Into the Arctic

Today we enjoyed a spectacular scenic day's sailing, it was a relaxing way to see some sights in northern Norway.

And off we go

Our destination was the Svartisen Glaciers, it took us several hours, during which we saw stunning vistas, to reach our destination. 

I grabbed us a spot at a table just to the left of these sailors

We passed a few small settlements

Some people were out in their boats

Eventually we spotted Vikingen Island the first site on our tour

Vikingen Island in the Nordland County of Norway sits on the line of the Arctic Circle. On passing the Island with its Arctic Circle marker at 66°33' we were sailing in the Land of the Midnight Sun. This was a cause of excitement for many of our fellow sailors who hadn't before been this far north. 

Vikingen Island with the Arctic Circle Marker

A closeup of the Artic Circle marker

From Abscond to Unsettled

I had expected to read more books last month as I was home all month. I suspect family history activities got in the way. 

As we are off travelling shortly and will not have too much time to read I am pleased that I am ahead of the game in the Goodreads Reading Challenge

2025 Reading Challenge

2025

READING

CHALLENGE

books completed

15 books ahead of schedule

64/100 (64%)

View Challenge

I must have been in a generous mood last month as I awarded rare (for me) five stars to two titles on the list, The Paris Novel and The Diamond Eye. 

Once again my month provided an eclectic mix of biography, history, fiction, murders and kids' books. Family was a theme in several of the works.  I particularly enjoyed Unsettled as it made me think and reflect on Australian history and made me ponder on any interactions that may have occurred between my white and indigenous ancestors.  Balcony over Jerusalem by John Lyons, a news journalist who keeps popping up on the ABC, providing me with a perspective on the ongoing situation in the Middle East. My four Libby accounts provided most of the eBooks I read in June.

BTW I also read a few that aren't yet listed on Goodreads.