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This really is NOT a walking story, as my legs wouldn't have enabled me to undertake more than a short stroll, the day after the marathon. Expecting this from past experience, I had booked up for a short cruise at the tourist information centre, taking their advice that this was the best one available to see the scenery of Arctic Norway.
It had been a bit of a risk, on Thursday morning as the rain fell outside, but the forecast was for it to clear up by the weekend - and that's what happened.
After a return visit to Storsteinen - using the cable car - I went to get the coach at Tromsø bus terminal at 4.00 p.m. Another runner from Dundee, Jo Williamson, had also booked the cruise. After a lengthy coach trip and a couple of ferry crossings with magnificent coastal scenery, we reached the little harbour of Skjaervøy, even further to the north-east.
The ship Polarlys (Polar Light) left Skjaervøy at 7.45 p.m. and brought us back through an Arctic wonderland – range after range of mountains, with glaciers coming down almost to sea level, and little fishing boats heading out from isolated coastal settlements. The Lyngen Alps looked particularly fine, rising to over 1500m (around 5000 ft). We enjoyed food and wine before going up on deck to take in the view, and chatted with a couple of other runners - Gertrud from London and Laura from New York.
As the Polarlys docked at Tromsø it was almost midnight, and the sun continued to shine on the snowy peaks. I had a last walk around the sunlit streets, knowing I might never experience this again.
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Contributor: Andrew Llanwarne
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Mountains and glacier seen from Lyngsfjord ferry
Dramatic mountains and sky from Lyngsfjord ferry
Looking back on the cruise to a sunlit peak near Skjervoy
Another impressive mountain north-east of the cruise ship
Approaching the Lyngen Alps
Jo, Laura and Gertrud on deck
Atmospheric view of fishing boat and midnight sun
Back at Tromsø
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