Day 9 - JFK bound

Home again home again...

All the reviews about this trip were spot on! It was tough, 15-17 hour days, cold, raining and windy 7 out of the 8 days, wore the same clothes for 6 of the 8 days, and the views were out of sight spectacular! 

Reflections on the Norwegians we met and places we saw...Norwegians are country proud, very very hardy, nature lovers, can and do live off their land and are major meat eaters (think lamb, goat, reindeer and red deer balls all day everyday...)  

Personal reflections: I appreciate this special adventure time set aside in my year, it allows me to reflect, refocus, reenergize, and reboot.  I take a personal inventory, try to understand myself better, set some new goals for the year ahead, stretch my physical and mental comfort zones and have a blast! 

I am grateful to meet the most amazing people along they way, learn from them, laugh with them, and share the physical and mental triumphs.

Where to next time...????

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Gear to go...memorialize our inner Norwegian Viking vibes...

Smooth Tesla airport ride from our awesome guide Einar! 

Reunited with our Norwegian Air blankets on the ride home...

Feeling the 39k high...

Day 8 - Norwegian Fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier

Nigardsbreen Glacier --- would take three days to cover the entire glacier. Largest in mainland Europe...

Up and at it...started out in pouring rain...today is full regalia, harness, crampons and ice axe for a 6 mile hike on the Nigardsbreen Glacier. 

Have you ever taken a little boat over a glacier lake? The water was the most inviting blue green. The sediment from the glacier is dumped into the lake so the bottom looks white. Rumor has it the lake will be completely filled in with glacier sediment in 200 years. 

Upon arriving on the glacier the first wonderous sight was a snow avalanche - which also included ginormous rock boulders, they littered the ground like peanut shells at a baseball game. 

Harnesses on, crampons on, rope attached... RAIN STOPPED! :) 

The Glacier was awesome, the most beautiful ice blue I have ever seen. Our glacier guide, Adam, guided us in, around and over ice alleys, tunnels and crevasses. We received a fantastic glacier education, learned that Norway had a mini ice age in 1749. 

One slip for me, resulted in a fantastic bruise (no pic available...) but luckily no slides nor falls into ice abysses...if you ever take this trip, start early, the routes get chopped up by the loads of people that follow. 

As we boarded the boat back to land..the clouds opened up and HERE COMES THE RAIN AGAIN...!

Our Einar always got us up early and to the summits before all the others! The best guide ever!

Enjoy some pix!

Not a happy climber gearing up in the pouring rain...

Over yonder lies the glacier...

Holy flying snow and boulders...

Don't lean to far in!

Small crevasse...

Back of the chain gang...

Front of the chain gang...

Glacier bound...

Partners! 

A little ice tunnel for the claustrophobia does a woman good!

The Norwegian Fjords July 2015 gang ...

Freshly picked strawberries after a long day...

What a day! 

Back to Voss, gang dinner and departure tomorrow...

What a trip!

Live, love and treasure adventure! 

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Day 7 - Norwegian fjords to Galdhoppigen and to the Nigardsbreen Glacier

Today is Galdhoppigen summit, the tallest mountain in Norway.

Starting off with 6:30am breakfast buffet battle amongst the Danish and Chinese tour groups...😜it was all elbows and some shoving...

Beautiful blue sky, sunny, three layers for sure kind of weather day...the best weather we have had so far...our climb started by 8:30am....

I cannot tell a lie, we started a ways up...our gain today was only 2000ft...

We leapt like goats over the rocks, snow and crevasses, roped up like a chain gang picking up litter on the side of the highway.

The views were spectacular and we made in up and down in 6.5 hours. We were the second group of the day to reach the summit...before the herds of hundreds.

We were so fast today that we made an extra side run for a coffee and zip line ride in Lom before heading to Nigardsbreen for our glacier climb tomorrow.

Another 15 hour fantastic day! 

Enjoy some pix...

Layered up and ready to go...

Where we are heading...

Me and my shadow...

Roped up and ready...

Who doesn't like a good summit?

Do they make 51 glasses????

Zoom in to see the herds of people...

Are you safe? Some instructions..

What a scene!

Just in case summiting Norways highest peak wasn't enough for the day, why not take a zip line over roaring rapids? 

Mainland Europe's largest glacier tomorrow...

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Day 6 - Norwegian fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen glacier

OMFKG!!!! Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water!!!

