HIGHLIGHTS FROM 2010
Those are the first days of a new year. We all look forward to the next summer, but before leaving last year behind we would like to go over what happened at Gentle Giants during the 2010 season. It was, except for all the wonderful whale encounters, also a summer with threatening ash and a visiting walrus.
April was the month when Iceland ruled the world. Everyone still remembers Eyjafjallajökull, the Icelandic volcano which shocked the world through spouting ash in incredible amounts. It caused problems not only for local farmers but also for the aeroplane traffic all over the world. The tourism business in Iceland bit its nails but 2010 turned out to be a good summer after all. Iceland seems to know how to put itself on the world map and this time we realised that we are nothing against nature. Again we see how unpredictable nature is, just like when whale watching.
1st of May is always a special day to us at Gentle Giants. That is when the first tour of the year leaves the harbour. Daniel, Lia and Bessi started up the season together with dolphins, minkes and humpbacks.
Danni enjoying white-beaked dolphins.
In the middle of May, Iceland (Dalvík) got the honour to hold the 2010 European Boat and Line Championship (EFSA); an annual sea angling competition. 142 registered anglers competed in many different fields during one week. Our captains Bessi and Óðinn were there on Faldur and Sylvía and enjoyed having new groups of people onboard every day, as the anglers rotated on the boats. That gave our experienced captains a chance to meet new fishermen from all over Europe - enjoying themselves big time when practising old Icelandic traditions.
In the end of May we welcomed two new guides to our team; Brynjar and Stefanía.
June started like a perfect whale month. Skjálfandi bay was a paradise for whale watchers and the blue whales arrived like expected. They shared the bay with humpbacks, minkes, dolphins and harbour porpoises. Other old friends also returned; the whole GG crew was complete again and ready for another high season.
The blue whales arrived in the beginning of June.
July was busy as always. People from all over the world boarded our beautiful boats to see the whales of Húsavík. Everyone was just as surprised when it seemed like the biggest whales decided to take holidays for some time. We had whales on our tours, and often very good encounters, but our passengers had to accept that they did not reach a length of more than ten metres.
During the high season minkes were the most common whales.
But not only whales inhabit Skjálfandi bay. Also fish – and loads of it! With 40 years of fishing tradition, we annually arrange a sea angling competition during the local festival Mærudagar (“Candy Days”). People of all ages participated and the event, held in the end of July, is growing bigger every year.
People of all ages participated in our sea angling competition.
August is still a high season month and the staff of GG was happy to make a recreative excursion together. It turned out to be another unforgettable staff trip by Gentle Giants. Our destination was Naustavík, a magic place on the opposite side of the bay. There we enjoyed good Icelandic lamb cooked by Atli from Restaurant Salka, we made a bonfire and chilled together until darkness fell over the bay.
GG crew members with family in Naustavík.
During this month summer is replaced by autumn. There is no more midnight sun and bad weather is more common – but the whales do not care about that. They have to come up to the surface to breathe whatever the weather.
September was an exciting month with loads of things happening by Gentle Giants. The weirdest thing was probably our encounter with a walrus. The GG crew was on a trip to Flateyjardalur when we suddenly saw something giant crawl up on the beach from the sea. The big tusks revealed that it was a walrus. It was just a few metres away, waving its head from side to side, snorting like seals do. It had a big wound and was probably exhausted - who knows how long it had swum to reach Flateyjardalur...? We asked ourselves; ”Why go to Greenland when you can see walruses just around the corner". It was really cool!
A very unexpected but interesting encounter.
In the end of the season the biggest whales returned from their holidays. September was very good whalewise. It was also the month when Gentle Giants was represented at Vestnorden Travel Mart by Stefán, Daniel and Lia. There they met up with travel agencies from all over Europe and except for presenting our classic tours they also introduced our new products for the upcoming season; Pro-Fishing and Puffins Exclusive. Follow the links to learn more about those new adventures.
Danni and Lia representing the company at Vestnorden.
Preparations for summer 2011 are in full swing by some of the GG staff members. Our captains spend the wintertime in the fishing business while most of our guides study or work. But we all have one thing in common – we are eagerly awaiting the next season to start.
Remember that life is not the days that passed by, it is the days that you remember. Welcome to experience unforgettable adventures with us, here at Gentle Giants.
(LIA)