Autumn in Svea

Drift has started again in the mine after a pause over the summer and Svea is busy again. But our time is starting to be soon over - there is only one week left for us after this week. It will be sad to say "good bye" to Svea.

This week has been pretty cloudy, but even overcast can be beautiful. We had our weekly trip up to Varden, even though clouds were hanging on the mountain sides. But the trip was nice, and up on the Varden we were almost over the clouds. Fog gave a new touch for our little tour.

Time of the midnight sun is over

The sun hasn't set since 19th of April. It went under the horizon first time 22th of August. Then I was in Trondheim - and there it was dark at night time! I haven't actually been missing that... It's not getting yet dark here at nights, that we need to still wait couple of weeks.

One thing we're lacking here in summer time is moon. We get always a new moon over the horizon in summer time, but full moon isn't rising. To see the moon again at the sky gives me feeling of autumn. There isn't any doubt more that the summer is behind.

Trondheim

Trondheim is one of the biggest cities in Norway with its about 174 000 people. It's a beautiful city! Regardless of that we spend our time little bit out of the town. I'm not actually missing towns but really enjoyed my time in a summer cabin.

I needed to leave my dog in Longyearbyen, but I got company of "real" polar dogs. The puddle has grown up in Longyearbyen and was the one of the best mates for my dog. Now he's living in the mainland but the German shepherd is a faithful tour companion.

One of the best thing about living in the mainland is all the berries which can be picked from the forest. I guess my friend got tired of me harvesting rasberries...

Warm winds

Suddenly we got a reminder of summer. In the middle of August we got the warmest day for all summer. Temperature got all the way up to 17 decrees Celcius. It was really strange to feel warm wind on the face. I was just sitting on our veranda and enjoying the real summer. In summertime all the town was feeling so quiet, when almost all the children were on a summer holiday in the mainland. Now most of them were back and it was cosy to listen sounds of the playing kids. Our dog was following them carefully from his cable reel.

Predators around

We were planning to make our weekly walk to Varden. Before we started to walk we decided to drive and have a look if our polar bear were staying on where he used to be. But he was gone. We heard he had disappeared earlier on the morning and haven't been seen since. Mhhh... Trip to Varden isn't that long, so we left anyway. But even the walk is pretty short, we had a signal pistol and weapon with us... just in case...

On the way down we met a smaller predator. He was just curious and very hopeful if we had some food with us. But he didn't get anything from us.

Lazy days in Svea

Not any lazy days for me, but the big boy seems to have good time. He has been laying on the mountain side for a week now. It looks like he's not having any hurry for anywhere, so why he should be then moving himself. His food doesn't look any meaty but I hope he's having it enough that he doesn't decide to sneak in the settlement and get some fresh supply.

We got a little reminder that autumn is getting closer when mountains got a thin layer of snow on the tops. Picture is taken in Svea Nord. You can see the tunnel openings to the coal mine.

It's getting autumn

For me the midnight sun is one of the most natural thing: That's how it should be in the life - always sunlight. But it's getting to be autumn, I just have to admit it even I wouldn't like to. Light is changing somehow colour and intensity is much lower, specially at night time.

It start to be autumn also for my garden. I'll be now about three weeks away from home, just popping by there once in a while. First one week in Svea, then a week in Trondheim and going back to Svea for a week after that. And then it's already early September and definitely autumn.

Autumn also means that's it's time to start to put my garden down. All salad is already eaten, also almost other herbs as well, except parsley which growing like a weed. Tomatoes and pumpkin are allowed to continue to grow still for a while.

The first pumpkin is growing steadily. I'm already dreaming about dinner, having it together with tasty Svalbard reindeer.

Another small pumpkin, growing also promisingly.

I have got couple of handful with cherry tomatoes. There is still lot of flowers and some green tomatoes, but I'm not sure if they manage to ripe before autumn.

One afternoons harvest. Tasting better than sweeties!

My beans were not growing that successfully. Next year I would like to try some peas instead.

Black eyed Susan has been flowering since early June. Maybe I should have next year some more flowering plants instead of eatable ones. My small garden isn't giving that much to food, so flowering plants might give the same amount of pleasure as the pumpkin leaves.

Sixth week in Svea

Summer has got incredibly quickly. Weeks in Svea are just passing by.

We go still every week to Varden. Until now we have been lucky with weather, even though some days have had a total overcast.

Svea is pretty quiet as many people are now on summer holiday. But at the harbour season is on it's top: Green Frost delivering cargo, Nord Tradition on the way off from the quay full lasted with coal, Nord Venture on the way in to get coal.

On the way home over van Mijdenfjorden: The third coal boat is waiting it's turn to get to the quay. Akseløya middle of the picture, making a barrier between van Mijdenfjorden and Greenland sea.

Polar bear attack

Unfortunately not all the meetings with polar bear go fine, but usually those situation ends up with a dead polar bear.

One British boy lost his life and four other campers got injured on a polar bear attack. That happened by von Postbreen, about 40 km from the town. Injured were taken to the hospital by a helicopter. Usually helicopter is landing on the airport, wherefrom an injured one is taken to the hospital by an ambulance, but this time the helicopter landed directly by the hospital. It looked like they didn't want to loose any time.

The flag is at half-mast because of the funeral of Johannes.