Figure 8 On A Bike

Bonus photos from our time in Lofoten! Fun or neat things that didn't make it into any of our posts. Views on the ferry from Melbu

Still climbin' Typically, when you climb a big ol' mountain in the US, you get an "alpine start", meaning stupid early in the morning, so to climb Vågakallen we set our alarms for 4 AM and hit the trail by 6 (which is still far too late to be a "true" alpine start). Well, that's not a good way to do things in Norway. The trail was absolutely SOAKED from the nighttime dew, and it wasn't long before we were dripping as well. And, despite the clear forecast, the peak itself was obscured in an impenetrable blanket of sea fog. Even though we'd done most of the approach, it was about 9 AM and the fog showed no signs of lifting, so we were discouraged and turned back. Several other groups passed us heading up and seemed determined to wait out the fog. Pretty lighting in the early morning on the approach to Vågakallen

The climbing episode! Now just a few kilometers outside Henningsvær , we'd set up the tent near the Gandalf Wall crag at a free climber's camping area. Besides the unbeatable price and proximity to some of Lofoten's most well-trafficked routes (and the wild blueberries that were all just ripening), it's also a popular spot because of the unlimited free water! Some enterprising climbers "tapped" the water pipe into Henningsvær, so now gallons of fresh water just flow out onto the rocks. Either it's not that much in the grand scheme or this part of Norway just has that much water to spare. Collecting a little free water at the campsite

It was finally time to reach the fabled Lofoten archipelago, a promised-land of world-class climbing! Waking up at Trollskåla, the first step was to bike to Melbu and snatch some groceries before we caught the next ferry. The morning was gray and groggy (and the ocean smelled like sulfur?) and my allergies had finally also made it across the Atlantic. I was cranky at Susan in the grocery store, trying not to scratch my eyes out, so she gave me an antihistamine and sent me to a bakery for pastries and coffee. We were in much better moods getting on the boat. A nice guy from Finland gave us some stickers and told us how he bikes about 150 - 200 km a day and has done this route 3 times now. Nice... will you take some of our bags? Views just after getting off the ferry