Saying goodbye to Norway

Sob. The last vacation post. What a wonderful time we had and can heartily recommend visiting yourself. For our last day we dropped by the island town of Alnes which is connected by a seriously nerve-wracking tunnel. You’d think after driving through them for days we’d be used to it, but this one had a twist. It was one way. And we didn’t know it. Only when we got into it properly did we realize, but the signage didn’t mean anything to us so we had no idea that traffic coming FROM the island had the right of way. After passing some folks pulled over on the side (which only traffic going to the town could do safely), we realized and when we saw headlights we did likewise. But boy did it feel freaky to be driving on this very narrow road underground. We made it though and just look at Alnes –

There is a big parking area just at this spot where the view is just amazing. Everything is so perfect and colorful and oh, did I get lucky with the clouds! After days of bluebird skies, we finally got a little drama up there and it really makes these landscapes sing. I think I’m going to print this one and hang it in the living room –

Here’s a look at the lighthouse from the beach on the other side of the island –

I think it is still operational, but it wasn’t open so we couldn’t get any more information. The beach on this side looks like a popular place in the summer. Quite welcoming and clean although there are TONS of seagulls and other birds so poo abounds. The best I could do with Google Translate for these signs from the top – Alnes the Place to Be, ? too faded, Create Memories Together, Take Trash Home & Good Trip.

There wasn’t really any place to get a good portrait of the light, so I just snapped a cell phone shot from the path –

While making our way along the sand, I saw these two come in from over my shoulder. A pair of Eurasian Oystercatchers! Woo hoo! I knew I took the long lens for a reason. Shortly after I took this, the one on the right tucked its head under a wing and stood on one leg for a snooze the rest of the time we were there. So glad I got this image before nap time.

Some more nature – Coltsfoot! I haven’t photographed or even seen it since I lived in NH and that was only once. It’s a fairly early bloomer and doesn’t send up leaves with the flowers, but does so after the plant has gone to seed. The scientific name is Tussilago farfara and derives from Latin tussis (cough) and ago (to act upon). As you might infer, it has been used for ages to treat coughs, congestion and colds, but also fever, flu and gout. Europeans introduced it to North America when it was brought for these medicinal purposes, but possibly also to feed honeybees. The fresh leaves are still used today for cough drops and throat lozenges. It’s the leaves that the plant is named for as they somewhat resemble a cloven hoof, but I’ve never seen any so I can’t really say. I guess so if you’re feeling imaginative. Coltsfoot spreads mostly by underground rhizomes which are the real stems of the plant.

It was growing all over the beach and I even found it near the trailhead of our first mountain hike, but it wasn’t blooming yet. These guys almost have, but I really liked the slightly clenched aspect –

It looks like they have leaves here, but those are modified petals called bracts. Must be a tough little plant to survive on this shoreline.

Here’s what I was making my way toward – a pair of what I thought were abandoned buildings, but might still be used. They are in fairly good shape and that gate needs a key so there is something more along the road, but not for just anyone. At some point, a car came along and went through, closing the gate again behind them.

Who knew people surf in Norway, but here’s proof –

I processed that one a bit differently and it’s interesting how it feels a lot more intimidating and dangerous. The raw files are almost identical, but processing allows us to range into different aspects of a photo depending on what we want to convey. Even on the sunniest day with the most warm ocean, I don’t think I’d ever try surfing, never mind here where it was cloudy, windy, kind of cold and damn…those rocks! Every surfer we saw had to bail out before smashing on them. Doesn’t sound like my idea of a great time, but I guess there are nuts everywhere.

Here’s a quick sequence that’s pretty fun because you can see how fast they have to dump off. I love how he almost seems to be waving goodbye at the end.

I shot that sequence and the lighthouse landscape from up over this way. Aren’t these two buildings cute? I wonder what’s beyond them. If I were to go back to this area or other parts of Norway, I’d give myself a couple more days in each location to really explore. Looking at Google maps near both hotels showed roads I’d have wanted to go down and historic or other interesting locations marked out. We had some time to do that, obviously, but there was so much more. Even though the life here can be a bit harsh and the weather unpredictable, the people enjoy what they have and I think they know it’s special.

There seems to be exuberance just bubbling under the surface and a pride of place.

Even whimsy and a sense of play.

Not in a bleak, get it in before you die, sort of way, but in a way that says that we aren’t here just to survive, but to thrive and to reach out with all our senses and truly inhabit our spaces. A joyful trip despite the speeding ticket I got from one of the most cheerful and pleasant police officers I’ve ever met and who warned us of the cruise ship that just came into Loen – he was that nice! So I will sing the praises of Norway, especially this more rural area with some of the most lovely views and people I’ve encountered on vacation. Do go if you get a chance. Cheers!