Today was the toughest day so far! It started out lovely, with a beautiful homemade breakfast by the fjord made by Dee and Hege on a warmish sunny day..then without warning the winds picked up, the white caps started and the swells grew to 1 1/2 ft. , ok maybe not bad if you are on a boat...but in a kayak??!! Holy take on water batman...we were elbow deep at all times...

We left Fresvik to paddle to the sognefjord. Pictures don't do the weather nor waves justice...we paddled and paddled and we still seemed to go backwards. It took us 5 hours to cross and paddle 15 miles. We had to take two breaks before our arms fell off. At any given time both of our kayak skirts were filled with water and our hair and faces were soaked. 

When we finally we reached our destination, I was happy to pack in the kayak and start the hiking part of our journey! 

A little champagne and strawberries to celebrate the kayak finale.

Next we traveled 3 hours to Jotunheimen National Park. Stayed at an authentic Norwegian lodge, Elveseter. Enjoyed a family style reindeer ball dinner with 100 other people. 

Tonight is repack and get ready for a 6:30am breakfast and another big summit day. 

Dee and Hege putting on a spread!

Paddle paddle paddle...OMFKG!!!

Kayakflotilla...hiding behind rocks and hanging onto to each other so we didn't go adrift during a small arm break...

 Sketch...and soaking...

Celebrating another first for 50...kayaking! 

Elveseter 

A few of the hundred for reindeer balls...

Weather: white caps, wind, wind and more wind with a tease of intermittent sun!

Fashion update: lost the wet suits and booties reunited with our duffle bags! 🎉🎉🎉

Casualty: Audrey's cell phone...it must have taken on water along the crossing, almost lit on fire as it internally fried...RIP big iphone6!!! 

Tomorrow - Galdhoppigen 

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Day 5 - Norwegian fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier

OMKG!!!! Oh my kayaking goodness...Not a lot of pictures today...imagine--- 2 novice paddlers paddling 15 miles, upstream in white caps...water soaked, for at least half the trip, 7 hours later...we landed, sea legs and all in the most beautiful Fresvik. 

We feasted on the most amazing meal and hospitality (Dee & Hege) of the trip so far!

We started the day paddling up the Aurlandsfjord, caught a few more goat kisses, porpoises, waterfalls and waves along the way. Stopped for a shabby chic well deserved lunch @ Simlenes...we learned how to land and disembark on slimy boulders! Happy to report no casualties...

After some Norwegian salmon and apples we made fast work of the homemade pastries and packaged brownies...everything tastes better when you work hard for it! 

Party over...

As we started off again, the wind and current picked up (against us), the waves got a little bigger ...at least we are so "professional" now we knew to veer into shore and stick close to make our paddling a little easier...

Around the point we saw the biggest village we have seen so far, Fresvik. Looks like an old beautiful Maine town.

Audrey and I took a little walk around after settling into luxury...a cabin with a heater, our own sink and toilet! we are sooooo spoiled... 

As I am always up for a challenge and like veering off the road well traveled...I decided to jump in the Fjord from the dock, a few times, then jump in the hot tub! 

Fjord water temp???  Helloooo...52 degrees... Brrrrrrr....

Dinner at 7pm was out of sight! Fresh salad from the hosts garden, homemade quiche and homegrown potatoes...oh yeah and sausage made from their animals on the farm 😳...apparently very tasty! 

We took a tour of their greenhouse, and gardens and fed their pigs (sparky and cherry bomb), I was comatose by 11:00pm!!!

Another big day tomorrow! 

Stay tuned, sorry about the pix today...think I have kayak elbow!!! Is there such a thing?

 Norway = Big waterfalls! 

All started out civilized. Audrey's talented behind the head shot... :) 

Curious about the garbage bag??? 

Yes our trailer kayak was equipped with our luggage strapped to the top... 

🎶I petted a goat and liked it...🎶 think I forgot to brush my teeth so she didn't want to kiss me...

Winds picking up more... pulling around the corner into Fresvik...beautiful sight...for so many reasons...

Our happy abode for the night...green roof and all!

The view from our room! 

Fjord jump...brrrr...baby it's cold in there...

Audrey obliging, the next morning, a hot tub photo op in three layers of hamster clothing, sans water !!! (Previous night hot tubbers wouldn't sign media release forms...😜)

Weather - cloudy, windy, raining and 54 degrees

Fashion update: there is none, day 5 in the same clothes only changes occur by number of layers...we are a pod of hamsters...👍🏻

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Day 4 - Norwegian fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier

What time did we go to bed???

