Weather watching(of course),golf,keeping fit and active and watching most sports,music,,reading,photography and traveling.
I managed to achieve my ambition to see the Arctic.Got to visit twice in fact- Summer 2011 and March 2013 .
Summer 2011 in July.
We cruised from Tilbury across the north sea to Norway where we sailed up the coast taking in some ports of call ,These took in some wonderful scenery in the fjords and trips up the mountains.We continued to north cape and then on into the Arctic ocean past bear island and onto the Svalbard islands where we came across part of the polar ice pack.This actually chocked up the inlet to Longyearbyen where we were due to visit.
It was disappointing that we had to rejig the rest of the schedule but it was amazing to be on deck surrounded by ice flows which had walruses and seals on them.With a clear blue sky and a temp.of 4c it was calm and clear.We had reached the most northerly point of our cruise at 79N.
Not forgetting experiencing 24hrs day light and the midnight sun!
We then detoured to the Faeroes which was an alternative to spending the time we couldn't have around Svalbard.
It turned out to be an enjoyable time.Green islands with high dramatic cliffs as you approached.Trips around the main island reminded me very much of northern Scotland with it's wild moorland and wild flowers and mountain streams.
March 2013
A Winter cruise this time,at least it was in Scandinavia, as again we left Tilbury for Norway and another journey taking the fjords and different ports including Thromso.
This time it was a white landscape all the way north as we crossed the Arctic circle for the second time in less than 3 years.
We had some enjoyable land excursions sight seeing including the Arctic cathedral in Thromso.Of course the highlight was seeing the northern lights up there.
We also rode in a sleigh pulled by a team of huskies along the frozen landscape near Alta in Lapland.Visited the ice hotel as well. A great experience.All that lovely powder snow covering the landscape was magical.
Pics of snow around our back garden and adjoining common at rear of house. 2 main snowfalls both around 10cm one on Fri.18/01 and second one on Sunday 20/01.The Sunday one notable for the l7hrs of continuous snowfall-never very heavy but persistent light to moderate intensity.Finishes with total depth measure on the morning of Mon 21/)1/2013 of 20cm.
Sailed from Tilbury and took in Norway at various ports/fjords including North Cape at 71deg N. Then sailed to Svalbard with intention of docking at Longyearbyen at nearly 80 deg N but the fjord was chocked with ice and we had to turn back.We then headed south west to the Faroes and finally Shetland before returning to Tilbury-16 days in all. A wonderfull holiday with superb secenery but what sticks in my mind was grinding to a halt in Svalbard surrounded by ice with a clear blue Arctic sky aboveand a temp. of 3C in mid-july.