On returning to Oslo, it was fun meeting up with the people I had met before and I was lucky to be in the same room which I shared with a pleasant Swedish girl, Anneka, who I made friends with. Haraldsheim is a very convenient YHA with great facilities and helpful staff. Nor did I feel uncomfortable being older. Kristin wanted to keep Sacha so I let her. I bought an Oslo card which includes travel and entry to loads of museums. First stop was the Munch Museum...

Well this, Spitsbergen, was my ultimate destination. I wasn't sure if I would achieve it logistically and price wise. However managed to buy reasonable flights with Norwegian Airlines only £200 rtn and stayed at one of the miners cabins in Nybyen 2 kms from the town - Guest house 102. I booked a mixed dorm keeping in mind that I would upgrade to a single if necessary. In the event I shared with a French and a German fellow so I wasn't complaining. There were ma...

Biting off more than you can chew springs to mind. I have driven more than 1600 miles. Now stuck in yet another traffic jam. I enjoy driving but it is now becoming tedious. The motorway around Osnabruck is a nightmare 20kms jam. I would like to try to find another way back. Earlier today I ended up going around the centre of Copenhagen- 4 times! Becoming philosophical thinking travelling is like a video game or more like snakes and ladders or like bridge - wi...

Now in Tichborne Arms near Winchester. This morning walked around beautiful Bicton Park Botanical gardens for an hour. Stunning but marred by the cold wind and rain. Every time I lent over for Sacha she was soaked by a deluge of water that had collected in the brim of my waterproof hat. The driving became worse with thick fog as well. Having only had cold, leftover coffee I stopped in Waitrose for coffee and croissant and had a chat with Wendy who was my age a...

The adventure begins. The house exterior is being cladded and painted. The scaffolders were busy on my house and I'm leaving everyone to it - heading for Scandinavia. Pee stop and walk for Sacha at the bicycle trail near Sourton on the edge of Dartmoor I had discovered it before and it is conveniently 80 miles from home. Idea! Someone should write a book on convenient dog walks off main routes. The weather is cloudy and trying to drizzle. Using Britstop - t...