Up and moving a bit slower this morning, slept like a baby (blackout shades and all... :) ) happy to not be sore, but popped a couple alleve just in case, down to breakfast by 8:30am...although my body is clean, my clothes are not...I am convinced I smell like a hamster...nothing I can do, bad packing strategy!

You maybe wondering...how are my heels? History will tell and show the layers and layers of skin that were shredded from my heels from hikes of ole!! This time...I only got a few hot spots...the secret? perhaps the new socks I was gifted from my lovely thoughtful hubby - wright socks and all my skin seems to be staying on my heels so far...

We had a seemingly short day today...After we scarfed down homemade Norwegian pancakes, berries, fresh bread and vegetables, cleaned the kitchen and house, we donned our boots and hiked 3miles down to our water homes to start our trip from Dyrdal to Undredal. 

Paddlers, start your engines!

During our 13mile paddle from Naeroyfjorden to Aurlandsfjorden, no stops, we saw seals, dolphin whales, rode some wake waves ( see how brazen we are becoming...?), we got so close to a waterfall we showered in its mist, kissed a goat or two, and crossed the fjord like pros! 

Only casualty...my reading glasses! Fell victim to the fjord...How the hell am I going to see???

Low and behold, Undredal is a bit of a tourist trap! LOL!!! NOT...but it does have a store...coke zero and readers! Yay!!! 

Population 70...first church in the area and known for the best goat cheese in Norway!!!! 

Amazing...

Weather today - cloudy & 60

Early"ish" to bed...bigger day tomorrow...

Enjoy some pix...

View from our room in Draego...

Who says don't look back? I say look back, remember and appreciate how far you've come!!!

Ready to launch to Getz / Schaus trailer kayak, luggage in tack, wrapped in a garbage bag and strapped to the top...yeehaw!!!

🎶Audrey kissed a goat and liked it!🎶...

Aaawwww!!! Two happy girls in their trailer kayak! :) 

Our goat cheese tasting dinner...done early tonight...10:30pm

Waiter--"hello, we are closed now, how may I help you to go?"

Bigger bigger day tomorrow---

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Day 3 - Norwegian Fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier

Rise and shine, day 3 proves to be a big challenge and made for a 17 hour day!

Up at 7am, huge breakfast, breakdown of camp, pack and re packing of our bags...what to bring what to leave behind  in the kayak, those are the pressing questions for the morning!

We are getting the hang of kayaking, most of the time we paddle in sync and all the time are laughing... well maybe not all the time...there was panic in our voices and on our faces as we set off to cross the fjord, trying to out run a ferry boat, a motor boat and a high speed tourist boat...and not capsize!

Mission successful...Why do the two Grenwich girls cross the fjord? To hike 3700' feet of course! From sea to snow...

We paddled from Skalmenes to Drydal, then donned our hiking boots and packs and started up! After 3miles up we stopped in Dreaego to meet our hosts for the night and grab a quick snack. Onward and upward from there...we passed the high farms and yet higher farms, sheep, waterfalls and rushing streams galore! This is the largest amount of snow this part of Norway has seen in years...we made our way around Vassete navigating calf deep quick sand like mud and rushing water. It's straight up for 1000'...ugh! Then we hit snow, my favorite! At 6:30pm we hit the top...yay, lunch!!!

What goes up must come down! Ugh!!!!

My least favorite part of hiking...going down...I am already missing three toenails...

Made it back to our Draego guest house at 9:00pm...showers all around, dinner at 10:30pm -reindeer stew (heard it was delish, I'll pass) - rice and broccoli for me...ice cream and berries for dessert...to bed at 12am...

Ps- it's still light out!!!!

Enjoy some pix...

Morning wake up call - sheep bells! Who let the sheep out?!?!

A little look back at camp Skalmenes...whew made it across in one piece and dry!

Group selfie on the way up...lost the wet suits and booties for the day...

Vassete...mountain trout in this lake...trying to charm Audrey into catching me dinner!

Holy sheep, this is a long day!

Where the hell did these people come from? How did they get those lawn chairs up this high? Who and what is a Hulder???

Up up we go in the snow...

Don't cheer yet Audrey, false summit...

Now we can celebrate...3700' feet up in one day...

Remember this pic from yesterday? Looking up from our camp...

Here's looking down from the top...our little green patch of camp across the way...

What a hike, what views...onto tomorrow...PoC... 15mile paddle...

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