Briksdal

The most enduring impression I have of the Briksdal glacier is that of total immersion, like I was inside a snow globe of natural beauty, right in the centre. In this analogy, the dome was inverted and instead of snow it was sun that spilled around the tops of the mountains and highlighted the rocks and fronds and the splash of water.

There was of course still snow, up on the top of the rock as the glacier hung onto the grey rock that we had been walking towards since our meal of sausages, corn, vegetable sticks and hummus at the carpark.

From there we travelled a gravel path that followed a river of the clearest, bluest water. It wound past waterfalls, mossy stone, pottholes, and other geological nooks. We saw the signs - figuratively and literally - of the glacier's historical spread. The retreated ice was now high up the mountains, and trickling via another waterfall into a lake where the trail ended. The late spring sunlight made it all glow.

It was another beautiful place to see and take in after a simple dinner and a fjord-side drive.

The morning was a chilly one. Vanessa walked to Skei (Icelandic man taught me to pronounce it - shkeh. I picked her up from the Circle K. We returned to the lake for breakfast and another visit to the church.

Then we drove back to Skei to buy picnic supplies and drove under the blue sky following the Stardalselva waters that led us through the green valley towards a little lake with a nice view of the mountain Eggenipa. Technically it was too early for lunch, but we still ate after I finished my coffee

Then we drove on over some more mountains with a brief stop to climb up some rocks to look over the valley. Before we descended we reached the Skjørbakkane Utsiktspunkt. Another impressive vantage point at which to eat food, probe for any kind of short trail to stretch the legs, take some photos, and then drive onwards.

The rest of the way to Stryn was also nice. We drove through Olden and Loen and stopped briefly to check out the jacket sales. One advantage of visiting Scandinavia at the end of spring is the large discounts on the heavy duty winter-wear. Good timing for me who will have to return to Adelaide for actual winter in only a couple more weeks. The arctic circle may also be chilly...

We found Stryn, did a food shop at the local Coop which included two half litre craft beers named after Loen and Olden, and another ice-cream log cake. Then we checked into the Air BNB which was a beautiful, old apartment with two bedrooms, a full kitchen, and a balcony overlooking the fjord. Yes we did have to carry a suitcase up a few flights of stairs, but it was worth it.

We drove back, passed some cows chilling in splendour, then did some damage to the ice-cream log cake.