We are currently parked up because the Norwegians are doing road works
and Pat is too big to pass. We have to wait here in a nondescript car
park until we are told we can move again. Oh well it gives me (Marea)
a rest until we set off on another of our epic adventures.
This morning after a 45 minute scramble over rocks (which some poor
Japanese tourists must have thought they needed rock climbing gear,
judging by their very slow progress) we made it to the Nigardshreen
glacier. Compared to last week's glacier this one is massive!! The
colours were amazing, it was a bit dirty and grey on top, but
underneath some of the huge crevasses reflected a very cool blue
colour. On close inspection we saw that the glacier wasn't just one
solid block of ice but lots of crystalized coin sized chips of ice all
packed together like a 3D jigsaw puzzle.
After a few photos and consultation of the map and guide books for a
suitable walk, we began our drive around the national park to the
Austerdalsbreen glacier where there should be not many (other)
tourists and more amazing scenery for us to enjoy.
The no tourists part was definitely true as we ended up sitting in
our nondescript car park for over 2 hours and in that time there was
only about 10 other vehicles who wanted to use our road!! Once moving
again, it was a very beautiful drive along the edge of Lake
Veitastrondsvatnet, we did think for a short time that we could see
the glacier up ahead, but then realised something was a little amiss
as the road went straight through the 'glacier'. Once we got to it,
it became clear that we were driving through the remains of what must
have been an enormous avalanche. There were flattened trees and power
poles on both sides of the road.
Our drive was then once again slowed, as the locals were droving a few
sheep up the road. Lucky for us, our kitchen is always close by, so
we parked up, had dinner, then drove on to meet the sheep musterers a
few kilometres further up the road where we managed to find our
camping spot for the night ;-)
No comments:
Post a Comment