Up North and Under the Lights
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Years ago I visited beautiful Oslo, Norway. I remember locals telling me I needed to experience the fjords up north. 'Up North' resonated in my mind for years, and Arctic Norway made its way to my list of travel destinations. This year my wife and I decided to check this place off our list. To be exact, we ventured to the Lofoten Archipelago, which lies above the 68-degree parallel and within the Arctic Circle. In November, in winter, when the days are short and the nights rule.
Why visit remote Norway in the winter? It’s the most accessible place within the Arctic Circle to view the Northern Lights, but there's no guarantee you’ll see them. It could be cloudy, stormy, or, the aurora borealis could simply 'no show.' Guides will tell you there are no guarantees, and you shouldn't go to Lofoten expecting to see the Northern Lights. If you see them, consider it a bonus.
We decided to go for it anyway. Even if we didn’t see the Northern Lights, we’d still experience rugged and dramatic landscapes where mountains literally rise out of the sea, not to mention undisturbed land dotted with small coastal fishing towns.
We traveled through Lofoten to our destination and home base for the week.
We stayed in a small cabin that overlooked the village of Sund.
We chopped wood and kept a fire going, always staying warm.
We visited Reine.
We visited picturesque Hamnoy with red Rorbuer (fishermen cabins) on the rocky shores.
We made our way to the top of Reinebringen.
We saw signs of moose but no evidence.
We saw endless bays of calm seas.
Oh, and we witnessed Aurora Borealis give an outstanding performance in the dark Arctic skies.
Guarantees in life are few, but when you embark wholeheartedly on adventure, you're guaranteed to find your light.
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