26 Aug 2010 – Bye-bye Trondheim

Appreciations to Anne & Roar for their hospitality in spite of busy schedules and good to meet up with the family. Their number 3rd grandson is due in Oct.

Thu: on the train bright & early 0740hrs heading north. This is the 2nd time I am passing thru’ Hell on the train, the 1st time was 1968! Hell is the 1st station north of Trondheim but with no stop. The 1st stop is Varnes where the airport for Trondheim is located, app 30mins ride. After that the train stops at Stjørdal, Levanger, Verdal, Steinkjer, Snåsa and Grong in Trøndelag county. Mainly farmlands, rolling hills and light industry thru’ this part.

By 1200n the train tracked away from Trøndelag county, heading to Nordland county. This is where the views and landscapes are really breath-taking. The 1st stop, Majavatn followed by Trofoss, Mosjøen, Drevatn, Bjerka, Mo I Rana, passing the Polar Circle, Røkland, Rognan and finally after 9hrs I got off at Fauske connecting to a bus heading for Narvik. The railway line stops at Bodø and viewing the pictures of Nordland county, one can understand how difficult and costly it will be to build railway tracks. Also considering that the Helgeland Coast from Trondheim to Bodø is 57,000km of shoreline!

The polar circle/Arctic Circle is located at a latitude of 66° 33′ 44″ N. In Norway it is located on Saltfjellet/Salt Mountains, one of the national parks.

Not wanting to miss out any of the scenery and drive in the dark, decided to sleep the night at Innhavet with a spectacular sunset at app 2130hrs. Still have app 6-7 hrs of bus before arriving to Tromsø. After 9hrs on a train and 2hrs on the bus, still feeling the movements or is it a matter of age 🙂

I venerate old age; and I love not the man who can look without emotion upon the sunset of life, when the dusk of evening begins to gather over the watery eye, and the shadows of twilight grow broader and deeper upon the understanding – HenryW Longfellow