Cleanup and Relaxation

Today we decided that we would take a more relaxed view of life.   But first a cleanup of the caravan, plus a load of washing, needed to be done.   

We have now made a policy of putting the washing into the machine together.   A bonding exercise?   Not really, if you can call working co-operatively, bonding, in order to understand the English instructions for the washing machines and dryers.   Believe me, the English instructions are always written in a way that is extremely confusing.  The accompanying diagrams add to the confusion..   But today the instructions were clearly written, in simple English.   We also had plenty of time.

The caravan looks very clean, inside and outside.   We also had time for a leisurely latte this morning, made with hot milk, and frothed up properly using a hand frother.   Most mornings we add some cold milk to the coffee.   We always seem to be in a rush.   But not this morning.

The weather was brilliant, a bit chilly, but sunny.   The view continued to be breathtakingly beautiful.

We decided that we should go for a short drive in the afternoon, Just for a little look.

First we went down to Lofthus, to find out where we catch the cruise boat tomorrow, buy a few groceries, and take a photograph.   

 We drove to the next little place, Kinsarvik, where we found the Hardanger Bestikk shop, with the factory next door.   Hardanger Bestikk has been Scandinavia's largest producer of stainless steel cutlery for fifty years.   Of course, I realised when I saw the cutlery, why the word Hardanger rang a bell when I first looked at coming to the fjord here.  We intend to return to Kinsarvik and go on the tour of the factory.

Kinsarvik, had a beautiful little church, one of the oldest in Norway. built in 1180AD.  

 This small patch of green grass, plus carpark, is where there was once a Viking port.  Legend has it, that Scottish invaders also settled in Kinsvarik, and may have built the church.   It was interesting to hear about Scottish 'invaders', as in the UK we only hear about Viking 'invaders'.

 Then back home again for a lovely sit in the sunshine, and for me a walk along the road, both ways.  Of course you see so much more, when walking, then in a car, and hear more too.   It took me a while to realise that the sound of rushing water was actually coming from under my feet.   There were numerous underground drains taking the water away from the side of the mountain.

I had a much better view of the sheer ice, that is on the other side of the fjord.   It is certainly very solid looking, and mostly in the shade so obviously is not melting.

 This is an apple growing area, plus cherries and plums.   The main variety of apples is Gravenstein, which were first grown in the 18th Century.   Many of the trees are still in flower, how they manage to ripen them before winter, is quite a miracle, in my eyes anyway.

 The view from the road, down to Lofthus.

 That waterful again, I almost felt that I could put out my hand and touch it, so close, but of course quite some distance away.

 Such a peacful walk along the road, hardly any traffic, just a motorhome or tractor, now and again.

An English car has just driven in, heading towards the cabins.   The first one, we have seen since we arrived in Norway.   We also have Russian neighbours, in a tent, the third Russian car we have seen, Norway must be a popular destination.

We also greatly admire the Dutch and the Germans, in the way they casually move their caravans about.  They are so quick, always confident, great at reversing and obviously used to towing their caravans on any sort of road.