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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Day 2 - Norwegian fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier

What a fantastic start!

Civilized beginning, breakfast at 7am, met in lobby at 8:30am and off we went for a scenic drive to our gear center and kayak commencement. 

A 15 hour day filled with many laughs, stinky neoprene booties, rudder lessons, too many waterfalls to count, synchronized paddling lessons, 25 sheep, a museum tour, 6 porpoise whales and 1 seal...

We started our journey from Gudvangen made our way up the Naeroyfjorden 7miles then stopping in Odnes for lunch and a small hike, back into the kayak for another 3miles (our water home) unto Styvi, hopped an electric sheep fence to tour a historical museum of Norway and landed at our campsite, Skalmenes, at 6:30pm, in time to set up our campsite, cook, eat dinner and clean dishes before dark...

Wait a minute...It's 11:00pm and still light out! 

Light sleepers beware...bring your eyemask!

Great day, lunch and dinner! 

Will our arms be sore tomorrow? Will we flip our kayak? Will we ever be able to sleep? 

Stay tuned for more...

Enjoy some pix...

Packing it all in! Leaving Voss...

Wet suits and stinky booties on! If you take this trip...BUY your own booties!!!

We started our trip at Gudvangen...

Up the Naeroyfjorden...

Need I say more...?

Have kayak and smiles...will travel! Good news no claustrophobia in this kayak!

From the bow...

Midday stop, lunch, waterfall tour, mini hike and museum tour...

A little chocolate makes it all alright...

A room with a view...

Our room... :)

Our village...

Everything tastes better after hour eleven...

This is what we are heading up tomorrow...

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Day 1 - Norwegian Fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier

We are here!

Plane: JFK to Bergen...6 hour flight
Bus: 30 minute bus trip to Bergen train station
Train: 2 hour layover, 1.5 hour train ride to Voss...
Hotel: Checked in to Park Hotel Vossevangen
Walk about...walk about town, latte @ Tre Bror, early dinner, Mexican, go figure, @ La Bodega, debriefing meeting, hiking boot inspection and a "re" packing lesson...think 6 days of kayaking and hiking in snow clothes plus sundries packed into a watermelon...what?!?! --- just sayin' !!

Our REI guide is a witty bright eyed energetic guide and the ultimate ambassador for Norway,  Einar, and we have a nice group group of 8 people...

Off to bed at 11:00PM Norwegian time (5:00PMEST)...7:00am breakfast, gear check, pack kayak and easy 10 mile paddle to our campsite...

Weather: 61• raining...

What a difference 24 hours makes!!

Enjoy some pix...

Bergen train station

First latte of the day...

View from the train to Voss

Hello Voss! We are happy to be here!!

Known for their trolls...I fit right in!

View from our hotel room...hi Audrey!

A delerious ride on a lamb...

Some Voss street art...

Debrief meeting and course mapping...

What?!? Six days of clothes et al in there...??? Smell ya later!!! 

✈️🚌🚂🚣🏼⛺️🌁 ---we are covering all modes of transportation and types of dwellings...👍🏻😜😃

Chat tomorrow! 

Ps...food talk...reindeer meatballs and brown goat cheese! Holy crap...😖 good think I bought candy bars!

Departure - Norwegian Fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier --- July2015

We are off! Over packed and undertrained...but happy!!

Looking forward to our overnight flight to Bergen and dreaming about reindeer meatballs and elk stew...NOT! 

My artistic rendering of what is to come...

God natt! :) 🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴🇳🇴

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Getting ready - Norwegian Fjords to Galdhoppigen to the Nigardsbreen Glacier --- July2015 -

It's that time of year again! The big July challenge...this year?

Kayak 60 miles of Norwegian fjords to hike and climb Norway's highest peak, Galdhoppigen and mainland Europe's largest glacier, Nigardsbreen in 8 days...

Average 15 miles of kayaking a day with a couple of hours of hiking and a couple 10 hour hiking days...details to follow...

As always, I love to challenge myself, get outside my comfort zone and grasp a hold of the beautiful vistas our world has to offer!!!

What's different this year?

Yay!!! 🎉 Audrey is back on this trip with me!!! Boo...😭!!! I am not in the best tip top shape, seemingly I haven't met a whoopie pie I haven't liked throughout the year...it's the night before I leave and I haven't packed and to top off the positive vibes...I think I maybe having a little kayak claustrophobia anxiety...😜

Off we go tomorrow - stay tuned, see the sights through my hiking mama eyes and grab a few chuckles along the way! 

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Ps--- send along any and all kayaking advice!