Lake Placid, then Norway!

 

Before I took off with the ski group to Norway, I had a short visit from my sister so we could both volunteer up in Lake Placid at the World Cup Cross Country Ski event. 

Theresa was very interested in the military gear of the Army mountain division.
They were as bored as we were so let Theresa try out their gear.

It turned out to be a training day with no need for volunteers, but they gave us vests, and told us to walk around and answer any visitors questions. 

Theresa being Theresa.


Training runs.

So we walked around, chatted with a few people, met the Olympic silver medalist - Ben something, ate well, shopped and got sent home early - a fine day and another free ski voucher for next winter. Gore mountain is still open for skiing, but I'm into gardening and biking mode now.

We stopped for dinner at the Paradox brewery and enjoyed dinner there. Theresa stayed overnight, then headed home to pack for her ski trip in Vermont. 

The next day I was picked up by Peggy and Geri for our ski trip to Norway. All of the travel we did was smooth and problem free - a win! Our accommodations in Sjusjoen, at the Rustad hotel, were very nice. The food was delicious, the skiing amazing and varied, and the company was mostly excellent. There was one of our group we quickly dubbed "the creeper". We were always civil, but were giving him no inch, as he was the type to take a mile.  Luckily one of the group leaders noticed and did his best to distract him away. Everyone got very weird vibes from that guy - a downside to a group trip. 

Our first sunset in Norway was very pretty. We all hoped to see the Northern Lights, but the timing 
did not show them.


Our first ski adventure was around the lake near our hotel.

On our last day of skiing, I led five of us on a trek to the top of Snorvillen Mtn. While it was warm and calm in the valley, it was an arctic blast up top. For the half hour we were on top, it felt like I was fighting for my life - haha. 

The intrepid five when we finally made it back! Peggy, Jim H., Hassan. Ginny, and me.




After five days skiing, our CASTA group boarded a bus to Oslo, where we spent a couple of days touring the capital. A few of us went on a self guided walking tour, then an Island hopping tour, walking in the Frogner Park's Sculpture Garden, and a stop at the Munch museum were the highlights of Oslo.

The sculpture park in Oslo was moving - hundreds of statues commissioned to capture the human condition. 
I liked the sculpture of these young women looking excitedly towards the future (my interpretation).

When the ski group headed for the airport and home, Peggy, Geri and I took a train to the village of Flam in order to see a bit more of Norway. Rich and Mimi did the same and we kept running into them on the way.

The fjord boat ride was a highlight. The scenery was beyond belief and I
kept having to turn around as the views were 360° in scope. Photos don't come close.
Peggy, Rich, Mimi, Geri, and me.

We went on a hike high above the fjords right after we arrived in Flåm. 

Geri, me, Peggy at Stegestein Overlook.


Our Viking dinner was a part of our hiking tour and it was delicious. The tomato salmon soup was a favorite, and I ate every bit of the food which included goat, venison, and cod. I can’t say the same of the beer. 



Just a pretty Norwegian village on the fjord.

After the boat tour, we boarded a bus, then a train to the city of Bergen, Norway.

The iconic Bergen, Norway waterfront on a cloudy day.


Bergen was a pretty city on the fjords. We had a sumptuous lunch after a walk through the town.


Our final activity was a ride up a gondola to the tallest mountain overlooking Bergen. It was full on winter up there and I was wearing light sneakers, so couldn't stray off the path. It was winter up there, and spring down in town.
I’m home now dealing with jet lag and finishing this post while I wait for my car to be serviced and inspected. I napped twice yesterday and slept a few hours overnight. My weekend is quiet so I hope to be back on a schedule very soon. Then a whole lot of activity next week. 

Comments

  1. MargaretApril 3, 2026 at 12:46 PM

    My younger daughter loved Bergen and the gorgeous scenery in Norway but wasn't too fond of the food. It looks like a fabulous trip, minus the creeper. There weren't any of those on my Rick Steves tour of Scotland although there were a couple weird people. Nice, but weird. Hopefully, they didn't think the same about me! LOL I love all your photos, a great mix of people having fun and beautiful mountains, cities and fjords.

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