The Best of the Best

Scott's cool hat

After the Flåmsbana, we resumed our regularly scheduled trip, headed for Geiranger (pronounced GAY – RANG – GRRR). This day turned out to be the best of the trip. The weather was perfect, the scenery unbelievable.

First, we passed beautiful farms reflected in fjords.

The most visually arresting scenery

Unbelievable!

Then, we saw the other side of the Jostedal glacier ...

Jostedal Glacier

... including stopping by a glacial pool ...

More incredible beauty

... with its own herd of Norwegian cows. 

Even the cows are pretty

We were using our GPS and didn’t notice that we took a different route than the tour route. No matter, it was perfection.

Where were we going?

We passed multiple fjords and lakes– Sognefjorden, Jolstavatnet, Gloppenfjorden, Innvikfjorden, Strynvatn and Geirangerfjorden. 

It didn't matter; it was all good

Fjords!

Farms!

We stopped at a beautiful church ...

More modern than the stave churches

... and admired the lovely millwork on Norwegian homes. 

Just a pretty country house

We saw more sod roofs.

So Norwegian!

We saw apples, apples and more apples. 

Pretty and yummy

And, we made a stop at the Jostedalsbreen National Park Visitors Center, where Scott had a little fun. 

Mrs. and Mr. Viking

The nearby Innvikfjorden was so pretty. Everything was so pretty, it was hard to keep driving.

Innvikfjorden

Innvikfjorden

We took a little hike to get really close to the thundering Ovstebrofoss in Gamle. 

Rushing Water

It's a massive waterfall and the trail takes you both over and next to it. See it here.

Scott of the trail

Then we decided to take a scenic route instead of the main highway. 

More views

Route 258 turned out to be a little scary (narrow, gravel) but stunning ...

We didn't plan this route, but it was great

High, high up

... a glacially carved, rock-studded landscape filled with lakes and waterfalls. 

Where were we going?

Craggy

Watch a little snippet:

We saw only a few other cars and a number of sheep.

She had the road to herself

But, she moved for us

Plus some abandoned crofts.

Crofts

The trip brought us in into our destination of Geiranger from the opposite site, so we saw Norway’s most famous fjord from above the town as we entered. Our hotel  - the Union Hotel - was right above the fjord.

The view was probably the best hotel room view I have ever had

We had a rather sumptuous buffet (packed with cruise people) in the hotel and spent the evening back up the mountain hoping for aurora borealis. We think we saw a small amount, but then it clouded over.

The downside of taking the “wrong” route is that we didn’t enter Geiranger via ferry. So, the next day we decided we would take a round-trip ferry trip. As I was buying tickets, I found that there was an exclusively sightseeing trip, so we opted for that instead of the ferry.

Scott on the ferry

Great view from the water

The Geirangerfjorden is spectacular. 

Sun, sky, water and clouds

Along its sides are steep cliffs and waterfalls, including the “Seven Sisters” and several other falls.

Abundant waterfalls

We saw Harbor Porpoise in the water ...

Not a great shot

... and abandoned farms.

The area used to have more residents

And, we dropped off some hikers and kayakers. 

Looks like tough hiking terrain

Kayakers

THIS is what I expected when I booked a trip to Norway!!

Blue water and blue mountains

Incredible light

Steep cliffs

Quaint villages, including Geiranger

After the cruise, we headed out of Geiranger up eleven switchbacks of the the Eagle’s Road ...

Norwegians are not afraid of steep roads; we saw (and drove on) many

.... for more spectacular views of the fjord before we headed out.

Everywhere you looked, the fjord was gorgeous

Pardon the number of pictures ...

... but, how could you not ...

... take so many?

Trip date: August 19-September 9, 2014