And here was the place for our husky dog sled ride! The dogs were ready for us, jumping and barking excitedly. But first, we were given extra warm clothing to wear over our own clothes: snowmobile suits, heavy wool socks, warm boots, and huge leather mittens. The air was icy cold, and snow was falling. We climbed onto the sled. I sat at the bottom of the sled, while Al sat behind me with his legs tucked safely beside mine. The musher stood behind us, and off we went!

The dogs were thrilled to run. They raced along at a fast trot, barking the entire time. We traveled across a frozen lake and through wooded areas, but most of the ride took us over tundra filled with dips and bumps, and I felt every one of them. I sat directly behind the dogs, which was a perfect place for taking pictures. I used one of the large mittens to shield my face and protect the camera from the cold. Somehow, I managed to capture a wonderful rear-view photo of the dogs doing what they loved most, running and barking. The ride lasted 40 minutes, and we definitely felt we got our money’s worth.

Later, the ship headed south into rough seas. Then came an announcement over the P.A. system: “Northern Lights sighted.” Coats, hats, gloves, boots, and a camera, and we rushed to Deck D. It was dark, icy, snowy, and blasted by gale-force winds. The deck was extremely slippery. (What were we thinking?) We could see a pinkish glow in the southern sky. Was that it? We could see the moon clearly, but still no real glimpse of the elusive Northern Lights.