A Long Drive

In the morning, Bob went down for coffee while I cleaned up. He met a Norwegian lady he had fun chatting with and she had definite ideas on the scenic route we should take. She was traveling through Sweden as it was the quickest way, but she had no use for it. "Woods, woods, woods. Loppis, Loppis, Loppis. That's all you see!" We had seen several signs saying Loppis and wondered what it meant. It means Flea Market that they pronounce, Fly Market. We've learned the Norwegians and Swedes aren't crazy about each other, but it was funny to hear her. When she left, she left a note tucked in our car door with more advice. Very nice.

We had a fun breakfast as we had the kitchen to ourselves. The other people were sleeping in and the owners would not be in until later. They just trusted us with everything either laid out on the counter or on small platters in the refrigerator with milk and yogurt. It was relaxing to do our own thing and we carried our breakfast to our favorite table by the window.

 

As we ate, the cute little owner of the hotel came in. We were instant friends and chatted enthusiastically about everything. She wanted to help me find information about my grandparents and got on the phone to make calls and get me email addresses of people who will be able to help once we are home. Long ago when she first opened her hotel, she helped a couple from the states find information and even where their family farm was. She said it was all so emotional and rewarding. They stayed in touch until the couple passed away.

She pointed us off to the post office so we could box up some stuff to send home and lighten our load. We bought a small box and went back to the room to jam in dress clothes from the cruise, dirty laundry and a few small souvenirs. Bob took it back to mail and was shocked at the price. We would have been better off to buy another suitcase and pay the extra air fare. Oh well, live and learn.

The hotel owner, my new friend, advised us on our route and gave us a book. Then she gave us a tour of the spa downstairs. She and her husband had remodeled it from a dirt floor basement. It had rounded stone ceilings and was all wood and tile with IKEA furniture. There was a sauna, massage rooms, soft music and the lovely smell of lavender. I could have stayed right there.

As we finally said good bye she told us we had to return one day and we ended up hugging. What a fabulous moment in time.

Barely through town, we stopped at a great little river. Bob thought it was a perfect place to fish. There are so few people in this area and so many fish. He was happy to spot some line on the ground and to know someone was enjoying the river.

On we drove down the delightful, winding back road with very little traffic and lots of woods and we could see huge snow covered mountains in the distance. We were on our way!

We have commented several times since landing here how familiar everyone looks. Everyone seems to resemble someone we know until they speak. It is very evident that this country is a strong part of our heritage back home. We feel a familiarity and a connection to the people and the countryside.

We started into the green mountains with streams, waterfalls, and crystal clear lakes. Flies are hatching and the fish are jumping and Bob is sighing. Each turn is more beautiful than the last.

We came into a tiny settlement and needed to get gas. The store was closed for lunch for an hour and Bob thought we might be able to do it ourselves with a credit card. We thought we did it right, but it wouldn't work. The postman happened by and stopped to help. When the machine said "Var God" we thought it meant our card was "very good" and thought it should work. The postman explained that "Var God" meant "Please wait." With a twinkle in his eyes and a little smirk of humor, he encouraged us to be patient.

We drove on through vast woods with almost no other traffic as we flew along bouncing over frost buckled highway and hugging curves. We traveled up and down past numerous lakes and streams. We saw fencing where the Sami round up their reindeer in the Fall, but we still haven't seen any wildlife. Where is everything?

We finally turned off on an even more remote side road that was supposed to be a short cut (small way to the Swedish) back to the highway. It was a winding, roller coaster of a gravel road. I was a little tense. I quietly said, "You are driving a Volvo, not your truck!" Or maybe it wasn't quiet. But, here we were deep in the woods, in a foreign country with no one in sight. A car finally passed us and I wanted to stop and invite them to tea!

We eventually passed a cluster of cabins and noticed all of the moose racks on their barns. Maybe they've killed off all of the moose. Meanwhile our Tom Tom seems to know where we are, still Coo Cooing if Bob goes too fast (Thank God) and tells us where to turn on these back country cross roads. It is amazing.

We finally made it back to the main road and crossed back into Norway on our way to Moirana to hopefully spend the night.

We stopped in the first little settlement to get a much needed cup of coffee and use the restroom. Well, the restroom stunk pretty bad but I held my breath and made do. Bob followed and as he came out, two cute young girls were waiting to go in. Bob was embarrassed and tried to motion that it wasn't him and then started to laugh. They walked in and walked right back out and gave him a look. I felt bad for Bob and yet, sometimes he is to blame, so I guess it all comes out in the end...sorry. A little bathroom humor. I am the mother of four boys.

The scenery was gorgeous and we drove up into patches of snow and then down to the fjord and in to town. It reminded us of driving in the Tetons in Wyoming.

The first Hotel we checked in Moirana was full. We next checked the Fjordgarden where we saw tour buses parked and felt lucky to still be able to get a room. We didn't even check the price figuring if a tour bus was there, it was probably reasonable. They offered a good buffet dinner and we ate listening to a fun group of people from a tour watching the soccer game and then laughing over dinner. We missed our Aussie Travel Mates.

We had a lovely walk along the water and enjoyed the quaint buildings and impressive statue out in the harbor keeping watch over the town.

We turned in early as we wanted to get a good start tomorrow. On we go north back over the Arctic Circle.