The busyest week this year…
Index
| Date | Peak | Height | PF | Location | WCP/FP | MAP |
| 11.12.23 | Rambjøra | 132m | 109m | Herøy, M&R, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 12.12.23 | Ålesund | – | – | – | – | – |
| 13.12.23 | Stedjeåsen | 625m | 123m | Sogndal, Norway | WCP | MAP |
| 14.12.23 | Årnes | – | – | – | – | – |
| 15.12.23 | Årnes | – | – | – | – | – |
| 16.12.23 | Tenerife | – | – | – | – | – |
Rambjøra (132m), Dec 11 2023
Monday: The main purpose of this hike was to walk the dog. The secondary purpose was to locate a pine tree that would serves as our Christmas tree 2 weeks from now on (!)
It’s been a decade-long tradition to bring a pine tree from my backyard – to our Christmas vacations in eastern Norway. The only thing is that I’ve run out of pine trees and for the past Christmases, I’ve had to ask my neighbor. He’s a good sport and always says yes.
I found a neat, small tree that I would cut the next day. Then we moved on towards Rambjøra.
I was wondering if this gorgeous winter weather would last forever. Or at least throughout the winter season. Doubtfully. Better enjoy it while it is lasting…
After Rambjøra, we took a walk on lake Djupvikvatnet. The ice was still holding and I got some new tracks on my GPS all-hikes map…
Trip statistics: 6km, 170 vertical meters, 1h:34m
Ålesund, Dec 12 2023
Tuesday: This was a very busy day. In the morning, I delivered Karma at the Vet’s office for sedation and ultrasound. Then it was back to a busy schedule at work.
1,5 hours later, I was told that I could pick Karma up. She was indeed groggy, but the good news was that the ultrasound of vital organs didn’t show anything malicious. Perhaps the excessive drinking was psychological? But what about the hair loss? We agreed to pick this up in January. I had enough to think about right now.
Later in the day, I felt an obligation to attend a cake ceremony for a colleague turning 50. The thing was – he wasn’t around. And I realized that it was me they had gathered to celebrate, as I was turning 60 4 days later, and this was my last day in the office this year.
I got a couple of nice speeches from my manger and my former manager and got nice gifts too. As my former manager correctly put it – if I had known that I would be the center of the attraction, I wouldn’t have showed up. So, they had to fool me, and they succeeded! Very much appreciated, though.
As Karma was in no shape to go hiking, there was no hiking in the afternoon although the weather was brilliant.
Stedjeåsen (624m), Dec 13 2023
Wednesday: In the morning, I went into the forest and cut the tree that would be our Christmas tree. Then I had ¾ of a working day before I drove to Sogndal. It’s a 226km & 3,5 hour drive.
Arriving Sogndal, and after unloading a whole lot of stuff from the car, I told Anne that I would be walking Karma on Stedjeåsen. I am confident that if I didn’t have a dog there and then, I would collapse on her sofa instead.
And so we headed to Stedjeåsen…
We didn’t go to the high point, but we took a route that is only 1m lower than the high point. No one goes to the high point – except me occasionally, when the meadow is frozen and free of snow. Everyone goes to the mailbox.
We did a few variations to the route on our way down and I was really happy about having done this hike. The dog had been walked. Conscience was good!
Trip statistics: 6,1km, 580 vertical meters, 1h:29m
Sogndal – Årnes, Dec 14 2023
Thursday: We weren’t flying to Tenerife until the 16th and so we could have driven to eastern Norway on the 15th. But the weather forecast for the mountain pass was not good and I hate driving across the mountain pass in bad weather. So, we left for eastern Norway today instead.
Driving across the mountain pass in nice weather made all the difference in the world to me, psychologically…
I had 12 transport legs ahead of me between Dec 13 and Jan 1. I was not really looking forward to any of them, but when we arrived at our friends Anne May and Jan at Årnes in the afternoon (365km, 6 hours later), 2 out of those 12 were “in the bag”. Karma seemed happy about being back at Årnes. Which was a good thing, as she would be spending a whole week there. Anne May’s daughter Tora would have the main responsibility, but she wouldn’t arrive until we had left.
Årnes, Dec 15 2023
Friday: I did nothing useful this Friday, just relaxing and mentally preparing for our trip to Tenerife the next day.
Our friends prepared a wonderful dinner in the afternoon…
In the evening, I was looking forward to continue relaxing and just watch TV. But “someone” had other plans for me…
This is the second time I’ve been completely taken by surprise this week.
I’m not a big fan of celebrating my birthday, but when people I care about have made an extra effort, I try to show that I appreciate it…
Tenerife, Dec 16 2023
Saturday: The day I turned 60 years old, I got out of bed very, very early in the morning. Our flight to Tenerife wasn’t until 9:55am, but we had to make the drive from Årnes to Oslo airport Gardermoen, leave the car at the parking service, take a shuttle bus and then check in.
I was stressed. First of all, I would guaranteed get a headache during the flight (I always do), and I didn’t want any delayed flights or lost luggage. I didn’t want to get sick either. We tried to look for face masks at the Tax-Free, but they didn’t have any.
Check-in was smooth and the plane left on time. I got my headache, as expected, but I also knew that it would go away once the cabin pressure for 2000m altitude was reduced during landing. And it did.
Picking up the rental car went smoothly. They noticed that I had a birthday and gave me a free upgrade and we got a SUV with a decent engine. Which was very nice, given the topography on Tenerife…
After a relatively short drive from Tenerife south airport, we arrived at the nice town Los Gigantes and located our hotel – Barceló Santiago.
The first impression was nice, and the hotel room was OK. I didn’t like the bathroom solution, as you can’t go to the bathroom without switching on lights that will be visible from the main bedroom. But that was also my only remark.
The hotel was just cool, built alongside lava rock. Once we left our hotel room and entered the corridor, we were staring into natural cliffs.
The view from the terrace wasn’t so bad, either…
The hotel reception also discovered my birthday and they managed to get a cake to our room while we were checking in. That says something about the service level. The card was for Mr. Rudsengen, but I can live with that (my girlfriends last name)
After checking in, we went for a walk. The first impression of the area was very good! Los Gigantes is effectively the “end of the road” on the northwest side of the island.
I felt some of the stress was lifted off my shoulders. We were only 2 days away from taking another flight, but more on that later. I was in the process of settling in.
We also discovered an ocean “swimming pool” that we were bound to check out, albeit not today.
As the sun was setting, we got ready for dinner.
We didn’t go far and ended up on a nearby restaurant that had just opened. There were no other guests and the seafood they served didn’t go down in the history books…
But the waiter was an OK guy, and after a hint from Anne, I got yet another birthday cake.
Then we returned to the hotel and Anne wanted to check out the roof. I was happy staying put with a beer in my hand…
I could have stayed put here all evening, just doing nothing…
But Anne wanted to return to the top floor and I came along. The restaurant area on the 6th floor looked really nice.
I almost never drink spirits, but as it was my 60th birthday, I decided to let Anne buy me an Irish Coffee. It might just be the best Irish I’ve ever tasted. The coffee beans made all the difference…
We went to bed happy and just a little bit drunk, eager to get going with the main goal for this trip – hiking.
I had a good birthday. I will remember it. Thanks, Anne!
Sjøl takk!