Summer trip 2015 to the fjords

It's a tradition: every summer we go with the company (that is the staff from the Oslo office) on a summer trip - and we take our trainees along :-) As already in previous years, also 2015's trip went to the fjords. This year however in a more active way.

Friday 26/06:

Departure at 2 p.m. by minibus from the office to Geilo.

The trainees (here: Anne, Tori, Catherine and Lucie) are looking forward to this weekend.

At Geilo station waiting for the train to Myrdal and Vatnahalsen.

One hour train ride on the Oslo-Bergen railway line.

 

"Dinner" on board to kill some time.

Beautiful, still snow covered landscapes at the Northern fringe of the Hardangervidda plateau.

 

At the mountain station of Myrdal we changed to the famous panoramic Flåm Railway.

After only a 3 minutes ride we reached the first stop: Vatnahalsen - where we already got off.

That night we were guests at Vatnahalsen Høyfjellshotel, totally isolated hotel (reachable ONLY by the Flåmsbana train) in the mountains.

We were welcomed by Jannet, the super nice hotel manager, who showed us around the property.

Pure tranquility, beautiful surrounding and late sunset enjoyed with a little "apéritif" on the hotel's terrace. At Vatnahalsen you have nothing but peaceful nature around you.

Who says "Twister" is just for kids?

Saturday 27/06:

Let's start the day ACTIVELY! In front of the hotel door the bikes were already waiting for us.

Let's go! From Vatnahalsen we drove down all the way (ca. 20 km) to the valley to Flåm. This stretch is actually part of a very famous biking trail - the 86 km long Rallarvegen - starting already some 60 km before in Haugastøl.

From Vatnahalsen the trail starts with a 2 kilometres long winding road taking you down over 300 metres of altitude with an inclination of 18%.

The bikes didn't find favour with five of our colleagues. They, instead, started by foot and walked the first part of the trail. At Blomheller station they jumped on the Flåmsbana train taking them further down to Flåm.

 

On the way into Flåm village.

Approx. 2,5 hours later: arrived and happy in Flåm :-)

We certainly deserved a beer now...

...of course from the famous local Ægir Brewery.

 

Our minibus took us to Gudvangen...

 ...where we went on board a two hours cruise on the beautiful and famous UNESCO listed Nærøyfjord.

 

Arrival back in Flåm and continuation to the commune of Aurland and further on to the fantastic viewpoint "Stegastein". What a great view on the Aurlandsfjord!

Team Terra Nova (f.l.t.r.): me, Aurélie, Caroline, Vincent, Franck and Stéphanie.

Terra Nova with our trainees: in the back (f.l.t.r.) Sandra, Marion, Stéphanie, Lucie, me, Aurélie, Vincent and Franck and in the front Catherine and Caroline.

Group picture all together!

Stunning landscapes also on the way further on to Geilo, driving on the road RV50 which is for some reason called "the road of the goat's back".

And the snowball fight is on!

Arrival in Geilo where we stayed overnight in the new apartments of Ustedalen Hotel. An evening with dinner buffet and games followed.

Sunday 28/06:
After breakfast, departure direction Oslo. First stop: the stave church in Torpo. Well, not the white one, but the wooden one behind :-)

 

Before noon: stop at the Bear Park in Flå. I had arranged a guided tour through the huge park with the manager who invited us for pizza for lunch.

The park is not only home to bears, but also predators, mooses and more.

 

Right on time for the bear feeding.

Love this pic! My absolute favourite: a reading bear :-)

Lunch time: the pizza was surprisingly good (keeping in mind my Italian standards set high)!

Terra Nova force!

End of yet another great summer trip! Wonderful weather, fantastic the bike tour, usually stunning fjords and great the fun we had! Takk for turen :-)