MIKE'S NEWS

A Wet Time in Norway

For the last 3 months, Jodie and I have been working here in Norway and are soon to leave this beautiful country to cycle home. Not a short trip.
I have been working as a white water rafting guide on the Hallingsdalelogan, a rocky river with many drops and enough action to keep me interested on every trip. Sometimes I was so interested in the water I decided to join it, or it decided I was to take a swim.

The company took all of us ice climbing. The night we arrived, we all slept in a cave. Next day, in not so good weather, we adorned crampons and marched off up a steep Glacier. For safety, we were all tied into a rope in a long line. This was a amazing treat for all, especially the boys from Zimbabwe. Never before had they seen so much ice. We all got a chance to have a climb up an ice wall, using the toes of our crampons and thrusting the ice axes into the solid walls. Getting the axe in was not too hard but I never seemed to master how to retrieve it with out pulling myself off the wall too. I did mange to make enough crushed ice for drinks all round!

Although we have not had the chance to travel around Norway as much as we would want, for we have been concentrating on working and saving our pennies for the bike ride home. It has been a great stay in a beautiful part of the world, and again we have made more friends to cherish. The river has helped add to my rafting skills as well as a few bruises, even a blood nose from one trip when I hit myself in the face with my paddle, guiding a raft over a water- fall. Sore muscles from steering the heavy boats around the rocks and lifting them off when this did not work. Even the flu due to cold Norwegian waters. What a great job!

Lots of our spare time has been spent researching the up coming travels and getting the bikes ready. Our arms have taken on a pin cushion appearance from all the injections we need for travel in the rural areas of the countries we plan to visit.
The latest news of the disaster in the USA has of course put concerns through our minds. Even though no one has yet been found guilty, all assumptions on the terrorists point to the Middle East. We have our visas for Iran and were so looking forward to visiting this area. This plan has been put on hold, while we do more research and wait to see the reactions from the USA and the Middle East. We will be careful mum!

So with the foliage turning a beautiful array of autumn reds and yellows, we prepare for our last ride. From Oslo we fly to Greece and mount the metal stallions to peddle the 30,000kms over mountains, through snow and rain, burning heat and crowded streets. Every turn of the wheel taking us to new places and that little bit closer to the greatest place on earth. HOME!

JODIE'S NEWS

Norway's colours

Yesterday we went walking in the mountains at the end of our valley. It is so refreshing to be amongst the autumn colours.
The trees are many shades of orange, red. Golden yellow, canary yellow and all the yellows in between. The most amazing part is looking down. The small shrubbs are a variety of reds, greens, yellows and oranges; small roundish leaves in every stage of their autumn development. Above the tree line, the moss and lichen are trnsformed into brilliant carpets of orange and lime green, with patches of bright red and white creamy "reindeer moss".
Walking on and through this kaleidescope of stunning colours is fantastic. The moss is so soft and squishy, I feel like I must be damaging it with every step, but a quick look behind sees it bounce back the same as before. It all seems so delicate, but is actually quite tough and resistant to our trekking.

All beautiful things aside, things have changed since Michael wrote about his wet Norway and I wrote my other news. On the good news (since we should have both!) I have "passed the test" to become a rafting guide for Dagali Rafting. Being a technical river, and difficult to master, I am very proud of this achievement . Raft guiding certainly beats "sadieing", of which I am very glad.

On the bad news side,is the horrible atrocity of the World Trade Centre disaster. I know you will all have been watching the news tonnes, and so have we (well, a little bit!) So, I don't want to talk about what happened, I am more concerned about what will happen.

We have decided (wisely!) to NOT go to Pakistan. A dangerous place to be. We would still dearly love to visit İran and are contacting and meeting people who have been there, are there, or are going there. All is good news so far. But we are still to make our decision regarding this country. We will keep you informed! We will most likely fly into İndia to continue the journey home. Looking forward to ski season when we get there!

Cheers! and be happy, till next time........