We were collected from the Rica Arctic Hotel 5.45pm for the snowmobiling.
After being kitted out in ski overalls, mittens, boots and a motor bike helmet; a quick demonstration on how to start and stop, we were off.
It was a cloudless night and about zero degrees - quite mild. It is strange how you acclimatize.
I was last and Aaron was in front of me with the leader and 2 other tourists in front again, supposed to be about 25 metres apart. Well it wasn't long before I was behind as I just couldn't keep up. It took me a while to get confidence. After about 10 minutes I could just make out the red tail lights of the others ahead of me, and somehow they were not on the track that I was! Yes, I had missed the turn off! Anyway with much mirth I was rescued and we were all on our way again, now being able to keep up - just!
It was so much fun with the cold air and snow being blown up by the snowmobile ahead. A few more stops and looking for the northern lights before stopping at a hut and had tea and reindeer pieces. I didn't mention that we were travelling along a frozen river which leads up a fjord and out to the sea.
Aaron was really a natural and although I was doing 60kph he would still pull ahead of me, drop back then zoom off again.
We saw little glimpses of the Northern Lights which we're again spectacular, however the guide said it wasn't quite cold enough ( for some reason) and we were probably going to be a little early. Still we had seen them again and marveled at the dazzling show.
Tonight it was for snowmobiling and what fun it was. In the dark, with headlights on and kitted out, the snow and wind in your face - wonderful.
It was over too quickly. We both agreed that it was good to do this as we have a whole day snowmobiling in Longyearbyen on Saturday.
Tomorrow we take a 55 minute flight back to Tromso.
Today's photo shows the Ms Polarlys in Kirkenes Harbour with the fjord in the background