Geirangerfjord

We have arrived at the Geirangerfjord. A beautiful place that was high on our to-see list. We stop at a lookout point, it is already beautiful with all the clouds, but if all goes well it will be sunny this afternoon!

We arrive at the campsite around 12.30 pm and that’s a good thing. In the following days we notice how quickly the campsite fills up every morning.

Of course, a spot next to the playground. Stuff outside, awning out. There is still some splashes, but we can have a dry lunch under the awning. Soon the sun comes out. Time for ice cream! We chat with a Dutch man and Jinte brings him four drawings that he has hung up shortly afterwards. So nice to see Jinte’s proud face. She gets a small music box from him, very thoughtful!

In the evening we hear a helicopter from very close by. First a trauma helicopter, then a rescue team. They lower someone and a little later they hoist someone up. The ambulance is also ready and the coast guard is involved from the water. We read online that someone has fallen, the person is still alive and it is unclear how serious the injuries are. Awful! The entire campsite was watching. A little later, peace returns and we go to bed.

The next morning a walk is planned. We cycle to the harbor and there we take the boat. Along the way we pass the most beautiful waterfalls. The girls are amazed. A Dutch couple on the boat asks whether we can make it back on the 1:10 PM boat or whether we should only take the 4:00 PM one. We thought there was a boat returning every hour. Not so. They had received a note with the times. How fortunate that we know this now. We take a picture of it and happily start the walk. Where the boat drops us off is a steep path up to the deserted village of Skageflå. It may be the steepest walk yet. We soon notice some tension. The 4 p.m. boat is not an option, as Goos will be alone for too long. Walking back from the village is at least as long and not feasible for Jinte.

The way back is difficult and we feel time pressure. Jinte finds it difficult to go down so steeply and does her best. She also notices some haste and that is counterproductive. We want it to be a little faster, but we also want it to remain safe. What a hassle. Mirre opens her finger on a kind of railing and when we see the boat sailing, Mirre is in tears. She is more tense than usual because of last night’s rescue. All doomsday images. Johan decides to lift Jinte, while he is already carrying Diede on his back (hero). Mirre sucks her finger so that her clothes don’t get covered in blood and tries to calm herself down a bit. We just made it to the boat, what a relief! Let’s vent to the Dutch, they are incredibly sweet. They show us their photos of the village. That village could be stolen from us, we are happy that we are safely down there.

In Geiranger we do some shopping and eat the tastiest ice cream ever. Then back to Goos. The support for the electric bicycle stops, then you notice how much that makes a difference. Very difficult up that mountain. Mirre arrives at the campsite overheated. She takes a dip in the Fjord. We hear 7 degrees later! Then relax in the sun and have a lovely chill afternoon. A retired Dutch man brings us fresh fish. Caught this morning. He stays here for three months every year, goes fishing every day and hands it out at the campsite. I bring him a pan of soup at the end of the afternoon, just for fun. He says we are the first Dutch people from whom he gets something back! He doesn’t expect it at all, but he clearly enjoys it.

We decide to stay another night. It is so nice here and the weather will be lovely tomorrow. The next morning Johan gets up at 6 am to take a tough walk towards a waterfall, walking is also nice. When he comes back we are just having our breakfast!

Bread is baked and the camper is cleaned. The girls play in the playground. We hear that orcas have been spotted in the fjord next door, Mirre immediately wants to rent a boat, but you can’t go that far. We hope they swim here themselves, but alas!

A little later our sweet but somewhat nosy German neighbor comes to ask for help. Her husband has caught himself, his fishing hook is stuck in his hair and her eyes are too bad to get him out. She’s a funny woman. She continues to speak German to us every day, full stories. For example, on our first day, when the girls were eating ice cream, she said that they were getting too much sugar. She also asks all day long if she can give Goos cookies. The answer remains no. When she sees Mirre cleaning and the children get fruit, she enthusiastically says ‘sweeter mommy’. In the afternoon, Mirre even gets an organic Himbeeren liqueur from her, which she has made a friend. Well, you shouldn’t take two of those.

Some more rain in the evening. Buufie was already knocking on the door at the first splash, there were still some things outside. The sweetheart! We make plans for tomorrow.

We really had three wonderful days at this campsite! Auf wieder schnitzel buufie!