Midnight Sun Fail

The whole tour group was asleep on the bus but for some reason we were wide awake. With little entertainment to occupy our restless minds we were happy to finally reach our first stop of the day, Kvaenangen Commune. This is where we finally let our resolve to resist chocolate muffins collapse and shared a little piece of paradise overlooking the gorgeous Nordic scenary. We then worked off the calories by climbing a signpost that was clearly confused and thought it was a tree and jumping around the little mounds of stones piled up to ward off trolls.

After browsing the traditional Samii souvenirs (antlers and reindeer hide) Megan walked off in search of a reindeer glimpsed from a distance. But all to soon it was time to jump back on the bus. Our destination was Olderfjord, from where we would take a night trip to see the midnight sun. All day we watched the sky anxiously for signs of midnight sun-destroying clouds and no one was allowed to mention the w-word: weather. Instead we referred to 'marshmellows'.
It was here that we witnessed the moose. We think. It was a shortlived experience but out the window of the bus there was definitely a large brown animal sitting casually on the side of the road. We both count it as an opportunity to tick wild-moose sighting off our Norway check list.

The marshmellows were looking good when we boarded the bus at 8:30pm. It was going to be a 2 hour drive to Nordkapp, The most Northern Point of Norway that can be reached by car or bus. With a few drinks to keep us lively for the late night we made our way further and further north, marshmellows the last thing on our minds.
We emerged from the bus at our destination and were very very glad to be wearing layers. Many layers: stockings, tights, socks, boots, jeans, singlet, thermal, long sleeve shirt, jumper, jacket, beanie, scarf, gloves and the hood up. Yes, we resembled large black beachballs, but on the plus side we weren't going to be blown away.
We turned in expectation to the sky. Where was the blue sky that we had experienced all day? Unfortunately all the talk of marshmellows had been a forerunner of things to come. The sky was literally a giant fluffy marshmellow. Of which somewhere behind was the midnight sun.
So while we should have seen this.

We instead saw this.

Regardless we are now educated about the midnight sun and the science behind such an event (explained in terms of knuckles revolving fists). And tomorrow we get to sleep in. Yay!