LOCALadk Magazine

Spring 2020 LOCALadk Magazine 39 LOCALadk My bags were packed a week early and the dogs knew I would be leaving them again. Anticipation of an adven- ture-filled trip to Nor way had me counting down the days. I had pitched my plea to the boss and felt lucky to have been the one chosen by the company I work for to help guide a first-time trip to Nor way. I would be working with a local Nor wegian guide, of course, and together we would lead a group of 12 clients, all women on an epic adventure. Oslo won me over quickly with its contemporar y archi- tecture, citywide art sculptures, unique opera house and lots of people commuting on bikes. Another cool form of public transportation that is hard to miss are the electric scooters. They are citywide and can be unlocked and used via an app. Transporting an assortment of commuters— from folks wearing business suits to teens in jeans—these scooters quietly zip around Oslo day and night. Whatever plans you might have for Nor way, include at least a day or two to check out Oslo. Trains are a vital and incredibly clean and efficient mode of transportation in Nor way. Our first train ride was a four- hour picture-postcard ride from Oslo to Finse, where the Hardanger vidda Mountain plateau sits at 4,000 feet. We spent two nights at the Mountain Hotel Finse, which looks directly onto one of Nor way's largest glaciers. One thing to know about Nor way is that the weather, like in a lot of places, can change quickly. Owning quality rain gear is a must. We spent our first full day hiking to the glacier in a ver y cold and steady rain. Gore Tex is a must. For the brave, standing on a glacier with crampons gripping hard, crunchy ice while being mesmerized by its deep blue cracks makes the rain a forgotten nuisance. The Navvies' Road is widely regarded as one of the most spectacular bike rides in the world. The road was originally established to build the Bergen Railway and runs for ap- proximately 75 miles. It is now closed to auto traffic. Our group opted to bike the 33-mile section from Finse to Flam. The road is mostly packed dirt, with a climb getting start- ed, and then miles of fun, cur vy downhills. You begin with a wide-open mountain landscape, with the glacier to the west. Your head swivels as you tr y to glimpse ever y stun- ning and thundering waterfall that appears one after the next. The Kleivagjelet Ravine offers the steepest and nar- rowest stretches, with signs warning that you may want to walk your bike. We rode, but with one hand ready to grab the brakes. The last section before arriving in Flam is a downhill section of 21 sharp hairpin turns. It drew a little blood but there were planty of proud smiles at the bottom. A fjord is a deep, narrow and elongated sea or lake with steeply rising walls on three sides. They are formed by the giant glacier tongues that were shaped during the last ice age. A trip to Nor way would not be complete without time spent exploring some of its more than 1,000 fjords. Kay- aking is a great way to do this, and gives you a sense of

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