Getting ready for a new adventure

I wasn't going to do a blog for this trip but I've been asked by a few people if I'm going to be blogging during our travels so I thought it would be a good way to document this new adventure. So what is this new adventure? It's, first of all, a trip together- just Roger and me- to celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary. We haven't traveled together on a big trip since our trip to Europe in 2008. It's also Roger's "bucket list trip", a trip to Norway to see the land where his paternal grandparents lived before immigrating.  I'm thrilled that Roger and I can share this special experience together and he's as excited as I am to see my cousins again after meeting some of them in the US.

Our trip to Norway originally started out with smaller plans, renting a car in Oslo to visit Etnedal, the area where his paternal grandmother was born, then heading to Bergen and renting a car to see how much we could take in before returning to Oslo for the flight home. It's hard to get around in Norway with all the mountains and fjords, and very well-behaved drivers who don't exceed the speed limit. Then I found out through a friend that Wideroe Airlines, a regional company, sells two week unlimited tickets within Norway. Not only do we get to go to Hammerfest in the far north (70 degrees N latitude), we'll get to see so much with 8 different cities and 3000 miles in the air (or so).

Here's the itinerary. You can find most of the locations on the map below. We're starting out the trip in Sweden with a couple of nights in Stockholm when we arrive and then on to visit Solleron and the surrounding area to see my Swedish family and celebrate Midsommer as I did two years ago with my mom and sister. It's not on the map but look for Falun in the Dalarnas region north of Stockholm. Mora is north of Falun. This is where we'll be for 6 nights, including Midsommer. My cousin, Mats, will be driving us to Etnedal on the 23rd where we'll see some family sights and spend the night. On the 24th, we'll drive to Oslo where we'll spend one night. Roger and I will fly out the next day for Bergen, east of Oslo on the coast (look for the red words Hordeland- it's about on the letter "o"). After two days, we'll head to Stavanger where we'll hike Pulpit Rock (google this, it's gorgeous!). We'll fly to Bodo (at the sound end of the Arctic Circle. Look about 2/3rds of the way up the coast) after this and take a ferry to the Lofoten Islands (just across the Vestfjorden (the water (ocean? bay?) where we'll spend two nights in different locations, hopefully kayaking, hiking, and biking along with taking a fjord tour. From the Lofoten Islands, we'll head to Tromso for a day, then on to Hammerfest for two nights. Then back to Oslo for the flight home. That's 15 flights in 23 days.

Norway is expensive so coming up with affordable accommodations requires some creativity. We're staying in one hostel, two nights in a hotel, one night at a bed and breakfast, two nights couchsurfing and the rest is renting space from people who open up apartments, sheds (oops, I mean a backyard cottage) or their homes to travelers. Couchsurfing will be a new experience. The website has people who have registered from all over the world to open their homes to travelers free of charge. A young couple in Hammerfest has agreed to host us for two nights and we are excited to be able to visit and learn more about the town where Roger's paternal grandfather was born. Eight of our days will be under the midnight sun. 

After booking the airfare, I immediately realized that checking bags was not going to be efficient so we bought Rick Steve's convertible backpacks and plan to travel with a carryon only which meant packing differently and looking for clothing that can be easily washed and dried. We're doing pretty well and appreciate the tips we get along the way, such as buying rain pants for the many rainy days in Norway. (There is no bad weather only bad clothing, is the saying) 

The trip will be different than anything I've done before with all the moves and different accommodations. We look forward to the opportunities to meet new people that this opens to us. If there's anything I've taken from my travels is that I learn more and experience more through the people I meet than any guidebook or tour can offer. 

Thanks for joining us!