2.10.2024: (Tromsø - Finnsnes - Harstad) - Risøyhamn - Sortland - Stokmarknes - Svolvær.
After a rainy evening and a good sleep on the shio, next morning we wake up in Harstad. The weather is nearly cloudless now, so we can enjoy the view from the deck till late afternoon.
At breakfast, we are accompanied by the backdrop of the island of Grytøya behind our window.
Panorama of the island of Grytøya with the mountain named Nona (1.011 m)
Grytøya
In the distance now the snow-covered mountains on the island of Hinnøya in the south, which of course I cannot identify.
View backt to the island of Grytøya to the left.
The huge are of sea results from the fact, that the Kvæfjorden leads south dozens of kilometers into the centre of the island, and we are looking it along in longitudinal direction
Panoramic view of the northwestern mountains of Hinnøya. Far right the island of Andøya. Click here or into the picture for a larger display.
We are now surrounding the northwestern top of Hinnøya with the Butinden (618 m).
Along the coast-line. one can see a zone without forest. This is the area, that was set free of the sea since last ice age, when the land was rising (at a rate of upto 2-3 mm a year!). The former seabed is less rocky and more prolific, hence it was used for grassland by the local famers.
View back to Grytøya, rather far away now.
We are approaching the island of Andøya and the village of Risøyhamn, where the boat will land.
Risøyhamn in to the left in the distance.
We now enter the Risøy Canal (Risøyrenna), an artificial waterway marked on both sides, where the water of the Risøy sound was artificially deepened to 7 m depth for nearly 5 km and 100 m wide, to enable sailing by bigger boats like the Hurtigruten ships.
Risøy canal with Risøyhamn and the Risøy sound bridge in behind.
The plugs are well visible.
View to the island of Andøya.
View to the island of Andøya.
Risøyhamn ...
... approaching.
Risøyhamn with Andøya in behind.
View back to Hinnøya
Risøyhamn.
Markings of the water way.
Risøyhamn.
We will land in Risøyhamn in a few minutes.
Risøyhamn bridge and the Hurtigruten pier.
The Risøyhamn bridge, which we crossed with the car some 10 days ago.
Risøyhamn.
Landing.
The pier of Risøyhamn and the Risøyhamn bridge.
And off we go, ...
... beneath the bridge.
The southern parts of the island of Andøya
Risøy sound bridge
Risøy sound bridge
Sailing ahead through the Risøy sound.
Andøya
We are heading south now.
A short branch of the Risøy sound to the east - the Forfjorden.
The Risøy sound now turns into the Sortland sound.
These could be the islets of Fiskholmen with the lighthouse on the southern one.
We are approaching the Sortland bridge.
The Sortland bridge. We crossed this one also 10 days ago.
Sortland bridge.
Sortland bridge.
Sortland bridge.
Sortland. 11 days ago, we were shopping here.
Sortland.
Sortland and the view to the south along the Sortland sound - between the Vesteralen islands of Hinnøya and Langøya.
South of Sortland, the Sortland sound gets much wider.
View back to the Sortland bridge.
Sortland.
The Sortland sound now bends into southwestern direction.
First Lofot mountains in the distance.
Sortland.
Lofots in the distance.
Lofots in the distance.
Still the mountains of Hinnøya are more attractive.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya, east of the Sortland sound.
View back to Sortland, already rather far away.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
In front are Vesteralen and Lofoten. Somewhere, there is a narrow sea way through, the Raft sound separating the Lofot from the Vesteralen islands.
Hinnøya.
Vesteralen and Lofoten.
Vesteralen and Lofoten.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
Hinnøya.
Vesteralen and Lofoten.
Lofot islands. We are entering a zone of bad weather.
Vesteralen (Hinnøya) and Lofoten (Austvagøya)
Two big bridges near Stokmarknes, we sail under one of the two.
First buildings of Stokmarknes
View back to the bridge and to the island of Hinnøya.
The harbour of Stokmarknes.
Industrial buildings of Stokmarknes.
Industrial buildings of Stokmarknes
One more of those "fisherman´s huts - hotels"
The pier of Stokmarknes. teh "inclined" building is the Hurtigrutenmuseum, where the Hurtigruten ship Finnmarken (from 1953) is conserved as a whole and can be visited. The double building to the left is the Quality Hotel Richard With, where we spent two nights from 20th to the 22nd September.
We mak use of the one hour stay to visit the museum.
Restart heading for the Raft sound.
It´s getting more and more cloudy.
On the way to the Raft sound.
The entrance into the Raft sound.
The entrance into the Raft sound.
The entrance into the Raft sound.
You ask yourself where there is the way through.
After passing of some small islands ...
... we bend sharply to the right.
Here the Raft sound begins, and shortly thereafter ...
...
...
... it is crossed by a bridge.
Raft sound bridge.
Raft sound bridge.
After a longer sail in the rain, we bend to the right into the Svart sound and immediately thereafter enter the Trollfjord. In front of us the small boat of the sea eagle - safari, which has motivated an eagle to fetch the big fish offered, and is flying away just now.
Der Trollfjord id 100 - 150 m wide and up to 50 m deep. The rock walls especially to its northern side are so steep and high, that the fjord cannot be entered in winter due to danger of avalnches.
Trollfjord.
Near the head the Trollfjord is a bit wider, so the long Hurtigruten ship can turn around using its side propellers.
Waterfall into the Trollfjord.
View to the eastern entrance of the Trollfjord.
The rest of today´s journey is rainy and dull, so we are relaxing in the saloon.