“We are now in the Arctic circle,” I write my mum. She sends me an emoji filled text message back.
“π Congratulations ππππππΆπ§ Probably you will stay the only ones in the family π.”
We keep heading north, two days of just driving with no fjords but gas station burgers.
We stop for the Marmorslottet and stretch our legs during a morning hike to the roaring river which carved out the beautiful marble stone. And we stop at the Arctic Circle Center to take a picture and soak in the air.
Does it feel like the temperature dropped 5 degrees? Yes.
Itβs cold. Very cold. I keep wearing shorts. Sometimes with long johns underneath, sometimes with an additional pair of down shorts on top. But itβs still calendrical summer so I am stubborn and keep on doing it.
Also, I didn’t bring long pants.
We can’t shake off the feeling of Alaska when we pull into a secluded overnight spot by a stony river bed. Alaska and the American north-west have been our plans for the summer.
Now it is Norway and I am grateful for it.
I look at my phone. I can’t unsee the penguin my mum sent. There are no penguins in the Arctic.
I guess there was no polar bear emoji.



Genau, Schatz, der Pinguin war nur irgendwie Deko, ich dachte auch an die Weiberfastnacht, wo vΓΆllig “out of the blue” Pinguine auftauchen und wieder verschwinden.π§π§π
Another great adventure! I admire your stubbornness in sticking with shorts, although I have found that as I age, itβs better to stay ahead of the cold and dress warmly! What a wonderful trip!