Our plan for the day was to hike Keipen, which offers some pretty spectacular views of the fjord. We drove the three miles to the trail head and started our hike, prepared for it to rain. The weather and Norway is so unpredictable and seems to rain at the drop of a hat!
At the start of the trail. Look at all of those waterfalls!
What I called the Norway Sharkfin, not to be confused with the Swiss Sharkfin we saw last year.
As we started the hike up, the trail was not too bad. There was a little uphill, but nothing too terrible. Everything was going fine until we reached a water crossing that was a waterfall that we needed to cross. We took the video below laughing and having fun, just thinking it was an easy crossing.
Keipen water crossing
Well, as we later learned, nothing is easy in Norway. We could not find a safe place to cross that did not require some sort of cat like jumping skills and we both had visions of someone breaking a femur. With that being said, we turned around. I am sure the sheep were laughing at us.
We did have some beautiful views even though we did not make it to the top.
No shame in turning around here
When we got back to the car, we decided to drive in the opposite direction of Balestrand so we could see what was on that side of the fjord. Spoiler alert: not much besides beautiful views. We were hoping to find a hidden secret restaurant with bottles of rose, but it just was not our day.
Views on the Sognefjord
After a little lunch at the hotel, we decided that we would drive to Balestrand and access the real nature trails that we meant to access yesterday and take the hike to Burasi. We made it to Balestrand, parked our car and found the trail. Success.
The trail markings were abundant. We were hiking to Burasi.
Views from the hike. This is looking over towards where our failed hike Keipenwas earlier in the day.
We got sprinkled on a bit, but overall, the weather was not terrible. We saw very few other people out hiking. I am sure the rain had scared some people off. We enjoyed having the trails to ourselves.
We made it to Balastolen and stopped to enjoy a glass of wine. One thing we learned about Norway is that we should pack wine and cups with us to enjoy along the trail since there are not mountain huttes like in Switzerland.
Balastolen had beautiful views. It started raining on us, but we were perched up under a tree and completely dry.
Beautiful views from Balastolen
Looking down at Balestrand
There was a book at the top, so we signed it with the date and where we were from. We noticed a lot of Europeans listed, but not a lot of Americans.
After enjoying our wine and waiting out the rain, we continued on to Burasi. The remainder of the hike was uphill, but nothing too terrible.
We arrived to Burasi and it was a little warm because the sun was now out. I guess it was warm until we stopped moving. I had to put my long sleeves back on to be comfortable.
The view point from Burasi. This is looking at were we started our day attempting to hike Keipen.
A video from Burasi
We decided to hike back to Balestrand in the opposite direction that would connect us back to the nature trails. Half of the sky had clouds and half had sunshine.
Blue sky peeking out
Having fun on our hike
Looking back towards Balestrand from near Burasi
We found a little private area and set up our hammock and enjoyed some wine. It was glorious. We had been wanting to bust out the hammock and it was the perfect spot. We sat there for a bit before continuing on the hike to get back to Balestrand.
Some of our friends we saw while hiking.
I loved seeing all of the sheep while we were hiking!
Getting closer to Balestrand. I think this was one of the most beautiful views we saw on the hike.
Ken enjoying the view
These guys have a pretty great view
I caught this guy trying to hide
On the hike back to Balestrand, Ken kept with his tradition and picked me a flower for me to wear in my hair. Such a gentleman, that husband of mine.
We made it back to Balestrand and stopped at a restaurant that served pizza. We had beer and wine and Ken got to taste one of his favorite beers of the trip. The restaurant only had two left and Ken enjoyed both of them.
A Norwegian stout
Outside of the restaurant, we saw this area that said Russ and many different years. Ken and I wondered who Russ was and why he kept painting his name on the rocks. After talking with the owner of the restaurant it turns out, Russ means Red in old Norwegian and it has to do with successfully completing high school. An old Cardinal from the Catholic religion encouraged the students to write Russ on the rocks and so it has continued.
Russ 2018
We drove back to our hotel and enjoyed a cocktail on our balcony and then went for a very long walk near our hotel. This is when we learned that Ken has the gift of being able to communicate with cows. Back off ladies, he is mine! Yes, Ken can moo at the cows and get them to moo back. I am a lucky lady, what can I say.
Scenery from our walk and one of Ken's cow lady friends
Up next, we head to Odda!
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