Southern Softies

 

Twenty years since we marched up the Vegas Strip, been back there more times than I care to mention and plenty of other places beside. We talked last night about our best travel experience together, some of the early driving trips through France and Spain with the kids fond memories, Vegas rarely disappoints and again after some huge US driving legs, Paris in the Springtime (for rugby!) always good, Tromso (Paris of the North don't forget) as winter turns to spring would be up there too along with plenty of other European Chevy Chase style moments. Hoping for plenty more adventures still ahead, we started a list ....

Sleep a bare minimum and it was all about check out and check in to start our journey back South.  In the old days with a 5am start we'd have probably stayed up all night. These aren't the old days although I barely slept a wink anyway, but at least hadn't fallen asleep in Bastard.  Forgave the hotel for their lack of gym as they presented us a packed lunch to take on our 8 minute airport bus to the ..airport. Couple of hours chilling in Tromso airport, worse ways to spend time, the snow is actually thawing before our very eyes.

So farewell to the nearest I'll probably get to the north pole, reindeers, toothache and a Queen Camilla at home resonates with Carys and my regular Xmas film, Rudolph and the Island of Misfit Toys. If you know, you know.

Airline must have known it was our wedding anniversary as they seated us in different rows. Well, whatever it takes to get through!  I watched 14 Peaks on Ipad as recommended by my good mate Crofty as I had downloaded it on Netflix beforehand.  And got in a second breakfast on the flight.

Landed back in Oslo and on the familiar train territory, it strangely felt like we were coming home, but a bit more battle worn, and pretty tired all round.  It may be that this turns out to be a day too far on this trip but when seen as part of the whole experience you can't be going great guns all of the time.

As was too early to check into hotel (although we had been up forever) we had to find something to fill the time and Chrissi was keen on a fjord cruise. I'm not sure the fjords this end quite live up to their glacial counterparts further up country, and turned out to be a rather cold and extended harbour cruise.  A few islands dotted around made for the occasional glance at the beach huts, hard to believe people go into this water for enjoyment purposes! Pleased to hear its main airport up until 1939 was for sea planes, I'd love to go on a sea plane one day.

Really needed to check in to the hotel and chill for a bit, although Chrissi somehow found the energy for a run. I think this is the year I recognise that perhaps all day travelling, day in, day out is maybe needing to be phased out from my backpacker past.  50 is a good innings and we do have some extremes over the Summer but after that ... it also means I'm pleased to have got a lot of this done over the last 20 or 30 years as would need to be incredibly well planned in retirement. That being said my good buddy Rob is perhaps showing us the way to backpack in retirement so rule nothing out and take a look at his work, very thoughtful blogger.Robs Roaming

With it being an occasion of sorts although not one we tend to do much with publicly (other than name a blog after which perhaps is as public a display of affection as I can muster) I've always seen an anniversary as quite a personal and private milestone (unless you have a party) so we spent a couple of hours at another Indian Restaurant in Oslo, must be all they ever eat out here! It's pretty much all we have eaten!

And then sleep beckoned as we wound our way home through the deserted streets of Oslo with the strains of A ha haunting us at every turn.

Oi Mush, know any dentists

 

Haven't experienced too many illnesses whilst travelling over the years but I guess that is the risk the more you do, and been blind sided a little on this one with that deadly combo of an illness (well significant toothache and exposed nerve) and a bank holiday weekend.

Only came to the fore late yesterday but made for an unpleasant night as painkillers not making an impact and of course it stops you a little fully enjoying the experiences on offer, whilst trying to resolve the issue at hand.  Made a bit of a call over breakfast; we had prebooked a Husky experience and with only an A&E kind of service available today was going to have to soldier on and hope we can resolve tomorrow when life gets back to normal.

Needless to say breakfast for me was light and squishy and we were soon meeting our tour company across the road from where we were staying. All went like clockwork, bus had Husky tours on the side, a guide did a roll call before we boarded, nothing like Iceland where we had to find an unmarked bus across a half a mile radius drop zone!

Was about 30 minutes drive out in the 'wilds' toward the snowier hills where sledges still very much the transport of choice.  Chrissi and I had chosen to go for the chauffeured husky ride as opposed to drive our own. We had our very own personal musher, love the word mush, takes me back to Swansea banter, and reflects a lot of my current dietary options.

Around 10 huskies took our particular heave and was an undulating course and we were out in the wilds for about 45 minutes. Not quite Call of the Wild or White Fang territory but it was these childhood books that conjured my interest in the husky breed. Great working dogs and very purposeful and sociable. Not a dog to be particularly playful, they have a job to do, but they are more than happy to engage with you and show no irritation at being petted if not bouncing up and down at the prospect.

Some of the nonsense I've seen on Strava this year I was almost tempted to clock it as an activity but refrained!

Had some time with the huskys as they cooled down and then taken into a nearby yurt kind of building where I was served reindeer stew and hot chocolate. Couldn't quite appreciate the food and drink as much as normal but took it slowly so maybe I did appreciate it more than normal!

The drive back to the hotel was a bit hot and bothery but was pleased that we have ticked this one off the bucket list and Chrissi probably even more bowled over by it than I as her expectations were perhaps a little lower.

Looked for some home toothache remedies (compressed ice, covering the cavity etc) and then took a stroll down the side of the fjord / harbour we are based upon taking in a few more local landmarks and sights.  Bryn keeping us up to speed on the football back home. #uppajacks

So many expeditions appear to have launched from this part of the world,every wharf seems to have its own story.  And whilst there are no bears this far south there are monuments to bears everywhere.  In fact there are monuments to just about everything everywhere. Loads of pubs too, highest number per head in Norway I am told, shame I can't get much value out of them today.

We did take in a bit of an institution in this part of the world, the famous hot dog stands, where I had a reindeer and beef hot dog and one glass of hot wine. Anyone would think its Xmas, maybe a bit like Narnia, its always a bit like Xmas here?  2 Reindeers less for next year though, Dasher and Dancer bit the dust today.