1.10.2024: Olderdalen - Øksfjord (Hurtigruten ship - Tromsø).
Today, our drive comes to an end: with the car, we enter the Hurtigruten ship Nordkapp, which brings us back to Trondheim within three days.
First dirving north, then along the Rotsund entlang, and eastern through a tunnel to Sørkjosen, and along the Straumfjorden in northern direction.
A few sunny spells today, but mostly the weather is cloudy or rainy.
At the Kvænangsfjell tunnel, at more than 300 m asl, we face first snow along the road, but at the eastern tunnel vportal the sun is shining.
Nice view from the car park behind the tunnel ...
... down over the Badderfjorden and to the Stuora in behind (723 m).
In the distance the mountains behind the Jøkelfjord with glaciers at their backside - Øksfjord, our destination, is there behind.
We alreadfy are branched off from the E6 and on our way to Øksfjord. View over the Langfjorden to Lassefjellet (1.123 m). The wind is so heavy here that the door of the car is snatched off my hand. Thanks god the door was not pulled out.
After crossing a small saddle, the Øksfjord is in front, after which the homonymeous village was named.
Once more we are lucky with a sunny spell, ...
... creating wonderful light effects.
We follow the Øksfjord at first in western direction.
High snow covered mountains to the south now, the highest is the Ruselvfjellet (1.013 m).
Fish breeding in the fjord.
View to the west ...
... and we bend to the north, following the fjord. We are welcomed by a beautiful rainbow. In front of us on the opposite side of the fjord the glacier-covered Øksfjordjøkelen (1.190 m).
Ruselvfjellet and sunshine now behind to the left ...
... and the rainbow in front of us.
Ruselvfjellet
The Øksfjord now bends to the north.
Panoramic picture of the Øksfjord to the south and west from Steinvikneset. Click here or into the picture for a larger display.
Panorama des Øksfjord nach Süden und Westen, von Steinvikneset. Click here or into the picture for a larger display.
Ruselvfjellet behind the Øksfjord
We have arrived in Øksfjord three hours too early, have found the landing place of the Hurtigruten ships and drawn back to a cafe´ closewd ion actual fact, where we are allowed to wait with a nice Capuccino. After 1 1/2 hours, our ship is approaching, and we hurry to leave.
Das Hurtigruten ship Nordkapp, where we shall spend the coming three days.
More nice light effects when we are waiting for the ship at the landig place.
It is a bit scary to watch the ship approaching - like a tower building coming close.
Then the hatches come down, and Susanne drive the car onto the ship. One of the personnel then parks it somewhere in the freight hold, everything we need on the ship has to be in our luggage outside the car.
We then asked, why the ship arrived so early and got the answer, that it could not land in Hammerfest due to storm and high waves where it would have had 1 hour of layover, landing and leaving would have taken time too, so it is here now 90 minutes early, having its longer stay now in Øksfjord.
So, we have enough time to move into our cabinet and have additional time on deck. View from the ship over the Øksfjord.
Harbour facilities in Øksfjord ...
... and the view to the opposite side of the fjord.
In the small side valley near Øksfjord there is a lake, which we would have had time to visit, but it was raining at that time.
With its two side propellers, the ship is now departing from the quayside.
View back to Øksfjord.
It now starts to get dark, and sormy wind, rain and high waves are accompanying us. We draw back to the observation lounge to watch the horizon, which helps against sea sickness.
Also in the next harbour, Skjervøy, the ship cannot land due to high waves, we don´t know about Tromsø because we were asleep at that time.
