Søndagstur

E was really eager to go for a walk in the woods to a special place we found a few weeks ago. This time we rode our bikes from home into the woods up to the point where the trail gets really steep, then walked the rest of the way. KE had baked banana-carrot bread earlier in the day, so we took that along to eat. There were also, amazingly enough, still quite a few blueberries. We had a little fire and ran around playing "three billy goats gruff" (all three) and motocross (boys only). We could really feel and see that autumn is upon us.

For the past few days E has been into wearing the crazy stripy sweater I knit for him last summer. Here he is with it, along with the ancient strawberry hat:

And here's the proud baker enjoying the fruits of his labor along side the fire:

And of course yours truly, appreciative of yummy snacks and wearing a sweater that is close to twenty years old:

Ah. All together a lovely afternoon.

Ut på tur, aldri sur

One of my biggest fantasies about our new life in Europe is that we will become one of those geeky families that travels around in a VW van visiting historical sites all over Europe, and that we will do tons of hiking and cross-country skiing all over Norway. The problem with the fantasy is that I don't like getting dressed or off the sofa, and would always rather read a good book than go outside, so I'm a little concerned that the fantasy is more of an impossible dream.

The latest issue of Norway.com Magazine (didn't know that the magazine existed, although I do refer to the website occasionally) contains lists of the top ten hikes and cross-country skiing. Clearly I have to do those things, even if it means getting dressed to do so. The whole cabin-to-cabin thing maintained by Den norske turistforening fascinates me. Here they are:

Top hikes:

• Besseggen: of Peer Gynt fame. They say that over 35,000 people hike this trail each summer, which really doesn't sound very fun, even though I would love to see this topographical oddity first hand.

• Knutshøe: An alternative to Besseggen itself. Apparently you get great views of the ridge and lakes from here.

• Mugnetind: An easy trail just inside Jotunheimen, apparently.

• Rasletind: A 2000 meter climb in Jotunheimen.

• Skogstien: This is the easy hike at Beitostølen. Even at my worst this one wouldn't worry me. Apparently there are some pilgrim sites along the trail.

• Bydin, Eidsugarden, Olavsbu, Skogadalsboen, Ardal: A four-day trip across Jotunheimen.

• Galdhøpiggen and Glittertind: Scale Norway's two highest mountains in three days. I'm not sure that this is realistic. It should be the last one on the list for me.

• Lappstien, Heinseter, Rauhellern, Marbu, Krossbu, Helberghytta, Rjukan: A six-day cabin to cabin trek. This one sounds less grueling.

• Haukeliseter, Hellevasbu, Litlos, Sandhaug, Lagaros, Mogen, Rjukan: Okay, so I've actually hiked the first three stations along this route, before veering off toward the western fjord country. It practically killed me. I was carrying a heavy pack, which is essentially suicide when hiking in the Hardangervidda. You don't need a pack as long as you can make the full stretches between the wonderfully stocked cabins along the route. The guide book will tell you something like "seven hours" between cabins, but that means without any breaks at all (and no dawdling at rivers where the bridge has been washed away and you need to figure out how to get across rushing glacial run-off). I did this when I was 20 pounds lighter. I'd like to think that I will do it again with my additional wisdom of what not to pack, but I'm not sure I have the courage and stamina. We'll see, and I'll keep thinking about it.

• Skala
  

The top cross-country ski tours are supposedly:

• Bymarka (outside Trondheim)

• Oslomarka (outside Oslo): this I could probably manage. They say to start at Holmenkollen at the base of the ski jump, and also mention a 6 kilometer trail from Sognsvann to Ullevaalseter or to Kikut (14 kilometers). What they don't mention is all the hills. Cross-country skiing is great except for the downhill parts. Yiikes.

• Lillomarka (also outside Oslo): also reasonably likely. They say to start at Maridalsvannet and ski to Lilloseter (12 kilometers).

• Geilo

• Birkebeinerrennet: a traditional 56 kilometer race. Not in a million years would I participate, although I will happily watch it on television!

• Hallingdal

• Kruk i Valdres

• Hafjell

• Trysil

• Drammensmarka