Day 62 Olden, Norway

We pulled the curtain in our bedroom wide open around 5.30 this morning to watch our ship glide quietly through the Nordfjord.  On both sides of the ship are soaring misty mountains with tumbling waterfalls and  colourful houses along the waters edge.  What an enchanting entrance to Olden.

Despite its small size, with a population of just under 700, Olden has become a major tourist destination with over 100 cruise ships visiting annually. One of the main draws to Olden is its proximity to the Briksdale glacier that we will be visiting on our tour today.

Our bus follows the Oldeelva River and on to Oldedalen valley for around 45 minutes before reaching Briksdale Inn.  The drive is truly spectacular and Philip and I discuss whether we have we ever seen anything more beautiful.  I don't think so.

Once we arrive at our destination we are transferred to Troll Cars, or as we would call them, ATV's, with seating for 8 people including the driver.  We leave as a group of four vehicles and slowly make our way up the steep mountainside towards the glacier.  These ATV's are the perfect vehicle for the job.  I wondered why each set of seats has a waterproof tarpaulin but it becomes perfectly clear as we pass over a raging river that covers us with water and mist. The drive takes us around 20 minutes and the magnificent glacier rises grandly above us.  The vehicles can only take us so far.  We now have around 700 metres of uphill walking before we reach the glacier.  The first quarter is very steep but it flattens into a gradual uphill after that.  I am a little short of breath but I think it might be the altitude.  We are a little bit disappointed that we didn't get right up close to the glacier, as we have in other places, but it is still worth our while to come here.  Glaciers always surprise me at how blue they are and the colour of the water flowing off them into the stream is the same crystal clear blue.

We stay at the glacier for around 45 minutes that gives us only just enough time to make it back down the path to reach the Troll Cars.  Thank goodness it is now downhill. The weather has been kind to us with just light showers drifting intermittently over us and the temperature is still mild.  The wind however is very strong and I watch as people everywhere are chasing their hats as they alighted from the buses!

Back at the Briksdale Lodge we make our way to the restaurant where we have tea, coffee and the most amazing display of cakes and slices waiting for us to devour, and devour we did!

We return to the ship the same way and it is just as scenic as it was on the way back, albeit from a different direction.  Instead of heading back onboard we wandered around the little township.  We like to spend a little bit of money in each place we visit, to help their economy of course, 😁 so Philip bought a cap (I think this is number 3 this trip) and I bought a gorgeous cheese slicer that I know will be put to good use.

Front

Back

We don't depart Olden until 8pm this evening and tomorrow we will be docking at Kristiansund.  We actually thought we were heading back to where we were a couple of days ago - Kristiansand - but that stupid King Kristian, that kept naming towns after himself, swapped the "a" for an "u" and decided that was a good idea…….

No tours booked tomorrow.  Just a stroll around the town.