Loften trip begins!

As with most expeditions. The planning starts long before the trip. For us the trigger was the Covid-19 lock down (and associated quarantine) and the realisation that our summer plans would be cancelled. Maybe we would have time for a kayaking trip when things open up. We can go for a hike in our local area. But as Norway started to open internally the idea of Lofoten popped into our heads. What better time. When we saw that the Hurtigruten tickets were selling at a discounted price it went from an idea to a plan not yet made.

After weeks of organising in every spare moment. Including spending a ridiculous amount on our kayaks. Then the last few days spent packing. Friday morning at 5 am I was awake. I didn't need to be awake yet, but I couldn't sleep. Excitement and nerves went with my blood pulsing around my body. At 6 am I gave up sleeping and got up. I puttered around the flat checking all the tasks were done.

Eventually it was time make sure Callum was awake, put on my clothes I had laid out on, brush my teeth, wellies on and out the door. We scootered down to Ladekaia and faffed. Worrying that we had brought too many things. Concerned we hadn't taken enough. Standard fair for the start of a long trip.

Before too long we wheeled our kayaks down to the bay. Stored the one-wheeled trolley Callum had made and set off. For the first leg of our trip the kayaking was only for about 45 minutes. It was a nice day, but I had regretted how many layers I was wearing. Its important to dress for the water temperature when kayaking but I was sweating buckets. In the clothes I had intended to wear on the boat.

We passed by the Hurtigruten HMS Finnmark which would set off at 1315. At 1045 we scrambled out at narrow, metal steps by Pirbadet. Lugged our kayaks out, wishing it wasn't low tide as this made it more difficult. Then in the rain wheeled our kayaks over one by one to the port.

I know we were both nervous about getting the kayaks on the boat, even with the email confirmation in hand. There were slightly annoyed looks from staff, but they took them on board without faff. I watched my orange boat gently sink down on the lift into the storage at the bottom of the boat. Took of my drysuit, changed my top to something less sweaty and then boarded the ship.

As we went on we were scanned for a fever and instructed to use handsanitiser. As we wander around we could tell there were several adjustments made to minimise spread of viruses. From a hand washing station as you entered the canteen, seating spaced greater than I think it was originally and hand sanitiser everywhere. During the safety speech for those who had just boarded the craft special focus was given to hand washing, keeping 1m apart and what to do if you feel sick. Having not been on this type of craft I can't be sure how different it is from normal.

The views on the journey up have been spectacular. Sitting on deck or staring out the window the time melts away, even more so when we were sitting in one of the hot tubs on deck! As we travel north it has been interesting passing by so many places we have already kayaked. Starting in Trondheim's fjord, then passing by Åsenvågsøya and then Rørvik. We also passed through Helgeland but I was asleep. (I am glad Callum didn't wake me with icy water. Flinging icy water on people sailing through the Arctic circle for a first time is an old tradition.) Kayak trip an amazing experience, with lessons learned about kayak expeditions. I wonder what Lofoten will teach us. By far our longest expedition.

As we arrived into Bodø we spied our good friend Sebastian sailing into port behind us aboard his ship Furix. We used our time "on shore" to visit him aboard his boat for a cup of tea. It was nice to be invited aboard and catch up on each other's journeys and plans. He is on an impressive sailing voyage: solo from Trondheim to Bodø a couple of weeks ago, now with various crews saining in the area, before turning south to Amsterdam then hopefully the Med, mostly solo.

Now we're on the 4 hour crossing on the Hurtigrutten to Stamsund, Lofoten where out latest kayak adventure truly begins!