Full of Shenanigans...: Utvik - Day Eleven Part 1

Grab a drink and put your feet up...this is a longer post ;)

We started with a leisurely breakfast today. Barb and Nancy headed out for a run along the water and the rest of us just took it easy.

Today's adventure involves us heading to the Jostedalsbreen glacier this afternoon but not before we have our lunch! Shrimp on a bed of lettuce with celery, peppers and avocado...and of course a plate full of cheeses and bread and crackers...perfect meal for our big adventure to come!

Jostedalsbreen glacier is the largest glacier on mainland Europe. It has receeded over the years of course but we saw markers along the way that indicated where the glacier was in 1790 and 1920...amazing to think about how far it has receeded. When you look at the rock striations you can see the movement all along the walls of the surrounding mountains...really something!

So before we left, Auntie June asked if we were hiking up to the glacier...Mom and I promptly replied 'NO!'...it is well over a 600M climb upward from the place you park and then it's another 100M+ where you have to walk to the base. Conveniently, there are 'Trolls' that seat 7 to take you up to the base of the glacier. I was thinking in my mind the 'troll' was like a gondola or vanicular we would jump onto...but instead there was a driver on a John Deer open Jeep style vehicle...

The blue tarps were to cover us when we neared and crossed a bridge in front of the waterfall...the fellow told us we would likely want to cover up due to the fact that the waterfall was quite 'active' today :) Probably due to the high temperatures we've had here lately. I imagine the snow on the mountaintops are melting pretty rapidly with 24+degree weather we've been having this far north...the locals are saying it is quite unusual for July.

Can you see the road winding on the right hand side of this photo below? Basically we are hairpin turns all the way up...in the 'troll' passing other 'trolls'...deciding who needs to move to the side and who gets to go...super spooky for me...worse than the kiddie rides at Disney...and they freak me right out :)

At this point I've hidden with my camera under the tarp...I can feel giant droplets of water on my covered head and Mom squealing from getting sprayed with the water...my feet are wet but otherwise I've survived :)

We've gotten a ride up as far as we could...now we are meandering along and up a gravel path, through and over stones and following a very rapid stream/river...the run off water is coming fast and furiously...you can see along the edge that it is clearly higher than usual and lots of grass and plants near the waters edge are completely under the water.

Straight ahead we are starting to see the glacier and to the right there is a giant waterfall with another glacier edge peeking out from the top of the mountain...

Selfie! Why not right?!! It is so windy in this area...the kind of whipping wind that blows the spit outta your mouth when you open it! Just helping you visualize :)

This is the view back towards the entrance...I am guessing that this was the original start of it...there are signs back at the parking lot area indicating that they believe the glacier was at that marker back in 1790...I still need to read up on this glacier to see if I can learn about how they can calculate when and where etc. Anyway you look at it though, it's a stunning place and every direction has a spectacular view!

I'm playing with the sunlight in this shot...

We've finally reached the base...there is a beautiful pool of water here and there is also restricted access to the glacier. They are trying to preserve it as best they can by keeping people off of it...also, it is extremely dangerous here because it is melting...the possibility of areas breaking away is very good. I tried to keep people out of this shot but there are a couple of them near the bottom corner of this photo if you look carefully...you can get an idea of the mountain, glacier and distance.

Here's Else, our lovely Norwegian cousin, and mom...checking it out with the binoculars to get an idea of the terrain and texture, really amazing to see...

I brought one of my larger lens' so I was able to zoom in a little bit anyways...

We only had 45minutes to go from our drop-off spot to the base and then back again if we wanted a ride back down the mountain...I'm sure we could have walked down, but the bridge where the giant waterfall was would have destroyed our cameras! We wouldn't have known that before we bought our tickets so I am glad that we got a return ticket...it worked out well even if I had to travel back down on the 'troll' !!!

Time for another fantastic 'selfie'...it was so windy that keeping my hair back was pointless and impossible...but you can see the glacier right?!!