March 5th Wednesday Weather cloudy seas.. very rough!!!
Oh what a night!! Awake at 3.30 with terrific high seas and lots of banging and crashing as our belongings scattered in all directions. Stood watching and marveling at the sheer ferocity of the wind, whipping the waves into a frenzy. Spray higher then our window and we are on deck five. Would hate to be in the lower deck cabins. Heard one lady cry out so she must have been frightened out of her wits. So glad we are both good sailors.
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| Arriving at Bergan and nearly ready to dock. Seas look calm but believe me the wind was very strong. |
Got to breakfast by 8am and noticeable lack of waiters and passengers. Watched our arrival in our last port of call Bergan. Check in for the tour 'Exploring the Hardangerfjord' was at 10am with us due to disembark by 10 15am. Because of the gusting 60 knot winds Captain Lars had difficulty in securing the boat and lowering the gangway. Consequently no one could disembark for another hour making us all very late. Once we arrived at the bus the tour guide put my back up when she asked if the Captain was incompetent as he couldn't dock the boat! See if she could do it in those conditions!!!! Took an hour to get to our first stop going through some wonderful long tunnels. Quite a feat to build but with rock fall being a problem on their roads it was a necessity.
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| The structure at the start of the tunnel was to stop more rockfall that had occurred only a few days ago. |
So onwards to the Steinsdal Waterfall. This was one of the reasons we booked the tour as walking behind the cascading waters would have been the highlight. So everyone on the bus was very peeved when we were informed that work was being carried out on the footpath leading behind the falls and we couldn't do it. Also large trucks and workers were in plain view spoiling the photos. Instead of having a good 45 minutes exploring we were ushered back to the coach after 20 minutes.
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| We should be walking behind the falls. Instead workman have that pleasure |
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| A Norwegian film crew were also getting in the way |
Next stop lunch. What a farce!!! The food was excellent but the organization abysmal. Tables of eight so close together no one could get in or out. Then two coach loads ( about 90 people ) all tried to get round a small buffet table at once. It was a case at fists at dawn as everyone pushed to get to the food first. And to add insult to injury out table companions were a miserable bunch and wouldn't converse with us. Ian and I quickly had some salad and then left the mayhem to continue while we went to take a walk outside. After an hour and with the Vic museum only yards away we were ushered to watch a film show in Norwegian with English subtitles about a sculptor Ingebrigt Vic who we knew nothing about and having sat through this boring film for 20 minutes we were then told we only had 5 minutes to look round the museum! Needless to say we didn't bother. Back on the coach for a 3 hour trip round the fjord with a short ferry crossing in between. ( Views stunning ) to arrive back at Boudicca for 6pm. Total cost of this glorified coach ride £100 per person. Ian not happy and has gone to complain!!! ( Didn't get anywhere but that was hardly surprising. Told to write to head office on our return to Nottingham)
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| Loads of fish farms mainly of Salmon. |
After a Chinese dinner at the Secret Garden ( not the best meal ) a pre show game of opposites took place. 4 people following the compare and trying to do the opposite Our table at the front was chosen to be judges and we had to eliminate each contestant one by one until we had a winner. Much fun and hilarity and we got key rings for our trouble. Show was again a triumph showing the Boudicca Show troupe followed once again by the evening quiz. All about Norway. Didn't do to badly scoring 12 points but that allusive prize still beyond reach with us once more coming third. Groan. Ship sailed at 11pm and now for the two day sea crossing back to Southampton.
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| The game show |
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| Boudicca show troupe |
To be continued...............
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