Gears packed and it's time for a weight check, just over the 20kg so having to use Johns spare space in his bag. Loading the car and everyone is starting to move. We head off to Torp at around 10am. Only John and myself are flying home, Dean and Cliff are returning back to Rjukan for a further four days.
We hit kongsberg at about dinner time so we decided to get some coffee and cake.
Scruffy dog hats at the tea party, with a rogue hat in the middle (Cliff Lowther)
After dinner we wandered of down the high street to drule over the amazing coloured ice climbing pants in the Intersport shop. Looking forward to getting a pair of Norona ice climbing pants.
http://www.ellis-brigham.com/products/norrona/mens-lofoten-gtx-pro-pants/339301 but not from Norway due to the price.
Back in the car and it's off to Torp to catch the 18:15 flight back to Liverpool. We arrive at the airport with lots of spare time on our hands. Not looking forward to the wait as it's usually pretty dull. Quick handshake and a hug in the car park and we leave Cliff and Dean to head back to paradise (Rjukan) while we head for Liverpool, not paradise. Sat at the table whipping through IPad pics and a blonde walks over and asks if she could sit down for a chat. No, not 21 and you now what but more like 70 and pissed. So like gentlemen we say no F--c- off. Only joking. Please sit down I said, big mistake. She talked more than I do. We nearly missed the plane as time flew so fast listening to her telling us about her amazing daughter and that she was an amazing doctor the best in Norway, plus how good she, the blonde was at tennis. Oh my god shoot me.
Johns nodded off with bordam.
Quick get away and we are through and safe behind passport control. The blondes off to Bergen so no stalking for her.
Two hot dogs and a Lipton ice tea and we are off to gate 16. Big laughs as priority boarders go through first. Yep, in front of about 20 passengers as the flight was nearly empty. Big mistake, what a waste of money. I got on first whilst the priority boarders were stood on the Tarmac waiting at the front of the plane, ha ha.
Now for the interesting bit.
Moving down the plane to row 18 seat C and John in row 18 seat B. OOw cosy. Sat in seat A was a lady looking very outdoor. So the usual hello was in order, with a similar reply. After a couple of mins she asked if we had been climbing in Rjukan as the boots gave it away abit,Yes I replied. 1 hr 40 mins later we landed. It was the quickest flight going as we didn't stop talking all the way home. She was a most interesting person. It turned out that she was an explorer and had just come back from a trip which involved crossing the Hardangervidda on skis. She was most interesting and talked at great length about Svalbard and her recent trips. She also talked about camp Borneo and reaching the North Pole and all the logistics involved. The company she works for is called Newland Expeditions World Tour. (http://newland.no/index.php/en/svalbard) she had lots of interesting information regarding clothing,diet and warmth techniques which I can't wait to try out. And amazingly she lives in the Peak District and new a lot of the same people that me and Dean climb with or just no through the outdoor world, small world.
So, it's pretty impossible to get it all down in a BLOG other than it certainly inspired me to think about this type of adventure as it looks and sounds amazing. So if you fancy a change in your life contact Helen on helen@newland.no. And mention this BLOG as I am sure she will be pleased to talk to you about your next adventure.
Quick good by and a stay in touch and we are off to collect the bags. Straight out no messing within about 20 mins. Great back home and in Liverpool.!!
No comments:
Post a Comment