Not Quite the Planned Itinerary

Got away on time from Oslo with a fully booked train. The conductor only seemed to be checking every second ticket – fully booked and no one complaining someone was in their seat: we must all have tickets!

Initially mixed coniferous forest with occasional small lakes and what looked like holiday cottages. Further from Oslo, the country opens up a bit for farming. We seemed to be on time when we arrived at Gol at 11:30. But there we sat. The announcements were hard to hear and reasons for the delay unclear. Seemed there was a block up ahead and something about a Diesel engine. An hour later someone had interrogated one of the conductors. Seemed there was a power failure further ahead. I guess we are an electric train. So we’re the ones needing the diesel.

But Wait! There are 2 replacement buses going to Flåm. (Lots of grumbling about needing to meet the cruise ferry out of Flåm. But that’s where my accommodation is tonight!) And 2 buses won’t go very far for a full train. I’m first onto the first bus! 2 1/4 hours drive though some interesting country. Tall forests are long left behind. Now higher. Low bushes and grass. Holiday camps, waterfalls, fast flowing shallow and rocky streams, ski places ( nothing big enough to call a ‘Resort’), patches of snow on the higher peaks each side of the valley. And some winding roads until finally the (2 lane) E16 which featured tunnels. The longest 25km, apparently the longest in Norway.

So I missed my ride on the Flåm Railway. David will not be pleased. I made a bit of an effort to get on an afternoon train, but no seats. And considered a quick return trip early tomorrow – but I don’t need to spend another $100 and there will be many more valleys and fjords and mountains.

Instead I went for a walk and climbed up a long way to a nearby waterfall (Brekkefossen). I’m not as fit as I was in the Kimberley last year!

From the road below:

From the recommended vantage point:

And then the sheep with bells, and water patterns behind them.

And good views. One of the cruise ships is heading out. The tourist centre by the fjord is hidden behind the green spur in this photo.

I’m in an old previously elegant hotel right on the Front. This photo, this afternoon with the two cruise ships towering over the centre of the village. View from my 2nd floor balcony.