Northern light dairy continues

Day 1 21st Friday Weather sunny

Embarkation  commenced at 14.30pm. All went extremely smoothly even though Ian did set off the alarms when we went through customs.  (metal bar in shoes) Good cabin with plenty of wardrobe space, ( needed for me!)  Lifeboat drill was a farce. Took ages and really only needed 10 minutes not the 3/4 hour allocated.Nearly missed the sailing  Meal extremely good, 5 courses if wanted and Jill on our table had a birthday so a pink cake was presented. Our meal companions were Jean and Peter, Jill and Jim. Great companions with same sense of humour as us. Ate to much and now extremely full when we left the restaurant. Good evening entertainment with a magic show. Met Bill Chris and Brian with wife. Impressed with the ship so far. Late to bed having consumed vast quantities of wine.

Life boat drill. Deck 7 life boat 10. Hope we don't need it!!!

Captain Lars is the one with blond hair

Departed on time

View as we left Southampton.

1st nights sunset.

22/02/2014 Weather sunny



Breakfast late because slept in then had to queue for table. Took 30 minutes. Went to our first ever dance class and was taught basic steps of the social Foxtrot and some rock and roll. Very amusing and enjoyable. Lunch was a nightmare. Again massive queues in all the restaurants.
Trying to fit 800 people in seating for only 400. Need I say more!!! Little to do in the afternoon other then go to a quiz and play Bingo. Only the quiz appealed. Couldn't do dinner in our allocated restaurant because of the Captains 'meet and greet'.   Formal do and we don't do formal so ate in the Secret Garden instead. Had an interesting evening  with the Boudicca dancers. Very good. Then met up with Sheila and Roger from Plymouth for a late drink (or one or two!). Bed at 12. 20pm. Very big swells so lots of rocking and rolling.

23/02/2014 weather... cloudy and wet

 A VERY rocky night.
Early breakfast as didn't want same scenario as yesterday queuing for tables. This time no problem and was out by 8 am. After 40 minutes  went to the gym to try and work off the amount of food eaten. Completely knackered after 30minutes. So very unfit!!!. Went to lunch early and again had no problem with queues. Too much food and much to tempting to refuse. Already starting to balloon!. Second of our dance classes Rock and Roll and Lambada. Hilariously funny and loved
every minute. Met up with Rachel and Ken. Both into boats and horses so our kind of people. More drinks ordered. Constantly tipsy but who cares I'm on holiday hic hic. Went up to the observation lounge where we met up with Ted and Sue who, would you believe, came from Heanor 2 miles from Langley Mill. Small world isn't it. Clive and Pam also joined us making a very good six-some. More  wine consumed and it's was only 4pm!! Back to cabin to change for dinner.
Sea's getting rougher and waves almost as high as our window. I wonder how many will join us tonight for the meal?

Most of our companions hardy sailors as quite a few turned up for dinner. Another good meal. Ian
still has the 5 courses but I have cut it down to three.  Defiantly ballooning! Entertainment was by a comedian Barnaby. Hilariously funny without any smut or swearing. Unheard of in this day and age. Joined by Jean and Peter and Jim and Jenny. Did quiz and came first with 2 other teams. Then with tie breaker failed completely and came third. Must try harder. Bed at 11 40pm after more alcohol consumed.

24/02/2014

Weather mix of sun and cloud 10 deg

Up very early as 7am breakfast. Boudicca docked at Moule 8am. 7 hour excursion Rauma Railway and Trollstigen Mountains. Glorious scenery on route. Little disappointed that the only snow to be seen was on mountains. Most unusual for this time of year as usually there is at least 4ft of lying snow. Temp a balmy 10 deg instead of the -10 to -15.  Guide told us that no rain or snow had fallen since Christmas. No, thought I, Britain's had it all!

First stop on the coach was to a 10 minute ferry ride across the Langfjorden Fjord.  Then onwards to Andalsnes for comfort stop. Happened to be terminus of Rauma Railway

Andalsnes

 Back to coach for next leg of journey. Trollstigen mountains and the famous Trolls.

Then lunch at Bjorligard Hotel in Bjorli followed by train trip back to Andalsnes.

Then another 30 minute ferry trip before doing a sight seeing tour round Moule. Back on board by 4pm and ship sailed at 5pm. Another 640 miles to do before we reach Tromsco. As we are now within Aurora Borealis sightings Captain will inform us over the loud speaker if anything happens. Don't hold my breath as very overcast tonight. Change for dinner(getting a bit monotonous but must be smart casual) and sat down to another excellent meal at 6.15pm. Entertainment by the Boudicca Show company. Theme was Rock and Roll. After show joined Jean, Peter, Jenni and Jim in Lido Bar for quiz. Came third and danced the night away. Lost count of how many drinks we had. Thank goodness for all inclusive. Bed exhausted by 12.30.pm

Ruama railway. Note the snow plough on front of the train.

 




To be continued..............