Author: rphbaker

The drive home started off on a road very similar to the one we took up to the start of the hike. It was extremely windy but this one was also extremely picturesque with lots of lakes along the way. I originally thought it was a one way road but nope, two lanes with some larger areas for cars to pull off for passing. Other times you just slow your roll and pray. Or maybe that’s just me.

Oh, and there were sheep. Probably more than the number of lakes. Many of them in the road. Or resting along side the road.

The drive should have been about 2-2.5 hours. It ended up being much longer because we needed to catch the initial ferry we took to get to our Airbnb again. It’s a ferry that takes 20 mins or so. Unfortunately there was a super long line when we got there.

Jason had tried to look for an alternate route through a new tunnel that had been built under the water but we would have basically had to travel to Stavanger and back which would have taken 90 mins. We decided to wait it out for the ferry.

Apparently this is just the way of life on this side of Norway. Definitely makes you learn some patience when there’s no other choice. People were out of their cars fishing, sitting in chairs from campers, eating, etc.

I would have taken some pics but Greg was using my phone for work calls since it was the only phone we had.

We finally made it back to the houses around 6:45. The decision was made earlier to grill meat (Logan’s request). We dropped the kids off at the houses for showers and the adults plus Brooks went to the grocery for needed items.

We were all so tired and hungry I didn’t do a good job taking any pics. Jason and Brooks manned the grill. Greg made mashed potatoes. Karen and I cut veggies for a salad (unfortunately no dressing. That was realized after the stores had closed at 8pm.)

We had burgers, chicken, pork chops, impossible burgers and really any and all potato dish varieties to include potato salad, potato chips, roasted potatoes and mashed potatoes. Not exactly sure how that happened aside from Greg trying to use what we bought and Jason being a fan of potato salad.

Pia did teach Greg to count to ten in Norwegian although I’d probably bet ten dollars he’s already forgotten.

It’s a beautiful night for dinner on the deck. Boats are out and about some pulling skiers and others are just kids having fun.

Logan and Greg had done a few pull ups from the rings hanging in the house on Tuesday night with relative ease. After today’s long adventures Logan isn’t performing as well.

We decided to have a later start tomorrow to let the kids sleep in a bit. The hike tomorrow is much shorter. Jason suggested 9am and Karen thought the kids wouldn’t consider that late. Logan suggested 9:30 over 10 which felt a little late so 9:30 it is.

We will be hiking Preikestolen which is about the same height but half the distance. So basically straight up.

Time to rest up for our last day in this part of Norway.

This hike is one that has been on our bucket list for a few years. We actually tried it in 2019 and couldn’t do it due to weather. The Bayne’s have never done this hike either so we are all thrilled that we have the perfect weather conditions for hiking. I should say we are thrilled and nervous. This hike isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s estimated to take 3 or so hours to reach the peak at a distance of 5km each way.

In order to reach the start of the trail we drove up the curviest road ever to get there. Before we started a guy asked if he could catch a ride to the top. We were a little confused because he was standing with a bunch of people with him but he clarified it was only him. He was going to parachute down from the top. So we had a plus one.

After a few mins we are ready to officially begin. At first it started somewhat leisurely but quickly got real vertical real quick.

If you’re not into people’s vacation pictures you should probably skip this post because it’s gonna be real obnoxious. We did the hike in about 2:20 to the peak and 1:40 going back out. Well, the girls were 1:40, the boys were longer because they detoured. Will get into that later.

This hike had crazy high climbs and then descents. We would make it to the top and think we were done only to realize there was another steep angle to ascend. The plus side is that the views were amazing and so different all along the way.

I’m very grateful that the trail was marked so well the majority of the hike. The chains in places were also very useful. The last bit of the hike wasn’t especially well marked in one area but the kids assured me we were heading in the right direction.

I didn’t expect snow! I’m having Alaska flashbacks when I went down on my butt and Brooks lost his shoe.

I should clarify to say that Maddie struggled some at the beginning and middle of the hike. That is until she threw up her breakfast that wasn’t sitting well on her stomach. Greg, Jason and Jake had stayed back with her with Greg and Jason playing good cop bad cop with her. I honestly wasn’t sure she’d make it to the end but she did. I got a few of these pictures from Jake which I’m so grateful for.

Now is a good time to share that we had some people who were really afraid of heights and others who were not. I won’t name names (Greg for one). To go on the rock wasn’t as scary as it looked…I guess depending on your perspective. We won’t be talking about this next picture with said people who can’t handle it.

On the way down the boys wanted to go a different way. I thought they were racing us and knew they had picked the long way. What I didn’t know is that Jason was trying to go get a different vantage point out of the way to fly his drone. The girls won the race that wasn’t a race and I won by getting some amazing drone pics. I lost by not going with the boys though. So now I need a repeat hike.

The girls made it down the hill first and walked straight to the restaurant gift shop area and bought ice cream and ice cold waters. Jake and Logan were down next and did the same. followed by the rest of the boys.

All in all, a great day. Now we just need to make it back home for dinner.

