24 August

I woke about 0430 after the last day of having to be up early and then couldn’t get back to sleep. Finally I rose about 0545 and prepared myself for the day and was then down for breakfast at 0630 (as we had checked with the very friendly and jovial staff the night before). There was one lady also down at that time, so we started breakfast and a few others drifted down. The majority arrived at 0700, the time given to us (but not correctly).
Breakfast could have been a large and leisurely affair, with cereals, fruit, yoghurt, milk, bread (but no toast!), cheese, sliced meats, baked beans, egg and bacon, scrambled eggs, orange and apple juice and variations on these. Some managed to last an hour eating, but I could only last just over half an hour.
The porter was efficient at getting the bags down and after I had put mine out at 0730, it was already in the bus by 0745. I finished packing my backpack and was down to the bus at 0745 and put my pack into the front seat, behind the driver (our assigned seat for the day).
We set off at 0800 as everyone was prompt and headed down the E-6 towards our final destination for the day, Narvik. Along the way we stopped a few times at different places. The first was a little centre, Gildetun. This was really a hotel/motel and cafeteria, but the exterior toilets were locked and there was only one of each interior toilet. The cook didn’t really want to open up, so although the view was fantastic and the local Sami salesman eager and friendly (complimentary kiss with each purchase), it didn’t create the right impression.
We then went on and stopped at a little ferry port for photos, as now the guide has realised that there isn’t anyone who creates a problem by being late, so we are given more latitude than most groups – this is good for us, and especially for Keith (my seatmate) and me as the reflections on the front screen became greater as the day went on (as the sun became brighter and we were headed southwards into it), as did the number of bugs who committed suicide on the screen.
We stopped for lunch in a little town (Nordkjosbotn) and here, while ordering a hamburger, chips and a coke, I was asked by an Italian touring in a car with the family where the bank was. I explained as it was Sunday, there was only the ATM available, but of course, as he was on holidays, he had lost track of the actual weekday that it was. Then I found out he had lived in Greensborough in Melbourne for six months and knew Werribee quite well – a really small world. Discussing that with another member of the tour, I found she had been with a couple I knew from Wycheproof on an earlier tour – again a small world, as she gave me the first name and I supplied the surname.
Here we also had a major disappointment. One of our number had taken the advice that the rivers had salmon in them literally, but after three quarters of an hour, no salmon and a very empty stomach.
We were soon back on the road and called into the falls (more correctly cascades or rapids) at Malselvfossen. Although the water level was down because we were at the end of summer, they were still a very impressive sight.
Then we were into the last leg of our day, with a scenic entry to Narvik. We arrived about 1745 and were quickly into rooms, but then a few of us headed off to the cableway up the hill behind Narvik. The walk to get there was quite steep, but allowed a good view of parts of the town (and the locals knew we were Australians visiting as I kept saying “G’day” to any I met). At the chairlift we soon got our tickets (just over A$20 return) and Keith and I were off and up. At the top the view was great, with the setting sun giving reflections off the fjord and boats travelling on the fjord exhibiting wakes nearly the width of the fjord. Just to give an idea, a beer was just under A$25 and a hamburger around A$28. Come to Norway prepared!
We eventually headed off down the hill on the cable-car, but some others were a little more adventurous (not any of our group) and they went down the hill on mountain bikes – here a real and apt description. Brakes which were effective were the main order of the day.
Then it was back to the hotel (and we left a very confused young local who smiled at us and got a G’day back and still probably doesn’t realise what it means. Then I processed the photos (not all of them are properly framed and some may be blurred, but that adds to the atmosphere and you can just imagine that you are in the bus with us) and then finally got to bed at after 2250. At least I left the clothes from last night out to finish drying and I managed to charge all three sets of batteries for the camera.
Phew! Quite a day!