NORWAY June 2007

I have been going too hard so far .

Im knackered doing this trip on my own , under estimate the effort required to navigate in a strange country with incomprehensible road signs , drive on the wrong side of the road , clean myself , ADLs, cook, clean, planning , reviewing , photograph, video, write account of trip and to top it all of to relate to people who cant understand a word you are trying to say.

Tonight i have lowered my expectations, had a greasy Burger King meal and chilling out outside some Norwegians house who has an unsecured internet line.

Had the last few days driving through spectacular scenery . Too much , too big and too many corners. Your instinct are to learch to the left when a car appears out of know where . WRONG ! There is so much to take in and the roads are narrow with passing bays along the way.

The birds are nesting at present so they are depleted by 40%. Have seen a range that i have seen in Scotland and a couple i have not seen at all . A book we have on Scottish Birds relates to this area as well . I parked under a large gull rookery today . Set up my bed in the van and watched them fight and squabble as they tried to keep their eggs from getting cold.

Im currently north of the Shetland Islands and about a days drive from the Polar Circle . The highway is called the Atlantic Highway.
Last night the sun was still on the high mountains at midnight. The day never goes to dark just a Gloomy Grey, you can see for miles. I have been surprised at the quantity and quality of the farm land in the valleys .It haymaking season right now so every farmer is busy making hay while the sun shine. I was under the impression that there was bugger all arable land . it is not unlike Marlborough Sounds in NZ, only much bigger

I utilised a ferry to come down a massive Fjord called, Gairanger . Tight walled , high sided with multitude of waterfalls all with fancy names .( the seven sister ) In years gone by, adventurist farmers had sheep ,cows and goats up high below the snow line . Must have been a bitch even getting the animal up there let alone getting any produce out again. I suppose they just threw the bale of wool down to the waiting boats . Probably carried lambs and calves up and let them grow to adulthood up there. All farming in the alpine regions was finished in the 1960s, Uneconomic

The weather has been kind to me so far, It looks a bit rough for tomorrow I want to fishing on the high seas so need to go and find some Norwegian Mates . Well enough of my ramblings

Keep in touch

I WONDER WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT

Alvin