Day:300, Words:300

Last night was some of the worst driving conditions, I have ever encountered. Luckily, the trips were short, but the visability to be kind, was limited. The large amount of fresh snow combined with the hefty winds created a cauldron of swirling chaos. I could hardly see a metre in front of me and at one point, had to stop the car completely, engulfed in a blizzard, that looked like something a snow machine would create for a Holywood Christmas film scene.

Outside of Hasvik, a largish fishing boat capsized, sparking an emergency rescue. Such an event is not uncommon and there have been situations that have ended in tragedy. The fact that full winter storms have hit at the end of October instead of early January is a suprise to even the oldest of locals.

The effects of the storm were not limited to the sea. Roads were closed throughout the entire northern region. The daily bus from Tromsø to Burfjord was hit with a series of delays. Due to the rough seas, the bus couldn't make its scheduled crossings on the ferries. To make matters worse, the Kværnangsfjellet mountain pass was closed due to the amount of snow and scary stormy conditions. This particular piece of road is the cause of many frustrating times for those trying to get to and from Tromsø for flights, work conferences and the world's most northern university.

For those on the bus heading towards Øksfjord, plans had to be adjusted as the notorious road remained closed, certainly not for the first time this season. Living up here can sometimes be tough, yet everyone takes the good with the bad and the road closures, cancelled buses and boats that can't pull into the ports are things that will occurr from time to time.

 

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