The D-day has finally come.A few hundreds more km to fly, some difficulties to overcome (northern airfields closed during the weekend being the most pressing in the morning) but the target is within reach, weather permitting.
Departing from Svolvaer, passing at 1.500 feet through a wilder landscape of "wave" clouds and snow-topped mountains, dotted here and there by sparse wooden houses.
A quick pit stop to refuel in Hammerfest and off again, flying over the 71st Parallel and the northernmost point in Europe.
And so Nordkapp was conquered, by doing some formation flying and low passes over the Nordkapp signpost and close the mountain side - a bit too close maybe, for the amusement of the tourists but also risking to be taken down in a rotor, thereby prematurely ending our adventure.
Not that the other days flying was 100% quiet and smooth, but today we definitely exceeded the daily dose of turbulence, crappy weather and hold-your-breath landings, enough to be able to enjoy a quiet dinner and the Tromso midnight sun marathon - and a quiet jet liner flight tomorrow to go back south.
Adventure time is finished, it is time to leave the little Diamond parked in the arctic city of Tromso, for somebody else to take it back home. And it is also time to lean back, relax and savour the memories of emotions, discoveries, fears and expectations of these days.
Bye Charlie Romeo, till next time.
What an amazing trip Filo, looks like a dream! Brava!
ReplyDeleteGrazie! A great trip indeed, although I didn't do much more than enjoying and taking pictures :)
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