Some Life : Day 2

Miles: 8

Brumenndal to Moelv (north of)

Staying at: Ringli (traditional Norwegian homes on horse farm overlooking lake)

Cost: 300 kroner plus 50 breakfast, 50 lunch

We started out pretty tired from yesterday’s walk, getting a late start at 10:30 or so. The packs are still too heavy. My left hip felt it was separating from the socket to great discomfort, so I limped along, trying to carry my pack on the right side. Miraculously, once we came to the grocery store, a miraculous healing occurred *ironically, the hip pain started at the grocery store on the previous day*

We passed what was said to be the oldest pine tree in Norway, from 1500s. Somehow the reformation was involved and it had to be protected. There are church services there every year and there is a tiny visitor center where you can eat your lunch on a rainy day. Tiny = two chairs and a bit of extra space in a lovely tiny cottage that smells of wood.

After lunch at the grocery store, we passed a museum honoring Alf Pryson, who is famous for writing a series of children’s books about Mrs. PepperPot, who can shrink down to children’s size. The guide who befriended us brought out his guitar and sang two songs written by Alf, one for kids, the other adults.

If you want a hint of what we saw, on the fly, on a day when the museum was closed outside of tour groups, catch this:

https://youtu.be/NLiaYAqaFN8

Sadly, we didn’t ask his name, but he was so kind to us. But wait, Alf grew up on the site on a crop-sharing farm and he was apparently very political. The song below speaks of the kind and the shadow he lays over the rest of the kingdom.

After the museum was a cooling carriage path and then a busy road where cars had to stop, slow, or swerve when they passed us. At last we reached Ringsaker Church. Much more mighty on the outside than in, here’s a pick of the outer front.

So apparently we are still lazy pilgrims. Our hostess for the night, when making our reservations, invited us to accept a ride from her should we grow weary. Well, that is kind of a no brainer. At 4:00 pm she picked us up and whisked us off to her compound of traditional Norwegian cottages and horse farm. Triple wow, the cottages are green roofed and built just like the ones at the museum.. Her horse stable is 15th century. One of her horses is a Norwegian Fjord Horse and quite the looker. Her other two are from Colombia.

I am sitting now overlooking Lake Mjosa, the largest lake in Norway, which we have followed since Hamar.

Enjoy some of the photos.