Arrived Skibotn, did the polar plunge!!

Hello all!

Today we left at 8am on our journey to Skibotn. We got a ferry after about 10 minutes. Apparently this ferry line splits Norway in two, and when the weather is bad and it is cancelled causes all sorts of chaos. But we had some sunshine today initially - hooray!!

We drove through Narvik and stopped for a grocery shop for Laura and Kahn (our cooks). First time I didn't buy any bad snack foods - yay!!!

Next stop was at a polar zoo. It was $40 though, I didn't go in because I spent so long at Skansen in Stockholm the other week and saw all the polar animals. Instead I went for a 20-30 minute walk on the main road. All I could hear was waterfalls and birds - amazing ! I enjoyed the beautiful scenery but then worried that I'd run into some wildlife so headed back. We had seen a moose earlier in the wild, don't think I'd like to run into one up close!

Did some exercises on the bus with Leah and Caitlin while we waited for the 15 or so zoo goers. Have snacked so much and been on the bus so much - bad combination. Usually I'm a really active person so I've felt a bit gross recently.

We then made it to camp in skibotn! I am in a cabin with Libby, Toben, lauren, Ivana and Leah. We lucked out and have a wonderful heater and a shower in our room - what a luxury! 

Then came the polar plunge. There is a freezing cold river here and Topdeck have a tradition of getting people to jump in. Most of us did so! It was SO COLD. I couldn't feel my feet after running in! First I ran in and then ran out to the sauna. About 20 of us packed in this tiny room and Kahn made it so hot I thought I might faint!!! Caitlin and Sam convinced me to go back and jump off the bridge into the water like a few others had. So off I went. Susie, me, ben, Neil and Sam all did it. Again - freezing !!!!!! I screamed like a little girl the whole way down because it was scary knowing how cold it'd be! Ben gave me some pre jump schnapps for liquid courage. 

Tonight we had yummy chicken casserole and are about to melt marshmallows on the campfire - delicious! 

Another fantastic day, off to north cape tmro!!!!! Although pretty much midnight sun already as last night I walked to my room at 12 and it was bright as!!