Trip Day 5

Saturday August 12

Time to leave Oslo. James and I agree that one could spend much more time here. So much to see and do. It has been great.

Suitcases in front of the door at 7:30 am. The bus leaves at 8:30 am. First photo at 8:42. Weather looks a little unfriendly. Golden arches in the background, ha-ha. Everywhere.

I looked up on the map on my iPhone where we are going but actually I was a bit wrong. We are spending two nights in Lærdal which is still about 37 minutes away from Flåm. It's at the same Fjord though.

The bus is for about 50 people and we are only 18 plus guide plus driver = 20. We are very comfortable and there is a lot to see. I never get around to read in my book.

Something we see is a lot of water from the Monday storm. Our guide had been quite worried in the beginning because a lot of the roads and tunnels had been closed afterwards and it was not known what would be open when we were going. We actually are taking different roads, hotels, restaurants etc. 

Stephen says what is in these next two photos looking like a lake is actually normally just a river. 

11:25 ... the sky is looking friendlier. It is more difficult to take photos through the window because they act like mirrows and additional things show up in the photos like people inside the bus. I am trying to get some good shots.

Guide Stephen once in a while tells a story while we are driving along. Trolls seem to be a favorite of his. Well, it is a Scandinavia-thing for sure. The story about the white wrapped hay bales is that they are "troll toilette paper" because the trolls have to be appeased otherwise they get nasty with people.

Short after noon we are in Aurdal at a family restaurant which OAT has not used before. 

It is very nice inside and the food and service was outstanding. A++

Everybody was raving about it.

We were done and going when we saw this gigantic chair across the street. Later we saw them several times more. Stephen called them the troll's chairs.

Laura wanted to sit in it and I offered to take a photo.

Of course Betty and her son Marc had to have a go too.

Laura took photos of them too.

Our group of 18 travelers is really a very neat group.

Stig, our bus driver, suggested that there was really no nice way to walk a little here but 15 minutes further he could park and it would be nicer. All thought it was a good idea.

But look at that little waterfall next to the bus before we leave.

Oh yes, you can see trees in the water around this (river or lake?).

Driver Stig found a parking spot for the bus and we walked across the street towards the lake. Oh these poor people.

At the shore we can see how high it had become.

I don't know who could get to this lifepreserver ring to throw if somebody needed it?

After a little walking we get back on the bus and continue. OMG, the river is running fast and furious.

Almost 3 pm, another potty stop at a gas station. This across the road:

An hour later Stig gets off the main road to take the "scenic route". And yes, it was. From the window we saw all along the river rickety bridges and wooden walkways for salmon fishers. There were no walkways. Somebody had to make a real effort to get to an angling spot.

He stops for a photo opportunity. 

There was a farm across the river. James found out from Stig that the farmer lives "in town" but rents this out to families on weekends or so.

I took a close-up of the large stone in front. The different mosses and little ferns on it fascinated me. Probably only me though.

Not much further another stop. But first we get another story about a troll in this area and to try and spot him.

Marc likes the troll stories. He has humor. So does his wife. She gave him the shirt.

There is my troll photo. Did you read the story?

We are almost at our destination and I try desperately to get a good photo of the snow remnants on some of the mountains. This is the best I can do. Yes, the white spots are really snow.

Arrived at our hotel in Lärdal. Cider anybody?

This is the view from our room window.

James and I take a walk around the outside. We think we know which one is our window.

View across towards a beach. Oh no, there are actually people/children playing in the water. There are two sandbanks reaching into it.

Dinner was at 7 pm and buffet. Why can't I resist to try different foods? James and I decide later (9 pm by now) that we need to go for a walk. 

We try to go to that beach we saw but we have to go past the marina over the bridge ...

We find the way and it was a nice walk. We can see our hotel from there. And we had perfect timing for a little sun-down.

Back at the hotel we opt for a night cap. It's not much of a bar so we take it to the room. It's a tiny room but it has a little round glass table in front of the window and two modern chairs which are actually comfy.

Night, night.