A day in Loen

Back to Norway we go. Taking a day to drive from Oye to our second hotel near Skodje, we headed to the small town of Loen (pronounced Loo-In) to ride the skylift and enjoy the roads that hug the fjords and thread the mountains. We planned to go right to the skylift, but when we got there busses and busses of tourists from the cruise ship that just docked were in line, literally snaking down the enormous stairs to the parking lot. Uh. No.

So we got on What’s App with our local travel service and through the commiseration, we got some lovely advice. Drive up the road by the lake to the glacier. So off we went!

Here’s the view looking back the way we came from one of the little public beaches and picnic areas you find along the way. No idea what the monument to farming is all about here, but there are signs to watch for newborn calves who sometimes lag behind their mothers. We didn’t see any, but did see the farmer who tends them in one of the fields he still uses that are right on the side of the very narrow road. I guess he does deserve a monument after all.

While in this little park, you look up at the towering mountains and the many waterfalls that snake down and under the road to join the lake.

I’m not sure if this stream is actually the same one you see far above, but I liked the composition despite the terrible light.

While we made our way down to the glacier, we met an older couple on bicycles doing the same thing. Since we each stopped so often and at the same places, we got to chatting. The husband had better English than his wife, but they told us they lived locally and couldn’t stay inside on such a glorious April day. Don’t blame them. He then said there used to be a village across and nearby, but that two major avalanches killed almost everyone. You can read about it here. There is a small church nearby where the people are buried and remembered. Now the lake has a few families who live on it as well as more strategically placed resorts. They don’t look super swanky though, just lovely places for regular folks to enjoy.

I was so happy to talk with them because they were more intrepid than we were and snaked by some roadworks on their bikes, but stopping long enough to look back and wave us on! We went and oh it was some of the most beautiful scenery –

That field is still used to graze cows, but requires moving them often and sometimes along the road, hence the signs to keep you from ramming the little ones. Here’s a foundation I couldn’t help taking a photo of. It’s behind some new fencing so I had to put the camera between the wires in order to frame it up. Just LOOK at the color of the water. Makes us DOUBLE bummed that we didn’t make it to the glacier. Yeah, more road construction and this time with big equipment that took up the whole road which is only 1 lane wide in that spot (and many others). Plus we needed some lunch and to get to the skylift since we still had a couple hours drive from there to the 2nd hotel. With regret we turned back and headed to Loen.

From that direction, I spied this funny little outdoor built-in up the side of the road. Isn’t it ingenious?

Not sure what this little sled was used for, but it looks like it has been here a while.

I won’t bore you with the whole buying tickets and riding up in the tram car part, just take in the view –

That is Lovatnet, the lake you saw in the first few photos. You can also see the road we drove to the left right on the shoreline. I’m pretty sure we made it past the point you can see and oh, I wish we could have made it to the glacier. And here’s a look at the town and the cruise ship that caused our delay –

But it was a great delay and so I am happy for it. In summer this is a popular place and the local hotel, where we each had a tasty panini sandwich for lunch, has the biggest dining room I’ve ever been in. Hilarious that with tables seating hundreds of people, we were the only ones in it!!

Of course being Norway in the mountains, there was still plenty of snow on the ground for people to play in. Behind the buildings at the top you can take sleds and toboggans down the hill. We didn’t, but took some time to watch and listen to so much fun being had –

And of course to enjoy the view of where the mountains meet the fjords.

Such a great day. Before leaving the States, I scoured Google maps to check for places to stop between here and Slodje, but there weren’t many that were convenient and the one I did want to visit I accidentally blew by and so I missed it. But we arrived at our 2nd hotel in time for a wonderful dinner and hilariously met a waitress we had also met at our 1st hotel. She works at both! We each did a hilarious double-take in the lobby and basically said “I know you!” at the same time. So great. We had a few more great evenings with her chat and excellent service. What a small world! Here’s a teaser of things to come –