"Feel the rhythm, feel the ride, get on up, it's bobsled time"

Tuesday, 17 July

Today we left Oslo for Åndalsnes, with a stop in Lillehammer. Lillehammer was the site for the 1994 Winter Olympics. This was the first time that the winter Olympics was held in its current two-year alternating cycle with the summer games. It was also the first year that more formal and strict qualifying requirements were posted, thus depriving many African nations of their chance to go all "Cool Runnings" .

Lillehammer

The town pretty much lives for winter sports

We also stopped off to go bobsledding at the Lillehammer Olympic park.

The safety instructions reminded me a bit of the antenatal class episode of "Coupling", because it said that in the case of the bobsled rolling over to keep calm, which has approximately 0% chance of happening if we're travelling at 100km/hr. They also suggest that you "breathe normally" as this will help to support your back.

They then proceed to give you a motorcycle helmet and a weightlifting belt, cram you into the sled and drive you down the track. They converted a bobsled so that it had a metal roll cage and wheels (it scarily resembled a billy cart) and with a push start,  we rolled down the course in that. Oh, did I mention that the steering column is composed of bungee cords and duct tape?

Our noble steed. 

It was a surprisingly violent descent - my head and torso smacked against the cage every time we went around corners. It has really cemented to me that people who do luge or skeleton are absolute nutters, since we were only going a fraction of the speed that the real bobsleds would go, and were safely enclosed in the sled, yet it was still mildly terrifying.

The drive onwards was so beautiful - because fjords aren't tidal, the Norwegians have been able to build their railways and roads mere metres from the water. With the water one one side, and towering mountains on the other, even in a not-insignificantly sized bus you feel minuscule.

We had a short photo stop at the Stave church, so named for its steep, angular roofs. It was such a cute little church, but it's also quite obviously still an important part of the community, so it felt a bit strange walking around taking photos in an "active" graveyard.

Another gingerbread church challenge accepted. 

We then continued into Åndalsnes, through even more breathtaking scenery. The campsite is right next to a glacial river, so the water is that bright blue-green and crystal clear.

Generic Norwegian amazingness

It is also effing cold. Not only is is about 12 degrees, but nature's decided to throw a bit of hypothermia in the mix, because it's also drizzling and windy.

Tomorrow we're going cruising in the Geringer Fjord and the Trollveggen Passage, which we're told has the best scenery we're likely to see in Norway.

Hope you're all warm where ever you are!

- Lucy