the Antarctic to the Arctic Circle and view first-hand the wonders the Lord has given us to enjoy. Carol and I are truly blessed to be able to travel as much as we do and marvel at God’s creation. I never thought while growing up in our secluded valley that I would experience these far off lands.
