Norwegian Landscape

I received an invitation to take a trip along the coastal towns of Norway. If I’m being completely honest, I didn’t really know too much about Norway, aside from the fact that the capital city is Oslo, they have a Norwegian Monarchy and that their currency is the Kroner, I didn’t really know much else about the place. So I suppose this trip was a wonderful opportunity to learn about the country, the culture and the people.

I arrived in the city of Stokmarknes where I (and my travelling buddies) was warmly welcomed by our Norwegian hosts. They drove us up to the lodge site which would be our main base for the duration of the trip. It was a moderate sized location, green, natural setting just off the main woodland area. Rows of small wooden cabins stood at the sides of the area creating a welcoming, outdoor, pleasant atmosphere. Nature was to be my best friend on this trip, well not completely, as I would be sleeping on a lovely cosy bed in my cabin. So I guess nature and I met half way!

My first morning there I awoke to the sounds of chatter coming from outside my cabin, realising that it was time to meet the group for breakfast. To say I was feeling a little groggy would be an understatement, for someone forgot to mention the fact that during the summer period in Norway there is no sunset for approximately four or five months. 24 hours of daylight? This was definably going to be a challenging and a unique experience for me.

Having overcome my initial shock of this ‘midnight sun’ concept, I was able to enjoy the days at a much more relaxed pace, fixing a routine in my head about appropriate sleeping times. I suppose it is a psychological state that when we see daylight outside, we think we should be up and about, doing things. But during the evenings here was a situation whereby I had to reside in my cabin, draw the curtains and try to fall asleep, knowing full well that the sun was out shining its rays upon the land. The curtains alone weren’t strong enough to shun the sun’s radiance, so it was upon me to use some initiative and stick long black bin liners to the windows, creating a dark canvas. This trick worked a treat. My room was now a shaded vessel, somewhere I could sleep contently for hours.

The lodge site was a wonderful environment to meet fellow travellers; people from all over the world had come to visit. We set up a large log fire in the centre of the outdoor site and invited other campers to cosy up by the warm fire. Yummy marshmallows were distributed and we all felt a sense of warmth and comfort. It was especially interesting hearing the tales of people’s travels, places they’d seen and people they’d met. We would stay out for hours on end, not realising the time – again due to the constant daylight.

I have learnt that Norway is known for nature attractions like mountains and the midnight sun. It is also famous for its fjords, two of which, the Geirangerfjord and the Nærøyfjord, feature on the UNESCO World Heritage list. The Sognefjord, the longest of them all, and the Hardangerfjord, famed for its cherry and apple trees are among the most visited. Stokmarknes is a very small town, and not largely populated. It is known for its beautiful sights and natural surroundings, many of which I have been blessed in viewing.

I was told that trolls are an important part of Norwegian folklore. They vary in size and appearance, but are invariably ugly and messy creatures, and always mischievous (if not downright nasty). They usually live in caves or deep in the forest, and only emerge from their hiding places after sunset – legend has it that they turn to stone upon contact with the sun. Several places in Western and Northern Norway have been named after them, such as Trollheimen, Trollstigen, Trollhatten and Trollveggen.

The group and I were invited to pay a visit to one of these troll fjords to see for ourselves. Although having been informed about them turning to stone upon contact with the sun, I wasn’t going to see any trolls this time around. Early morning I equipped myself for our planned day out along the Norwegian Sea. I embarked the large sea boat which came to shore to collect us and prepared myself for what was to be an adventurous journey.

Western Norway is famous for easily accessible fjords and mountains. We set sail in the direction of these fjords, and I felt a thrilling sense of excitement in my gut. To be out in the midst of the natural world, with only natural creation surrounding our sea boat, this was somewhat of a moving experience for me.

A few hours in, we were suddenly met by some very ghastly weather storms. Enormous waves came crashing against the boat thrusting it from side to side, up and down. I was thrown in all directions as I stood on the deck. I’ve never been sea sick before but this wild weather was causing my stomach to churn, I was feeling nauseated and before I knew it, I was almost about to vomit. In a panic I rushed over to the boatman and frantically informed him of my state. He gave me one powerless look and said “stick your head overboard”….and so I did!!! Thinking about it now, I feel extremely bad that I fed my recycled breakfast to the oblivious fish down in the deep, but I could not contain it any longer. That breakfast was mighty scrumptious in the morning but I couldn’t bare to think of the outcome.

“It tastes a lot better going down than coming back up” (Albert Einstein)

After almost an hour of this intense, heavy storm, the waves begun to slowly calm down until eventually the sea had just about settled.  I made my way below decks where the boatman instructed me to lie down along the seating area to rest myself. He handed me a glass of cold water and some dry Rich Tea biscuits. Apparently there is something about the texture of the biscuits that settlers the stomach. It acts as an absorbent. Hmm! Who knew? 🙂

Having relaxed for a while, my eye lids slowly became heavy. I realised I was actually tired from the lack of sleep so far and also the intense stormy weather that I had just been faced with. But no sooner than my eyes shut, I was abruptly awakened by the shrieking of excited voices coming from above the decks. “Come quick….. A WHALE!!.” Wow, I had never seen a whale in real life and so I willed myself to re-energise and view the spectacle.

A breathtaking sight! A beautiful large blue whale swam over the surface of the sea, showing us her stunning magnificence. She splashed and swayed so close to the boat, it removed all my previous anxiety. I was awe stricken. It was as though she was dancing in the water, to a sweet melody in the breeze; and we were her audience, gazing in amazement. To this day, it is a sight I will never forget!

We sailed over the vast Norwegian Sea, and now the sea had completely settled. We sailed at a very steady, calm pace able to enjoy the great views of the fjords and waterfalls around us. We pulled up to a harbour, disembarked the boat, and strolled around the mountainous locality. A fine chance to stretch my legs and keep my feet grounded for a short while. Soon lunch was to be served and by now my stomach was craving a refill of fuel.

There is nothing better than a lovely lunch, shared with friends amongst the beauties of the scenery of the Norwegian landscape….troll free (for this year at least). With various mountain climbs, boat rides, and other exploration, this journey through Western Norway has ultimately been one to remember.

July 11, 2006 | Categories: Nature, Quotes, Travel, Trips | Tags: Beauty, Coast, Colours, Environment, Greenery, Inspiration, Nature, Photos, Sky, Travel | Leave a comment