So yeah, sunsets definitely don’t suck here but neither do early morning wake ups.

Despite waking up in plenty of time for our 6:30 planned departure we were a hot mess and running so late. Which isn’t really a thing since we are catching a ferry that won’t wait on us. It didn’t help that the coffee pot basically leaked all the water all over the counter and I had to figure out how to stop it before it got any worse.

Jason wasn’t able to get both cars on the ferry so he and Brooks are going to make the drive in the Tesla. The rest of us are taking the ferry in the van. This is basically a fjord cruise and will be beautiful. Get ready for picture overload basically for the entire day.

Somehow Greg left the house with no phone (not my fault this time), no watch, and no credit cards. Hope we don’t get separated.

So, basically all the kids ended up in the van to try to sleep because they were tired. Logan was the only kid who didn’t so he won the best kid on the ferry award.

So basically all I did for the 2.5 hours on the ferry was take a million pics.

Brooks and Jason arrived at the ferry port right before we arrived on the boat. Couldn’t have timed it much better.

As soon as we got to the Airbnbs we pretty much started making dinner right away. In the menu were burgers (impossible ones for Maddie), potato salad, roasted potatoes as a different potato option and some veggies for either burger toppings or sides.

We realized the Airbnb had no spices at all so Karen and I walked to the store which is maybe a one minute walk. The area is so small I’m surprised there is a grocery walkable and actually there are two.

We have an early morning tomorrow with the departure at 6:30 to catch a ferry. The Bayne’s headed back up to their place while we cleaned up a bit and unwinded.

With the long days there is plenty of time to admire the sunsets. My main issue is staying awake long enough to see them.

Greg and I (and probably all the kids) have had the crappiest pillows everywhere we have stayed. They are so flat and really only one per person. Well tonight we maybe had the opposite problem with the thickest pillows I’ve maybe ever seen.

Off to bed! Tomorrow we are hiking to Kjerag which will be quite potentially a long day.

This is the town where we are staying for the next two nights. Our Airbnb is down the hill from the Bayne’s which is nice we are so close.

When I picture where I’d like to have a cabin in Norway this might be it. The only drawback is how remote it is.

More pics of the outside to come later!

Thankfully our ride to Fevik was mostly uneventful after the phone incident. Brooks drove most of the way while Greg worked in the back. We were all so happy to see the Bayne house pop up on the map.

Karen and Jason were so nice to have lunch ready when we arrived. Waffles, cheese, bread, fruit, and more. There’s nothing quite like a Norwegian waffle.

After a quick lunch we loaded into the cars to head toward our Airbnbs for the night. Unfortunately Sarah and Philip are staying behind in Fevik because they aren’t up for hiking. We will see them later this week.

Car situation is adults and kids separated. Brooks is driving the kids in the van and the adults will be in the Bugger. The ride will be about 3.5 hours or so.

Karen got a text from Lisa asking for a pit stop about halfway in. We stopped at a gas station with no attendant (pay at the pump only.) There were bathrooms, one of which was real nasty. The other one was workable for those that needed it.

We made this drive a few years ago but the beauty is still breathtaking. It’s mostly a two lane road that snakes along the water and small towns.

About an hour out we stopped for Jason to do a quick car charge and to shop for groceries for dinner tonight. It was especially fun shopping for ten people in a grocery where we mostly couldn’t read labels.

We continued on the drive with the next stop being a ferry that would take us across to our airbnb.

We came up a slight hill to find some sheep in the road. Jason tried to scare them by honking to make them poop. He was unsuccessful. He says that’s a thing but I guess I need to trust him on that.

We made it to the ferry only to find lots of cars in line. The ferry runs every 10 mins or so we had a bit of a wait. There is really no other way around to access where we are staying.

None of us minded to wait, except maybe the kids who were growing hungrier by the minute. Thankfully we had some cheese and crackers for snacks.

After the short ferry ride our Airbnbs are another ten mins away.

“No good deed goes unpunished.” Not sure that’s the best quote but feels appropriate.

Greg and Brooks woke up super early to catch the tram and then the train back to the airport to be at Avis at 7am when they open. The tram was scheduled to come at 6:08 but drove past the window at 6:03 as they were standing in the apartment.

Rather than waiting ten mins for the next train they decided to walk to central station

They sent a few pics from their walk.

Meanwhile I stayed behind to finish packing and to try to sort out the trash etc. Brooks had mentioned he wanted to take some Norvega and crackers in the car and I thought it would be nice to have some breakfast options for the trip so I headed out in search of both. I found a grocery store very close and went in for cheese.

I went with a block of cheese and picked up a plastic cheese slicer for the car.

Greg had texted that the car wasn’t ready and would be another 30 mins so there was no rush. Logan texted after checking in so I asked if he wanted to walk to pick out his breakfast with me since we now had time to burn.

First we walked to the Shell station to see if they had any take and go sandwiches for Logan. Seeing none we walked to the bakery suggested by our host.

