June 1~Ferry to Gudvangan~ part 2

After our kayaking trip we went back to the hostel to pick up our luggage in preparation for our 3:10 departure aboard the Gudvangen Ferry.  Our luggage had been stored in a room of the office so we merely had to pick it up and head back down to the dock.  One of our kayaking guides gave us a lift back and took the luggage and Peg, Doods and the kids down to the dock so we made it in time to have some lunch before we boarded the ferry.  The ferry was headed to the town of Gudvangen and we stopped at several small towns as we travelled the fjord.  There was a nice promenade deck, a solarium and comfortable seating inside that also had restrooms and a small cafe.  It was cold on the outside deck and at times it rained but the views were breath-taking.  Uncle Gary had given me a magazine once, nearly 30 years ago, that showed pictures of Norway and the fjords.  I always had thought that I would love to see them.  I never dreamed that I would have the opportunity.  I was not disappointed!

On the deck

Leaving the village of Flam

Today had not been sunny so the fog hangs above the fjords like a blanket. Only those of us under the covers can see the mystical beauty of the fjords.  I expect to see a Viking ship at any moment!

Undredal was one of the stops along the way.  The oldest Stave Church is here.  If I make it back to Norway I hope I can visit here.

Waterfalls surround us. Even Lily has tired of pointing them out to Sharon!  Sharon, on the other hand, jumps up and runs outside with her video camera in hand to record each and every one!

One of my favorite photos.

Small homesteads dotted the banks, each with their own waterfall

Leg two of our tour required a bus ride to Voss, the city where we would pick up the train that would take us in to Bergen.  We exited the ferry and 3 large coach buses awaited us.  Peg and Doods took the kids and headed out to save seats while the rest of us picked up our luggage.  We had the entire back of the last bus.  We made one stop at a hotel and then took the steepest road with hairpin turns that I would not want to drive in a small compact car.  The views of the valley floor were spectacular and we passed a very large waterfall.  Surprise, surprise!!  The rest of the trip to Voss was a leisurely drive through farmlands, pastures, lakes and valleys.  After boarding the train we noticed that we were following bodies of water most of the way until we entered the city of Bergen.  Bergen at one time had been the capitol of Norway as it was a very important sea port city that traded with the rest of the world.  It rained both days we were in Bergen and it was very cold as the winds whipped in from the Atlantic.

On board our luxury coach

Getting to the bottom was a little tenuous

But the waterfall made it all worthwhile

A sampling of the countryside heading into Voss/Bergen

The wharf in old Bryggen in Bergen