The Long Way Home!
Sorry this is late. I could not get on the internet tonight. We left Berlevag at 9 am sharp...which is a small miracle when you consider that herding artists is like herding cats, not always successful. We drove 45 minutes along the most spectacular hi way only to find that the mountain pass was closed and we had to wait 1.5 hrs for a convoy. A snow plow leads and we all follow. When they close the road there is a permanent arm that comes down and blocks the road, like we have at a railway crossing and a permanent sign that posts times of convoys. For someone who normally feels isolated I cannot imagine being cut off from the rest of the world. But I really like the convoy idea.
The Reindeer were in herds across the Tundra, and we found these two hanging out near someones house. We saw many herds running freely. The sun was spectacular and it turned the snow to shades of yellow, pink and blue. A ride that we were told would be 4 hours was 7.5 hrs....time seems to be of no real consequence here. Last night while eating dinner, the most amazing choir sang in the lobby of our hotel..... no matter what the language it always amazes me how music moves me.I hope I can one day do this with my work.
Today to Oslo and tomorrow home (well not really...it takes me 2 days to make it home!)
Fish drying racks.
HOME
4 days traveling to get home. -31C here this morning, but grateful for many things along the way. On the plane from Oslo I sat with an amazing Canadian/Icelandic man who helped Inuit start their own fishing business, so he shared some of his life and Iceland's history with Canada. Made my connection by the skin of my teeth in Toronto thanks to some generous folks who let me cut in line in security..... Had a hotel room and bed probably 3x the size of ones I have slept in the last 3 weeks. Met a dear friend for breakfast who I don't get to see as often as I would like, she helped me process my last 2 weeks, and set some goals for the future. The pilot on my last flight home is one I have seen flying in the North for many years, he makes it feel like home. And flying home over the frozen North.........as the commercial says .....priceless. Amazing how some time away can make us appreciate what we take for granted!