Week at a glance

Last time I checked in, I was leaving ze monsters in Skaun for Bjørnebruket, a small farm in Rykkje (about an hour from Bergen). Rykkje sits on the breathtaking Hardangerfjord, where mountains plunge into the sea and yellow autumn leaves colour the hills.

Thus far, I've cut, hung, and smoked 106 lamb ribs and legs (technically twice as many legs), hiked every accessible trail in the area, herded sheep, saved two lambs lost in the mountains and everything else in between (including drawing with Gabriella, 13, and sword fighting with Timre, 9). 

Quick note about shepherds: THEY ARE BADASS (that means you, Tarjei!). 

It's been cultural: Here, in the oh-so-traditional Norwegian home, we drink Greek wine and Mexican beer (we being me and the other crazy visitor, Italian punk/anarchist/musician/chef Nik) with the educated, apple-picking Polish couple and our once-quiet hosts, Cecilie and Tarjei, who have now caught our contagious craziness and play air guitar with each other's legs as they talk of Mr. Sheep contests and people who can fly and not eat (Cecilie, your inner hippie cannot hide forever). 

And a troll killed a sheep.   

Leaving Skaun

Today I leave the lovely Skaun and my wonderful host Emilie and her monsters. But so it goes! On toward Bergen now!

In other news, pick-up football is the best way to make new friends. I'm a fool for leaving my boots at home!

Troll update

In my overall excitement, I've left off about trolls. Here is the latest troll news from Norway! On Friday, I climbed up to the nearest troll cave! Unfortunately, because trolls sleep in the day, his door was shut.

Today, on my run, I ran past a troll just resting outside his cabin, but I didn't want to disturb him and remind him I'm edible. I also ran past some major power lines (giant troll fences?).

And a new Wwoofer has arrived, a Geordie named Jody who raps about trolls!

I couldn't make this up if I tried

Tonight I went dumpster diving under the Northern Lights.

This is my life now

Imagine: A team of sled dogs jumping with energy to run their practice track - a misty field of long grass next to a still lake - by the light of a full moon.

Oh and today, halfway up a cliff face, I found a troll's cave - to be explored soon.

Morning routine

Up bright an early, a bowl of porridge, and off to run ze Monsters! On a rainy day like today,
 this means waterproof pants, jackets, and boots, and a hat or hood is recommended. Mud is coming.

We tie ze team to ze buggy (imagine... A quad sans motor, with handlebars in the back instead of the front, and room for a rider to sit in the front while the musher stands in the back. So I guess you should imagine a sled on big wheels). Because the cold an the snow are still MIA, we run ze monsters through a field, an we can only run them in 15 degrees Celsius or colder.

Ze team of 8 monsters can really pull! I'll introduce ze monsters with pictures soon.

Ze Monsters

It's the end of day three at farm #1, and words fail. Pictures to follow soon. Ze Monsters (as French host Emilie and French wwoofer Bette call the dogs) are crazy and my new familia, and I can't write more because Mama Kiska needs to go to bed!

Ps I ran into a troll yesterday!!

I'm writing this with no charger and little battery!

So 48, 72 or so hours later, I'm off the plane and writing this mid-bus ride, taking full advantage of the ever-scarce free (and also functional) wifi. It's 8:17 here, and I'm just leaving Trondheim headed to Børsa. Might've slept outside, if you can call it sleep. Wasn't eaten by trolls. Yet.