4th August 2023 (very windy, rainy morning, windy arvo, cool) 0km

Slept well last night.
5am we were up after a solid eight hours, but after a quick toilet break,  we went back to sleep until 7.30am.

The plan today was to cycle to Henningsvaer, however the wind through the early hours was high and gusting really badly.
We had to assess whether it was worth getting away, to be blown all over the road and it didn't take long to decide to hold off another day and try for Saturday.

Not only are the winds howling through this fjord, but the direction will have us riding the Coastal road with a cross tailwind.
Not bad, I hear you say.
But the wind at normal strength is currently 40km per hour gusting to 60km.
It's certainly not pleasant and on these roads, dangerous.
So, the decision was made to stay another night and fortunately we can keep the cabin we have.
We will have to buy food from the cafe/ restaurant, at inflated prices, naturally, but we will be safe.
Not only did the wind keep raging, but we also had rain, which wasn't forecast.

Could be really pretty if the sun was shining. 

As it was, we took these photos during a fine break.

My hair tells the true story!

After spending time in the kitchen/dining area talking to an Argentinian and Australian guy who are taking a party kayaking and hiking, we discovered they have ruled out the kayaking because of the potential for disaster.
They did however go on a four hour hike up on the mountains.  We were invited to join them, but politely declined.
At 12pm, the weather is high winds and rain and we're very happy we didn't go with them.
Last night they spent the night in a cabin, but tonight they don't have that option and are in tents.
Poor buggers.

A couple of families of French came to the kitchen/dining and it was nice to see everyone interacting.
From cards, to games, to teaching and talking.
And no phones with the kids, or the adults for that matter.

Julia and I wandered over to the Cafe for some lunch and began talking with a German guy who had just called into the cafe for some food.
He was a cyclist, who had informed his boss that he needed time off to cycle, rather than the normal four weeks.
He received one years unpaid leave and he is cycling the whole time.
His name was Bernt,  married with three grown kids and a wife who worked, but was also a leader in the German Climate Change organisation.
We chatted about his plans and his wife, before he lit a cigarette and left.
He definitely had an issue with the amount of camper vans on the road.

By 2.30pm , the weather had brightened up, so we're hopeful of a better day tomorrow.

Around 3pm we took a hike up a small track which led up into the hills, rather than the mountains.
It was there that we found a plentiful supply of blueberries to enjoy with our breakfast tomorrow.

When we arrived back, we got talking to a couple and their son.
Darius and Anna had moved from Poland seventeen years ago for a life in Norway.They reside close to Trondheim on an island.
Darius works in the salmon farming industry.
We were introduced to their son Miwash, but couldn't meet the other son as he was sleeping.
At 5.15pm we wandered to our hangout area again, where after a while we were joined by the hiking /kayaking girls.
We were introduced to Lucy who works in the equestrian field, training, showing, jumping and eventing and breeding. She is also an astro physicist plus studied sports science as well.
Also met Margot from Toronto, recently retired, but living in Perth for the past twenty years.
She went to Perth all those years ago to work as a chemical engineer.

At 7.15pm and a great conversation with them, Julia and I walked across to the restaurant for dinner and drinks.
It was just beginning to rain again. 

Hamburgers again, followed by ice-cream.  Delicious. 

Having been held up by bad weather, we realise just how bad this trip could have been if Pete hadn't been keeping up with his daily prayers. (For God's sake!, and Jesus Bloody Christ!, count as prayers don't they?)

So we've written a little ode, to the tune of Camp Grenada....

Hello readers,  of our writing,
Here in Norway,  midges biting,
Mosquitoes hovering,
Horse flies waiting,
To taste the blood they've been anticipating.

Mountain passes, kill our asses
They don't teach this, in no classes,
Thighs are aching,
Lungs are burning
Still we find a way to keep those bike wheels turning.

Narrow roads and speeding traffic
Peter's language,  very graphic,
Scary tunnels, feeling hungry
But we're out of luck because it's bloody Sunday.

Day is finished, riding's over,
We have found our, field of clover,
When we go to,
Bang the pegs in,
Ground is granite like the bench top in the kitchen.

What's that hissing? It's a puncture!
How'd we get here? At this juncture?
Want to go home, see the rellies
Have a comfy bed and steak to fill our bellies.

Wait a minute, it's stopped raining,
And the wind is finally waning,
Skies are clearing,
And the fog goes,
Friends and family kindly disregard this blogpost!