hiking

Here goes, a review of our recent two-week trip to Norway. For a shorter version with only a few top photos and a little on how Norway felt for me as a country head over to the Norway post on my photo blog.
Here’s the more detailed account:
We started out by flying to Oslo, from where we had rented a car. On the way to our first stop we saw our first stave church in Heddal.

We were excited to go hiking in the norwegian countryside so on our first full day we hiked up to Gaustastoppen. Our physical fitness (or lack of it) became apparent quickly, as we toiled up the mountain puffing and sore and out of breath. Meanwhile we were constantly overtaken by norwegian families with small children who apparently considered this their sunday afternoon stroll. Those norwegians are just so fit! The view from the top was spectacular though and so worth the effort.

Cooling our feet in the icy mountain springs.

We moved on to our next stop to do the hike to famous Preikestolen. We loved the little cabins we rented along the way and this one was especially charming. The camping was Hamrane Hyttefelt in case anyone is planning a trip to Norway soon.

After our previous hike the way to Preikestolen seemed easy! We were lucky to reach the top in time to enjoy the great view of the turquoise fjord beneath it. Minutes later thick clouds came and we climbed down again in a dense fog.

Norway is such a vast country that we had to plan our route carefully to see all we wanted to see and yet not spend all day driving. We often took ferries which provided spectacular views of the fjords.

So much for part one and I have so much more to share! Again, for a short and sweet version, see the post on my photo blog.

I’ve taken up hiking with a few friends. Being outdoors and in motion feels cleansing after spending day after day, week after week in front of a computer screen.

We’re only taking little, easy trips right now, breaking in our boots and getting in the flow of walking regularly.

The more I work, the more I realize how important physical exercise is for my well-being. It’s always hard to balance my office job, my business (I guess you could call it two businesses now with the shop), my other hobbies and my need for rest. I could work all the time really, because I know my goals and am ambitious. If I didn’t force myself to listen to my body, rest frequently and get outside to exercise I’d get ill from exhaustion within a month. Hiking is a bit like yoga, it has its own rhythm and works wonders to calm and focus the mind.

On this trip we were in the woods for about three hours. We set out quite late and the air was cool and fresh, lovely golden evening light streaming through the trees. I got worried we wouldn’t be out of the woods until the sun set but we made it, happy and hungry. I did nearly fall asleep over my pizza in the restaurant we stopped in on the way home. Guess I have a way to go before I’m up to a full day or week trip!