Travel // Going Around // Europe // In and Out of Trollfjorden, Norway
Cruise ship Black Watch made another significant record marking another milestone to her myriad voyages. Checking on the ship’s previous log books, it was on the 15th of July in 2009 that Black Watch last visited Trollfjorden and by that time I was still working on another cruise ship operating cruises around the Pacific Ocean, particularly around the islands of French Polynesia.
Navigating through a very narrow waterway of Trollfjord. Photo taken on July 24, 2010
Yesterday, the ship managed her way into the very narrow 2 - kilometer long passage of Trollfjorden or Trollfjord, one of the countless fjords found in Norway. But the thing is, Trollfjorden has only one access or entrance which means that going further inside would lead to a dead end. The mouth of the fjord is considerably wider but continuing along the waterway, the passage is becoming narrower until only few meters clearance left, say 8 meters, to the steep-sided mountains. A slight error on the command could lead one fatal misadventure. Cheers to our extremely proficient Norwegian captain, he calmly maneuvered the 205 – meter ship with ease and accuracy. After passing through the constricted passage, the fjord widens revealing a panoramic view around with high mountains and waterfalls at the backdrop. Just ignore that hydroelectric plant vaguely messing up the natural scenery. As soon as the ship reached almost close to the dead end, captain decided to turn the ship right away and headed her way out of Trollfjord.
Inside Trollfjord. Photo taken on July 24, 2010
What else can I say to appreciate the surprising twist of weather? There wasn’t any glimpse of the sun during the last five days as if Norway would be having an early winter this year. Then surprisingly late in the morning, the skies cleared up leaving no trace of that windy, drizzling and gloomy skies that was threatening the cruise. To come to the point, yesterday marked the beginning of the most wonderful and perfect weather for this cruise. I am looking forward insistently that the same weather to that of yesterday will prevail today up to the end of this cruise. The ship is now alongside at the port of Narvik and obviously we will be having another sunny day. Well, the weather forecast I found online says sunny sunny sunny throughout the day.