I grabbed a few cinnamon rolls and felt like a badass by being able to translate ham and cheese on toast for Logan. That was his choice. We took them back to the apartment and ate on the balcony.

Greg and Brooks finally had the car and were on their way so I asked if they wanted anything for breakfast. They both wanted ham and cheese toast and a drink so back to the Shell station and bakery for Logan and I.

There is a store up the street that is right up my alley. Wish I had time to shop!

In between shopping trips I washed random dishes that kept appearing. I didn’t know we had used that many glasses. I think because we checked in early the dishwasher from the previous guests hadn’t been unloaded and washing the two I thought we had used felt easier than unloading and loading but I’m not sure that was the case at the end of the day.

I had noticed Greg’s work phone sitting on Logan’s iPad and thought I’d be nice and put it on the charger since it hadn’t charged last night and the battery was low.

I had put the drinks and cheese in the fridge to keep them cool. When Greg and Brooks made it back to the apartment with the car I needed to grab the stuff from the fridge, pack up my charger, grab the trash that I may or may not have sorted correctly, and stop for a quick bio break. Logan stayed with me because he had the keys to put back in the lockbox. Everyone else was waiting in the car.

I knew we were in a hurry and didn’t do my normal once over. Plus I’m fighting a killer headache (hoping not migraine) and I’m not on my A game. We had been in the car for five mins tops when Greg asked where his work phone was. I have no idea why we didn’t immediately stop the car and go back. Probably due to my indecisiveness about whether I could have left it or whether I grabbed it. It’s not like me to not double and triple check but at the same time I couldn’t even remember what I carried out to even know if it could be in a bag in the back.

I alerted the Airbnb host that it might possibly be there and he said he would look ASAP. Greg did not want to stop the car and turnaround but was also processing as we drove that he has work calls this week.

Meanwhile, Brooks had decided he wanted cheese and asked where the slicer was. I had taken it out of the bag to remove the plastic tag that was still in my pocket because, you guessed it, I couldn’t figure out what trash bin it went it.

Greg pulled off the highway into a grocery store parking lot. As we went through the roundabout my Coke Zero tumbled from the crappy cup holder and exploded all over the door and window and Greg’s flew across the dash and landed at my feet. (That is not an indication of Greg’s driving but legitimately how useless these cup holders are with these skinny plastic bottles.) When we stopped we looked through the bags and Greg’s phone nor the cheese slicer made it to the car. Thankfully we were able to buy a new cheese slicer and depending on who you ask that may or may not be more important than the phone.

Shortly after getting back in the car our host confirmed he had the phone. After multiple suggestions of turning around and Greg not wanting to our host is going to ship it to the Bayne’s and we will get it later this week when we return from our hiking trip.

Sidebar, express shipping in Norway is free. Maybe that’s why food is so expensive.

So….if you need Greg for something work related my apologies for what might be a possible delay until he’s at his computer.

Thankfully this drive is about 3 hours long for him to forget how mad he is.

Wish me luck today. I might need it for all the reasons.

Now that I’ve had more than ten mins in our Airbnb I’ve had time to take in some of the intricate details as well as read all the info the owner provided. The ceilings are crazy high and the moldings and doors in here are unreal. Houses are not made like this anymore!

Hoping to get some sleep tomorrow. Planning to leave Oslo early to head to Fevik to meet up with the Bayne family. We will have several hours in the car tomorrow which is probably good for us to rest up. Jason sent us an itinerary and we are gonna be on the move! I just wish he would have carved out some time for wake surfing.

After the fortress we walked toward the Opera House where you can walk up on the sloped roof for amazing views of Oslo. First though we walked past some horse stalls that we remembered from our first trip. Unfortunately you cannot get close enough to pet them.

It’s a relatively hot day so we decided to find a spot in the shade while we waited for Greg to finish up his call and make his way back over. There were some shops and cafes near the museum.

Logan had apparently spotted an ice cream truck from on top of the opera house that wasn’t too far so we walked over for some ice cream and water. Maddie and Jake found a spot at a cafe to hang out at.

Greg finished up his calls and made it back over. Maddie and Jake decided to head back to the apartment while me, Greg and the boys headed to the Munch museum.

Obviously their most famous piece is the Scream and they actually have a few versions, each of which are on display for 30 mins at a time via a rotation. We caught two versions.

One of our favorite parts was a room for kids with magnetic walls where you could create your own Munch inspired art. Greg was very impressed with the face he created.

The views from the upper floors provided more amazing views.

We have had a long day with lots of walking. The four of us decided to get dinner before we made our way back to the apartment. We ended up at Olivia’s which is an Italian place inside the central station where we ate on one of our last trips. We were all happy with our dinners.

It is jarring how much more things cost here compared to the Baltics. Thankfully the exchange rate is much better for us than our first trip over but even still it’s crazy how anyone affords to live here. I’d love to figure out how to though. 🙂

Next stop was the fortress. The last time we were here they were having a large event that had the walkway blocked off. This time it’s for the soccer games.

This eras trip is clearly also the trip of remaking pictures. This time it was in the fortress.

Next stop…Opera House!