The Flamsbana trip up through this very scenic valley was simply amazing. Incredible views, and the rail itself is quite an engineering achievement, in my view anyway. As you can plainly see from Part 1, the train cars are quite comfy, and the ride is smooth and you don't even notice the very steep gradient. This track is the steepest, umm...in Europe I think. Nerdo...Am I correct about that?
Anyway...Here is a series of pictures from window during the trip up the hill. The end destination is Myrdal.
The Kjosfossen (Waterfall) is the only stop along the way to Myrdal. This is a very powerful waterfall.
This is a crumbling building that sits next to the waterfall itself. My guess is that it was some sort of mill building. Just a guess though. Seems to make sense to harness the power that waterfall is generating.
There is this Troll chick (can't remember her name...Nerdo, I need your help..
again ) that lured peeps into the mountains. This is a ummmmmmmmm reenactment? Nerdo was quite embarrassed at this. Actually..I think I was too. If I decide to move to Norway, I promise to start a movement to disallow this sort of cheesy behavior.
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One of several villages on the way up the valley.
Myrdal is a popular spot to either get off the train and walk or ride a bike down the valley, or for those who have hiked or rode up the valley to get on the train and ride down.
Nerdo presented me with this Sertifikat of completion for bravely completing the ride up the Flam Valley on the Flamsbana. Thank you Nerdo!
How could you not want to live in Berekvam?!
Just one of many views from Flam.
We decided the best method to return to Gudvangen after the visit to Flam was via bus. The buses in these parts are great. You can get most anywhere by bus I think. Nerdo and Bloom..am I right, or am I right?
When we returned to Gudvangen, we were starting to walk back to the car and ran into Georg Hansen. He is a guy who's organization is building a true to life Viking village in Gudvangen. We would have taken his picture, but decided he'd ask us for some extra Kroner that we didn't feel like parting with. He did offer to let us enter the longhouse for free and take a look-see.
A cool Viking boat. For a couple bucks..you can go for a ride!
AFter returning from the Flam adventures, there was still plenty of sunlight and no good reason to stop looking around. We drove a few kilometers South of Guvangen and took a ride up into the hills. We found a fab road that has a gradient of 18%. For those of you who don't know, that's steep enough that if you trip and fall, you'll roll all the way to the bottom.
What a view!
Nerdo and I try to keep from rolling to the bottom. You really do have to lean into it.
Heading back down the hill was one of two times Nerdo let me drive the car. It was good fun to be in control!!
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When we got to the bottom of the hill, we walked to Stalheimfossen (Waterfall). The river coming from the base of the fall and the fall itself are both quite impressive. There were a couple guy out there fishing, we were guessing for salmon based on the signs we were seeing. Maybe trout, seemed a tiche early for any salmon to be running. We saw a Blue Heron on our walk, but it was pretty shy and we were unable to get a picture.
Another proud achievement!
After a long day af adventure, it was time to eat. You can see the fantastic assortment of cheeses, fish in a tube, bread, and some stuff in a plastic container. Nerdo poured the wine, while I cut the cheese!
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This is a heck of a spread I'm tellin' ya!
I as very uneasy about trying this liver loaf something or other...but, at Nerdo's recommendation, I gave it a look and a sniff..
Here goes nothing..
I give this liver loaf something or other my seal of approval!!
What a great day this was!!!
