Norway -day two

We have had an amazing day....and a kind of stressful one. It began early, leaving the caravan park at 7am to head for Preikestolen (the Pulpit). It was rough going clambering over rocks and up stone steps that looked almost vertical. About 20mins in the sky turned a dark ominous grey colour broken only by the flashes of lightning followed by a loud rumble. We decided to press on. It wasn't long before it was bucketing down rain. I had taken my coat so was able to stay mostly dry but mum and dad didn't have theirs, opting for a lighter load and poor Andrew doesn't even have one. He raced ahead and found the only outcrop of rock that provided shelter and then waited for each of us to arrive.

To our left, the next section of track, stood a countless stairs, steeper than any we'd already navigated. It was decided that the boys would go on without us. From that point I wondered around on different tracks taking photos and looking at the view. Some lovely people passed us on their way up, one even offered to leave her umbrella with us but we said we were ok. After about 20mins a couple with their two youngish kids came along. When we said we weren't going to go any further she insisted that we should try and at least make it up the stairs. After some deliberation we decided to make the trek and off we went. It was hard going but as we navigated the last pile of rocks, in front of us was the most breathtaking view. It wasn't long before sky cleared and the sun came out (there was a very chilly wind though). Mum was able to dry off and we even had a picnic table to call our own until we spotted the boys off in the distance.
I'm a little disappointed that I didn't get up to the top, but I'm glad I stayed with mum.

The track down started well and we were making good time and then I slipped. I jumped back up calling out 'I'm fine, I'm fine' but soon after different parts began hurting. First my left wrist, left hip and then, on a step down from a rock my knee gave. Mum and dad went on ahead and Andrew painstakingly helped me down. It felt like ages but we made it.

We headed back to the camping ground to collect all our gear. The lovely couple had allowed us to leave it there while we walked. We felt much safer leaving it there than having it all in the car. We ordered some hot chips from them for lunch and 'Betty' very kindly gave me a bandage for my knee (which I have temporarily discarded as it keeps slipping). Car loaded, a brief pause for another downpour and we headed up for our lunch - a table set beautifully with all our food was waiting for us. She had even left us a jug of drink. So kind. It was so nice to have something warm in our tummies as it had been a cold morning. We paid and as we left Betty insisted on me taking a bag of ice for my knee, a much appreciated gesture as it has really helped.

We hit the road and followed the scenic E13. All the rain had left the mountains glistening in the sunlight. The rain however was ahead of us and we caught up to a torrential downpour - which I attempted to video but couldn't work the camera...hahaha.

Everywhere we looked we could see waterfalls cascading over the rock faces. It was so beautiful. They were only matched by the rainbows that appeared, reflected in the fjord (or lake not sure which). And yes, that is my photo...

Sadly things got a little frustrating some time after there. We are having great difficulty navigating through Norway. The GPS coordinates that are given with all our accommodation appear to be incorrect. There are no street names or numbers, just towns and mini towns that the GPS doesn't even recognise. A drive along the same road 3 time, a brave mother who knocks on strangers doors and the kindness of 3 separate people (one who even rang the place then offered to give us his mobile no. in case we still couldn't find it) we arrived at our 'cottage with views of the glacier'...it is a cottage, though we a being careful not to sneeze as it could fall apart around us and the only 'glacier view' we can figure is some snow on top of one of the mountains in the distant...

Oh I forgot to mention all the snow we've been seeing this afternoon...lots of snow capped mountain tops, very beautiful.

Time for a nice hot shower to ease all the aches, then it is off to bed. It's 10pm.