Happy shining tuesday

It's dark, it's raining and I am on my way to work. A car drives up to me and the man says something so I take off my headphones. He's saying that he is so impressed by me cycling every day to Gravdal in all kinds of weather. He gave me his card and says I should give him a call or come by his work. It's quite fun because I met him once before, maybe a week after I moved here or so. We met on the mountain, I was on my way up and he was on his way down, and I remember asking about Skottinden. Work was fun and today I was on my own and had quite a lot do do, but I really enjoy having my hands full. When I came home I had some raw buckwheat with maca and banana. Then I suddenly had too much energy and felt like running. It was dark again and started raining. I put on my head torch and some music. I ran just a short round since I haven't been running for a VERY long time but I explored some new corners of Ballstadøya!

- The only people that should be in your life are the ones that make you smile. -

Camping in the north valley

Unstad forest

Norddalen (north valley)

Gyda on the way up.

Grytdalstinden. 

Descent.

Just resting... (not like I was falling or anything...)

Making sparks.

Our basecamp.

First tent night for Frost.

Unstad at 5 am

Gyda picked me up in Hattvika and we went to Unstad. Hiking up through the small forest (quite rare here in Lofoten) and up the north valley where we choose a camping spot, left our stuff and continued further up the valley to Grytdalstinden, 536 m. We went down and pitched our tent just as dusk arrived. Then we went twice to the forest until we had enough firewood. Then we made dinner and had some wine. Frost was kind of confused because he is still a baby (even though the size of a grizzly bear) and this was his first time in tent. He did all kinds of weird things and it was a bit chaotic since he insisted to sleep inside and it took some time before he got calm. Then we woke up at 5 am (or actually 4 since we just reversed the clock) Frost was wide awake, spirited and wanted to play. No use try sleeping any more so we went up and outside to make coffee. It was pitch dark so we walked with our head torches down the valley and back through the forest to Unstad.  

Friday on my mind

Oh I forgot to tell about my new winter tires! I got them on tuesday and it's so amazing! Now I can be queen of the road again and have a good grip on the road even though it's winter. Gyda came by after the stable so we could plan our trip for tomorrow.

Friday On My Mind - The Easybeats

Gimsøya

We went to Gimsøya to see some more urban art and then we went to Borgvåg where we only found two out of three houses. After this we went to Steinfjorden, made a fire and some lunch while it was snowing outside. In the evening we listened to metal, baked pizza and drank some red wine. We also watched a rather funny movie.

Lovely winter morning.

Snowracers.

The road to Gimsøya.

Gimsøya.

Inside the house. By Pøbel.

Inside looking out.

Mike exploring the basement.

Girl with a death cap in wintercoat.

The artist.

"Hjemlengsel" (Homesickness).

Borgvågveien.

"Sleepwalker" at Borgvågveien.

Moomin looking forward to lunch.

Mike making the fire.

Roller coaster in Selfjorden

Selfjorden. Photo: Mike

As Mike so nicely summarized the tour; "Today's adventure was a roller coaster weather wise; with snow, wind, hail, rain, sun and stillness. The terrain made every vertical meter a hard gain. But in all a wonderful day!". 

The morning in Ballstadøya was still and beautiful but just when we were leaving it started snowing like crazy and we drove into the dark clouds of Flakstadøy. Today we were aiming for Horseid beach but due to all the snow we didn't go all the way. The path starts at the end of the road by Selfjordhytta but since it was not plowed all the way and still snowing we parked the car in Krystad so we wouldn't risk getting stuck. Due to somewhat hard terrain and difficult routefinding in the snow, it took us 5 hours to the edge where the path leads down to the beach. After three hours we had a short lunch break to get some more energy. The view up there was fantastic, we could see "Solbjørnvatnet" and "Krokhammartind" on the other side which leads to Kirkefjord. But we had to turn around because we didn't wanna walk all the way with headtorches and not be able to see the path at all. It took us 2,45 hours down and now we were tired. It seemed like an endless road...

Ballstadøya. Photo: Mike

Alpinist sheep

Let's go into the grey!

Selfjordhytta.

Fancy toilet.

Selfjorden. 

Lunch by Fageråvatnet.

Manntind behind. Photo:Mike

Solbjørnvatnet.

The winter is here

This morning it was still snowing and the ride to work was ok except from the hilly parts I had to walk because the wheels didn't get a grip, they were just spinning. Work was fun and then after work I had already decided to go to Leknes looking for wintertires. But it was totally dangerous on the roads now...smooth as an ice rink. So I walked some parts and cycled really careful some parts but then came a lot of wind and hails so it was safest to walk. Almost in Leknes, I got a text from my neighbour wondering if I needed a ride home? When I got to the shop they told me they were out of tires and will get new supplies on monday! So I left my bike there and got a ride home with my neighbour. While it was snowing outside I made hoummus, cooked dinner and also made some raw chocolate! Mike came around 22 pm.

On my way to work.

The road between Gravdal and Leknes

My neighbours.

My neighbours.

The house.

My cute raw chocolate monsters!

 Majesty - Madrugada

Hustinden

Napp

View towards Napp

Flakstadøya

A little higher

H going up.

Summit!

Hustind 691 m

H signs the summit book

After work i went to Leknes because thursday is the only day the library doesn't close 3 pm. Looking forward get my hands on some new books to read! To my surprise there was a note on the door saying; "Today we close at 3 pm due to technical problems". So I went back to Gravdal without books and met up with H. We went to Hustinden and came up just before dusk. I put on my downjacket and we sat down to eat our sandwiches and a steaming hot cup of tea. The darkness came fast and a perfect full moon was revealed with a mysterious shimmer around it. We sat there and enjoyed the view over the lights in the village of Napp and Leknes and it was a magic evening. When going down with our headtorches it started snowing...

A little teaser before the winter...

Brattflågan and some urban art

Sunday and we didn't decide where to go until after breakfast, it was hard because we had so many options but finally we decided for Slydalen and Brattflågan (also one of the 12 choices of Tio-På-Topp). Today there was no rain but it was cold and clear. We also had the sun there with us for a while. There were loads of sheep in the beginning and their bells where playing music while they were eating grass. Then we went to see "Pike med fluesopp" (Girl with a death cap). We also found the one with Batman and Robin on the other side!

Slydalen (Photo: Nina)

Nina

Summit Brattflågan 460 m

Time for lunch (Photo: Nina)

Nina

Slydalen

Liland

Me, Batman & Robin (Photo: Nina)

Me and Nina

Girl With A Death Cap