Summer trip 2014 to the fjords

2009 Besseggen, 2010 Fjords, 2011 Rondane National Park and 2013 Fjords - that were the summer trips of the past years which we organize in our Oslo office (usually) each year. A little trip for us permanent staff members to get to know new suppliers or check out and get an update of already known suppliers. At the same time we give our trainees the opportunity to get out of Oslo, to get a glimpse and idea of what and who we all work with, what they sell. Simply a couple of days spent together in nice atmosphere.

This year the trip took us once more to the fjord region.

Yes, done that/been there many times before, but well, for the trainees it's totally unknown and there is always something new as well for us fixed employees to discover.

For example: what was new this time was that none of us had to drive! So everyone could take the Flåmsbana and the train further on to Geilo. During previous summer trips we always had 2/3 drivers (usually 2 other colleagues and me) that had to do the stretch Flåm-Geilo by car.

So let's see what we did this year:

Friday, 4th of July:
Mandatory for everyone that wanted to be with us on that tour: sit in the bus by 13:55! Who wasn't punctual didn't join (well, everyone made it on time). We needed a strictly punctual departure at 14:00!!! Why this? Because by 18:00 latest we needed to be at Storefjell Resort Hotel in Gol (that day's final destination for the overnight) to watch the soccer world championship match Germany against France :-)

So, right on time we left from Rica Hotel Helsfyr with a minibus in direction to Sandvika, along the Tyrifjord, towards Hønefoss and then by the E16 (Valdresvegen) along the river Begna to Aurdal and then up to the mountain to Golsfjellet. No stops on the way in order to be on time for the match.

17:55: arrival just on time at Storefjell Resort Hotel! We had exactly 5 minutes left to check in, bring the luggage to the room, get the Germany shirt and colours on and to figure out where in this big hotel they showed this match.

18:00: kick-off! I was sitting with 2 German colleagues and 8 French colleagues in front of a screen in the piano bar of the hotel. But all the cheering of our 8 Frenchies didn't help. Germany was simply stronger: 1:0 for Germany :-) Sorry, my French colleagues!!! Nevertheless, we had a nice evening :-) Not long, though, as we had to get up extreeeeemly eary next morning.

Saturday, 5th of July:

Departure towards the Hardangervidda National Park where we had a quick photo stop at some sami place.

Team Terra Nova with its trainees.

All this year's summer trainees in the Oslo office.

Continuation towards Vøringfoss waterfall with a total drop of 183 metres. It is probably the most famous in the country and a major tourist attraction on the way down from Hardangervidda to the Hardangerfjord.

The Hardangerfjord...

...which we crossed at its new bridge, the Hardangerbrua, Norway's longest suspension bridge (1,38km). It opened for traffic in August 2013 and from then on replaced the ferry connection Brimnes-Bruravik, shortening thereby the driving time between Oslo and Bergen.

Not far from the Hardanger region lies the valley of Stalheim listed on the UNESCO World Heritage. A viewpoint at the terrace of the Stalheim Hotel is the perfect photo stop. Quite or better extreeemly windy up there this time!

Terra Nova

All together

Right behind Stalheim Valley lies the entry to the winding Stalheimskleiva down into the valley, one of the steepest roads in Northern Europe with 13 hairpin bends.

Some 10km after the Stalheim valley lies the village of Gudvangen, start/arrival point of several cruises on the Nærøy- and Aurlandsfjorden (arms of the long Sognefjord).

Lunch time on board.

No further pictures taken here as I have posted already so many from previous tours passing here.

Arrival in Flåm.

Visit of Flåm Marina & Apartments.

Flåmsbana - a classic and one of the world's steepest railway lines. Twisting tunnels spiral in and out of the mountain and are manifestations of the most daring and skilful engineering in Norwegian railway history. The train journey runs through fantastic nature, past the Rallar road, steep mountains, along waterfalls and through various tunnels offering many viewpoints on its way up (respectively down) to the mountain top station of Myrdal.

Half way up/down the train stops at Kjosfossen...

...where for the amusement of tourists, in the summer season, they even put an actress dressed as a legendary Huldra (a seductive forest creature in Scandinavian folklore) dancing and singing in front of the waterfall as the trains enter the station. The actresses are all students from the Norwegian ballet school.

At Myrdal station, the Flåmsbana connects to the railway line between Oslo and Bergen. We got on this train which connects also to the little town of Geilo.

In Geilo we got picked up by our driver to transfer us to our cabins at Bardøla where we stayed overnight.
And as a tradition: we have a huge BBQ :-)

In the evening we continued with traditions and played "time's up" - always a lot of fun to play in bigger groups.

Sunday, 6th of July:
Breakfast, cleaning up our mess and before departure a quick site inspection of Bardøla Høyfjellshotel...

 

...and Thon Hotel Highland.

Then heading eastwards, visiting the farm of Skattebøl. It was run by an old guy who - together with his wife - welcomed over many years tourism groups for lunch, showing them around the farm and telling stories. Unfortunately the guy, Arne, is now too old to continue this role. He passed this job on to a couple, him being Norwegian and her being (can't remember exactly) something Asian.
I was happy to finally visit the farm as I know it as one of our suppliers for groups for many years without ever having head a chance to really pass there myself.

Lefse - a typical Norwegian snack (a kind of pancake/crêpes) with a thin layer of butter and cinnamon or similar in between.

Continuing our way back towards Oslo we stopped at Torpo stave church, built in 1192.

We drove further on to Gol, Nesbyen and then to Flå to have a typcial Norwegian and locally produced lunch at... McDonald's (just to keep up with the traditions).
We were back in Oslo by 16:00 in the afternoon.

Thanks to the organizers for this summer trip, the interesting talks of the trainees given during this trip about various topics (the Royal Family and the Norwegian culture, cuisine, history, geography etc.) and well, for excusing my "no so good" mood during this trip. Was certainly not meant to be! Sorry!