2014 - OCEAN PRINCESS - NORTH CAPE

THIS STOP IS BILLED AS NORTH CAPE, THE NORTHERN MOST PART OF EUROPE BUT WE ACTUALLY PARK IN HONINGSVAG & WHILE NORTH CAPE WAS OFFERED AS AN EXCURSION, I OPTED FOR A BOAT RIDE TO AN ISLAND REPUTED TO BE COVERED WITH BIRDS.

SO - I HOPE TO SEE A PUFFIN OR TWO.

GETTING THERE, WE HAD TO GO UP AND OVER A PLATEAU AND DOWN THE OTHER SIDE. SOME NICE SCENERY ALONG THE WAY....

HERE'S A FISH DRYING RACK....

NOTE THE GRASS ON THE ROOF..

ONTO THE BOAT FOR OUR TRIP OUT TO STAPPEN ISLAND... THESE FOLKS MIGHT NOT BE DRESSED FOR THIS.
IT IS QUITE PLEASANT ON SHORE BUT I EXPECT IT TO GET A LOT COLDER OUT ON THE WATER. I TAKE THE OFFERED OVERALLS, EVEN IF THEY ARE ABOUT A FOOT TOO LONG. I HEAD FOR A SHELTERED WING NEXT TO THE WHEELHOUSE & DON'T MOVE AS I WOULD TRIP OVER...

NOT LONG BEFORE WE START SEEING BIRDS BUT STILL A WAYS TO GO BEFORE STAPPEN..

CORMORANTS I THINK.....

LOOK AT THE FEET ON THE BLACK & WHITE BIRDS. RAZORBILLS MAYBE.... NO PUFFINS YET...

ANOTHER OF THE SHIPS DANCERS. AUBREY I THINK HER NAME IS. LOOKING A TAD GREEN ALREADY...

A PUFFIN? ..... ONE PUFFIN!

GANNETS .... LOTS & LOTS OF GANNETS....

A PUFFIN? OR MAYBE THE SAME PUFFIN!

THERE SURE WERE A LOT OF BIRDS , THOUSANDS IN FACT, BUT WE NEVER LANDED, SO NEVER GOT UP CLOSE OR HAD A STABLE PLATFORM. THE BOAT MOVED AROUND QUITE A BIT.

GOOD FUN & I WAS DRESSED FOR IT, WHICH HELPED...

HEADING BACK TO SHORE NOW.... HERE'S A FISH EAGLE BEING ATTACKED BY SOMETHING

OUR GUIDE TAKING A PASSENGERS PHOTO JUST AS WE MISSED THAT RAIN COMING IN.

DEFINITELY A PUFFIN THIS TIME....

A SOLO REINDEER....

THAT'S NORTH CAPE IN THE FAR DISTANCE...

AND SOME PRETTY BEACHES .....

THE OUTSKIRTS OF HONINGSVAG & A QUICK GLIMPSE OF LITTLE HERD OF REINDEER BEHIND THE HOUSE..

I DID HAVE SOME MUSSELS IN A RESTAURANT BUT NOT THESE ONES...

TIME FOR A DRINK IN THE ALCOHOL FREE ICE BAR .....

AND HERES SOME REINDEER, THAT I SAW JUST AS I WAS GOING UP THE GANGPLANK TO THE SHIP..