Wednesday, 14 June 1978

Out to Spean Bridge to the Woollen Mills. Very large stock looks like a place catering for bus stops and tourists. Rather expensive. Back to town to fit Doreen. Bought a packed lunch – rolls, meat and fruit.

Twisty road to Mallaig (the road to the Isles) narrow with passing places. Mallaig a picturesque fishing port. Alongside lake and sea. Rhododendrons growing wild in large patches. Back through Acharacle and Strontian on a very restricted road with narrow passing places and as a result could not see much of the view. Road very slow. Ferry crossing at Corran – 9 cars loaded on to a turntable on a large barge arrangement. The turntable is swivelled around by hand so that the cars can drive off.

Climbed Monument to Clansmen who followed Prince Charles – Glenfinnan.

View from the top of the Glenfinnan Monument

Looking down from the monument

The Glenfinnan Monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie

Back just before 6 o’clock to have the “poached” salmon (an 8lb divided by 12 plus the family) – a small portion each.

In Bill’s bedroom – much talking with Doreen taking the lead position.

Tuesday, 13 June 1978

Ayr – round and round. Irvine, Paisley. Alongside Loch Lomond – very calm with high mountains in the background. Picturesque drive alongside the lake to Tarbet and wrong road turn took us to Crianlarich where we had lunch at the rooms in the railway station.

Through bare hills and some pine trees to Glencoe – scene of massacre of the McDonalds by the Campbells.

A lone piper in the hills

Over new concrete bridge at Ballachulish to Fort William. Hill view $3.75 + £2.50 for dinner. Rooms with H & cold.

Monday, 12 June 1978

Fine, warm

Stop at Gretna Green. Photo with Scotchman. Bought jumper for £5.50.

Gretna Green and the village blacksmith

Dumfries [and] New [sic] Galloway through Glentrool Forest Park. Lots of pine trees. Newton Stewart for a dine – late lunch. Quite cheap and tasty – salad, rolls. Glenluce, Ballantrae, Girvan to Ayr.

Stopped at Bogen Farm – up high on hill top. Near airport, very clean milking sheds. Supper cheese biscuits, small cakes and fruit slice. Very comfortable room £3.50 each.

Our farmhouse near Ayr

Sunday, 11 June 1978

Seas eased towards morning but still big seas running. Breakfast in cafeteria. Cheap – bacon and egg 3.50NK.

Reached North Shields, Newcastle at 1.00 pm. Very fast taxi ride into Newcastle. Driver had some difficulty in finding Hire Car Place. They were expecting us and we had the car by 2.10. Letters from Jack, Norma, Nat Trust had been forwarded to us by Jeff.

Headed for Carlisle. Houses very clean and orderly, countryside green. Carlisle 4.00pm. Some difficulty in finding station and then driving to it. Parked the car and walked. Drove around. Back at 5.15 and waited. 5.30 the crew arrived. Keith pretended to walk past me on the railway station.

Molly, Doreen and Keith – all from Oatley

Had tea in a restaurant nearby. Much talking over the meal. Out to Castle Carrock (9 miles), [accommodation] farm house, very old rooms. Landlady rather sharp. £3.50 each.

Saturday, 10 June 1978

Drizzle cold

Wit has wrapped feet in plastic bags to keep dry as she only has sandals. Walked some shops – prices dear. Market area below on quayside. Fish, fruit vegetables, flowers, very colourful but spoilt by very heavy drizzle. Lunch in a store cafeteria overlooking the bay.

Enquired at hotel about boat arrival. Walked around to the wharf and spoke to a young Norwegian lad waiting to meet a boat. Very cold and windy.

Boat was late did not arrive until 4.25. Taxi to boat MS Venus. Very modern. Arranged for cabin (2 x £18). Sailed at 6pm. Had light snack.

Became very rough as we entered the open sea about 7.15. This unsettled Wit who just made it back to the cabin. Large seas but although the boat listed slightly there was very little roll and a slightly lifting motion with the pitch. The stabilizers must hold it steady. Wrote 6 cards to the kids.

Friday, 9 June 1978

Drizzle

2 ferries to Vangsnes up Vik-Voss Road. Usual zig-zag descent to Voss. Large town. Stopped at Skjervet Waterfall where you could walk under the fall. Narrow road along the shores of Hardanger Fjord. Across the Kvamskugen Forest Plateau.

Lots of little cottages along Ser Fjord to Bergen. Surrounded by hills. heavy rain – wet feet.

Met Jean and Joan and had lunch at Railway Cafeteria. Went up Funicular railway. Beautiful view of Bergen and the fjords but very cold up top.

Thursday, 8 June 1978

Morning drizzle

Breakfast 8.30 – Depart hotel at 10.00.

Along the shores of Lake Jølster through Viks Valley. Above timberline in Gaular Mountains. Steep descent – along shores of Sogne Fjord – longest and deepest in Norway.

Balestrand hotel (all facilities). lavish smorgasbord. Very big selection of soup, fish, cold meats, salads, hot dishes, sweets – Kvikne’s Hotel.

Group drink together.

The hotel at Geiranger

Wednesday, 7 June 1978

Cloudy, cool

Later breakfast this morning, leaving at 10.30. Bus to lake, boat for 20 mins. Blue water reflections in lake, bus, 15 minutes to foot of Briksdal glacier. Take gig and horse for 20 minutes up steep path past waterfall and zig path to top. 15 min walk to edge of glaciers. Deep blues in the ice as it melts into the large pool. Very steep section of glacier comes down the mountainside between the valley. Looks like frothy shaving cream coming down. Lunch at the Briksdal Restaurant (35 kr). Had a sleep in the afternoon. Big variety again in the tea selection.

Our bus

On the boat – glacier in distance

Briksdal Glacier ready to go up

Briksdal Glacier

Harnessing up to return to bus

Another waterfall

Tuesday, 6 June 1978

E’s birthday

Climbed up from Geiranger and then climbed a very narrow hairpin road, with sheer drop and views to the top of Mt Dalsnibba where we had a view of the fjord from 4500 feet. Very cloudy so photos won’t come out so well.

A snow cutting

On the top 1500m

The group – it was cold

To the other side was a very large ice-covered lake – deep lake – with the ice just starting to melt.

Deep lake just starting to melt

Australia in Norway

Waterfall on Videseter Mountain pass

Descended the Vidiseter Mountain Pass – some people skiing on the slopes. Spectacular views and turns as the road zig zagged down the mountain side. New tarred road. Stopped at bridge and dropped a rock 300 ft into the water below. Along the side of lake Stryn to Olden. Hotel on the Nord Fjord (walk to shower and toilet).

Walked about 1 mile into the village – few shops and stores.

Smorgasbord tea. Very good (Electronic p/accordionist and drummer).

Monday, 5 June 1978

Fine

Between high steep mountains to Åndalsnes – stopped to see very steep cliffs where many have tried to climb.

On way to Andalsnes

Many have tried to climb these cliffs

Geirangerfjord from Eagle Road

After lunch ascended the zig-zag Trollstigen Mountain Road 1936 – 11 hairpins, bus backs off slightly on some of them. High bridge over the falls. Stopped and walked to observation point at top. Ferry crossing (15 mins) of the Stor Fjord to Eidsdal. Came down the Eagle Road, with a view of the Geiranger Fjord. Spectacular view up and down the Fjord. Many hairpins as we descended to Geiranger. Excellent hotel. Smorgasbord dinner.

Geirangerfjord

Geirangerfjord – on the fjord

Geirangerfjord – seven sisters

Light at 11.30 again very light at 3.