Team Norway Cycling Team!

Year 6

Perhaps my final Norwegian post?! We arrived home in Minnesota last Tuesday in the wee hours of the morning. Still Processing images.

Molly and me in our official cycling garb

Hurtigruten arriving in Kirkenes the morning after we had arrived. I was up birding on a mountain overlooking the fjord. The coastal ferry is a great way to see Norway. It sails from Bergen all the way up to Kirkenes in the Arctic near the Russian border.

The sun went away mid morning, but I still enjoyed these Moose and Whooper Swan Families

Same Time Next Year Aurora Borealis

Year 6,

For 30 years a group of close friends and family have gathered to celebrate the end of summer on Labor Day Weekend. We call ourselves the Same Time Next Year Gang. Given my Northwoods cabin is small, we burst at the seems with every bed occupied in the cabin and bunk house. This year folks are even also renting cabins at two small nearby resorts.

For such a significant anniversary, the Northern Lights shown last night. Yup, Lady Aurora danced above Northstar Lake. The forecast is for another dance tonight. Let’s keep our fingers crossed.

Northern Lights Dance Over NorthStar Lake

Three Generations of Hoeg Women!

When Bored … Look South … Milky Way!

Is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer an Impostor?!

Year 6

Don’t let young children under the age of seven learn the contents of this post! Santa’s reindeer are NOT boys!!! They’re girls!  Read on below the photos, but here are some Reindeer images I took last week near the North Cape of Norway … Nordkapp.

Yup, I learned this fact about antlers from the Norwegian locals while up in the Arctic. Apparently male reindeer lose their antlers before the winter, while female reindeer keep their antlers (postulate: to defend their young). At Christmas, only girl reindeer would have antlers.

Thus, when Santa calls out in the classic poem… Twas the Night before Christmas:

  • Now, Dasher! now, Dancer! now, Prancer and Vixen!
    On, Comet! on Cupid! on, Donder and Blitzen!
  • To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall!
    Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!

He should really be saying something like:

  • Now, Diane! now, Dancer! now, Princess and Vivian!
    On, Carol! on Kristi! on, Debby and Betty!

I guess Rudolph should be named Rita!

Some Sea Eagle (White-Tailed Eagles) images from the same day near the North Cape of Norway (Nordkapp)