We woke up early this morning because we had to be at  Sentral Station in time to begin our next voyage – Norway in a Nutshell.  We boarded the train to Geilo – our first stop. The train ride was very enjoyable.  We passed through many towns and enjoyed the views of houses, forests, lakes, and hillsides.  I wish we had had a map telling us about the areas we were passing.  Taking photos from the train was difficult and I only tried once.

When we disembarked from the train, we were not sure where the Highland Lodge was and we had been told it would be a 10 minute walk – which looked like it would be uphill.  So we jumped into a cab for 109 Nok which is a bit above $10.  How silly.  The cab took 3 minutes and we easily could have walked up the hill.  We had been walking much steeper hills every time we went back to our apartment in Oslo..

It was about noon and we couldn’t check into our room until 3:00 so we decided to go for a quick lunch and a 11.5 km walk around the lake.  It took a bit to find the path and these women who we asked for directions told us it would take us about 3 hours.  It was quite windy and we were walking into the wind.  After we walked for a while (not sure how far) Jane and Sue decided to turn around.  So I took their photo by the lake.

I was determined to complete the hike. I had to ask several people along the way to make sure I was on the correct path.  I kept getting encouragement from the few people I met.  They told me I would pass a sculpture park where  I stopped to take photos.  Each sculpture was unique and made a different sound in the wind.

Then I passed a field that had a sign which said it was a burial site for Vikings.  Those were the only words I could read.

After a while I verified with a man that I was on the correct path. He told me to just keep following the gravel path.  I asked him if I was ½ way around and he told me that I was only 1/3  of the way.   Then I came to a place where the path seemed to go in several directions.  I walked the wrong way (only for a short while) 2 different times and turned around.  Then I saw a man herding his sheep.  He didn’t have time to talk to me but a couple was coming along the path and put be back onto the correct way.  They were from Bergen and I was enjoying talking with them as we walked.  We crossed a bridge over the river.  The man told me that I should climb down the path to see the underside of the bridge.  It had been built in 1865 and although it had been reinforced, they always used the same design and type of wood.  1000 years ago this was the path from one side of Norway to the other to transport goods.

 

I walked for a while with them as we conversed about politics, Bergen, and traveling.  They drove from Bergen to Geilo in their American Tesla.. We were walking at a pace that was much faster than mine and eventually could not keep with then.  The woman told me to keep watching for the signs that indicated I was on the correct path so I wouldn’t get lost again.   I dropped back behind them.  I was getting very, very tired.  When I arrived back in the city another couple helped me to find the Highland Lodge.  The walk around the lake took much longer than I had anticipated. I was really surprised to find out that it was already 5:00.

We have a really comfortable suite in the Highland Lodge.  It is because Sue had them upgrade our room (for free).  The one we had been assigned would have required that we walk down a spiral staircase each time we entered the room.  I was glad because I had had enough of walking up and down the spiral staircase to my room in Oslo.

We had a great dinner.  Sue and Jane had squash soup and I had seafood pasta.  I have leftovers for the train ride tomorrow.

After dinner we took advantage of the hot tub and sauna in the hotel and we were the only ones there. My body sure appreciated the soak.  I wish I had brought my camera down there because the cloud formations we saw from the center were fantastic.  Sometimes you just have to take it all in and remember it. Sue and Jane swam in the pool and I actually dozed off in the hot tub.  It was a great way to end this day.  I am glad we took the time to stop in Geilo.