Third Contact

Right, that’s that ticked off the to-do list!
The aurora forecast was good for between ten and midnight so I stayed up just in case. Sure enough ‘the lights have made an appearance’ was the announcement. Except that they really weren’t visible to the naked eye! Extra 1 is a 13 second exposure where I luckily pointed in the right direction and which at least proved the announcement was correct. Then nothing, so after giving S a rather muted update I hit the sack. Two minutes later came the second announcement. Arctic gear back on, we both headed up to the top deck and this time the lights were fantastic ….. but not for long as we were nearing a port of call and the captain switched the deck lights back on. Back to the cabin, kept the Arctic gear on, laid down for a little while, then back out after the ferry was well underway again. The crowd was down to a handful by now but all gazing at a faint aurora. I nipped back down, asked for the lights to be switched back off, back to the top deck and …. the whole sky was giving us a show! Not really bright but clearly visible. Camera settings changed, monopod set up, assumed the brace position, click, click, multi click. Two happy chappies headed back to their kip.
If the lights make another appearance we’ll be better prepared!