Week 9 – From Romeo and Juliette’s to Norwegian Sea

Week 9 – From Romeo and Juliette’s to Norwegian Sea

Steep little walk up mountain at Hoverberget, a nature reserve on Southern Storsjon Lake to look at Grotto - small fissure/cave in the porphyry rock, and to lookout tower, just beating a rainstorm. Passed Eurasian cranes, a red fox with a white tipped tail, and something low, broad, furry and slinky in forest...

 











We were so excited about visiting our Swedish friends Julia and Eskil in peaceful Trangsviken - how welcome they made us! Sat in their warm glass-walled sunroom getting to know their family and friends. plus over our Australian wine (and their Spanish spoils!) Julia, a teacher in the US had to re-school to teach in Sweden. Applauded their community spirit in re-settling and up-skilling refugee Kurds from corner of Iraq and Syria. Eskil told stories of his work with police rescue in forests and mountains. He tried to convince us to stay up all night to enjoy the midnight light, but we just won't function without some sleep! 

Eskil, son Magnus and friend Tana from Sydney

Juliet and Romeo

Spent next day being toured around. Enjoyed watching traditional break baking; spiced with fennel and annis it was absolutely delicious. 
 

Passed Eskil’s family home and heard stories of his running away through the forest as a youngster, as well as when his Grandfather met the King. Loved the story of cows bucking and cavorting in the fields with delight when released from their winter barns (“an awfully funny sight”). On to Hallristningar waterfall at Glosa with its Stone Age hunter-gatherer rock carvings (4000yr old petroglyphs) and restored hut with reindeer hide ceiling. 

Julia demonstrates mustache fern

 






 

German friends Rinehart and Kristina (a guide in Germany)

 









Lunched on Froson Island (horse meat sandwiches on still-warm bread) beside Storsjon Lake, home of Swedish version of Lake Ness monster (apparently there's an embryo in a bottle hereabouts...)

A highlight was the visit to the Moose farm, up close to bulls, cows and calves. So surprised to feel the warmth of their furry antlers and the oil in their skin. They milk cows – with its 15% fat, the milk and cheese sells for astronomical prices!
 
 

We had to drag Julia away

Well, I thought it was funny....

 







 








Enjoyed traditional woodsman’s dinner of baked potato and ham cake with lignin berries, accompanying "Prost" toasts, Tallinn liquor (citrus + spices + instant heat radiating from mouth outwards...)  Next day headed into Ostersund to visit interactive Jamtli open-air and culture museum. Bear skins with claws intact, different animal hairs woven into socks, sacks, clothing. Sami culture uses every part of reindeer.

 







Got alcohol at state owned store, back to Trangsviken to make Aussie farewell BBQ (but adding moose meat for taste). Made Julia’s Janssons Temptation (potato bake/ anchovies). Showed Eskil our planned route forward, and he convinced us of an alternate "awfully pretty road". Sat up after midnight telling stories, Julia and Kristine singing bawdy songs and taking videos for Facebook (GirlRob wonders if they will be so amusing in the morning).
 











Met reporter at Transviken Stellplatz (will be embarrassing if GirlRob’s shower segment is broadcast digitally!) Sad farewells – Romeo and Juliet have been outstanding hosts so generous with their time, traditional cooking and stories. 

On to Trondheim, moving ever closer to snowy mountains in swirling mist. Crossed border into Norway at Storlien. Babbling brooks with small cascades, boulders covered in red and green lichen. Went first to Nidaros Cathedral, a majestic Lutheran church with 20ft figures totally covering front entrance. Inside equally stunning with huge rose stained-glass window. Strange figures on floor in black and white marble (pig, mermaid) - cleric told us they might represent sins which priest “defied” every time he walked over them – hmm…. Met Mount Isa Mines colleague for delicious fish dinner of baked char. Ian's wife Inga was Norwegian and told us of an oppressive early childhood under the Nazi occupation - her family lived an agrarian life on a fjord, and had all their animals “appropriated”. 


 










 












From Trondheim took picturesque route towards Kristiansund through beautiful snow covered pine mountains overlooking lush valleys of furry cattle and rye crops. Drove over six islands crossing Atlantic Ocean via bridge or tunnel to reach Kristiansund, before travelling the famed Atlantic Road (at cost of $50 toll!) its lichen-covered rocky coast and islands, and spectacular "bridge to nowhere....".