Fresh air at last!

3 girls started off from Oslo monday afternoon, car filled with woollen underwear, waterproof clothing, bikinis and gloves. You never know what the Norwegian summer has to offer, especially not up in the mountains... Got to my friend's cabin at Eidsbugarden in the evening, had some champagne and chatted the night away.

Tuesday morning came earlier than expected, but we got out somehow, backpacks on, and headed off for one of the tourist cabins. We didn't want to carry any food, so we went for one of the cabins with staff (there are a lot of cabins whithout staff to, you just lock yourself in and leave a small amount of money in a mailbox when you leave. Most people are honest...). A little rain accompanied us, but temperature was ok so we had a really nice day walking to Gjendebu.

Thing I love the most about being in the mountains is how everybody become so friendly; you talk to everyone you meet, and people are just so relaxed and easygoing.

The hike was beautiful, and we drank champagne when the sun came out (yes, we actually carry 1 bottle of champagne for each day we're out there. It's tradition).

Got to Gjendebu late afternoon, had a perfect norwegian dinner and dessert. The place was full, but they never turn anyone down, so we slept in the livingroom with about 10-15 other hikers. We got blankets and thin matrasses and it felt like beeing a little girlscout :o) We almost strangled the snoring man next to us, but otherwise slept like a cat in the sun.

Got up, took the boat from Gjendebu further down to Memurubu, and started walking back to Gjendebu.

As you see, we're doing this to be outside and walk around (national hobby in Norway- walking), not necessarily to GET anywhere. And by going back to the same place, we didn't have to carry the backpacks with us! Spotted some raindeer, had pink champagne on the highest peak for the day, and climed down the extremely steep path of Bukkelægret. The steepest part has chains you can hold on to, so normally there's no problem to get down - or up - as long as you take your time. But, ig you have a jumper's knee, go somewhere else... My friend got some extreme pain in both knees climbing down due to this condition, she hardly got down at all. Looked awful!

Got back to Gjendebu later than calculated, my poor friend wasn't exactly speeding, and met up with 3 other friends who started off from Eidsbugarden that day.

Played cards, had yet another smashing dinner and got a big room for 6 people. Great!

Next day, my friends knees wasn't much better, so she and I took the ferry and then bus back to Eidsbugarden, while the others had a superb hike in the sunshine. We were a bit jelaous, but it's nice to sit on a boat and relax in the sun to :o)

That evening we went to see the opening concert of Vinjerock, an annual music festival lasting for 3 days, far away up in the montains! It's really special beeing at a rock concert with mountains as the background. Something different!

Next two days were all concerts, meeting loads of happy people, drinking beer and playing mimegames and stuff all night.

If you're ever in Norway the first weekend of August, you have to see it!