I was briefly N of the Arctic Circle in October, '68, in maneuvers with the Nato fleet in "Operation Silvertower" in the Norwegian Sea, near Iceland. The temps were well below freezing the whole time, but it never dipped under 0 degrees F. Our only liberty port on that cruise was Edinburgh, Scotland. It was cold enough there to wear our blues ashore, but I remember how green the vegetation was compared to the drab gray of the sea, and that there was no snow on the ground. Maybe it was so warm because we were in the Gulf Stream.

Great fun, I got a chance to operate very closely with Soviet destroyers and naval recon aircraft. The Bisons would fly close enough to us I could see their airmen taking pictures of us through the plexiglass blisters on their aircraft. Nato was pretending to invade Norway, the Russians were pretending to defend it.

I was awarded the Order of the Blue Nose for crossing the Circle. I already had earned The Order of the Golden Dragon (for crossing the International Date Line). I never did cross the Equator, though. I hear that is a dreadful intiation ceremony. I also crossed the Prime Meridian on the way home (we returned via the Channel) but I do not recall any ceremony for that one.

I never saw England, except for a glimpse of the Isle of Wight through binoculars.