Olav's Way Page 3.
This forest did have some interesting things in it, like really big rocks.
And really big anthills.
We came upon this very Scandinavian style caravan. I want one. It would be great just to see the faces at the Camping and Caravanning Club.
We came to Lysjoen, a pair of huts in the forest open to travellers and pilgrims. There was a fascinating visitors book for pilgrims, the first we had seen, it included notes by a guy walking to the arctic circle (in December!) and a few English speakers who had passed through before us that year. It looked like we were perhaps the 25th or so pilgrims to come through, which was also Eivind's estimate. We left a little note and had a relaxing lunch. Its strange how luxurious a chair can be after a week of sitting on logs or the ground. Then it was off, as it was too early to stop.
Evening was coming on and we passed a tiny hamlet called Finnsbraten and a lake. We knew there was free accommodation somewhere around here, at a place called Spitalen, but we had to go back and forth and ask twice before we found it. It turned out to be an old hut (presumably the old family house) in the garden of a slightly larger hut, which a friendly old man lived in. He didn't speak any English, and our Norwegian is terrible, but somehow he showed us how to turn the gas on and brought us a bucket of water. There were a few mouse droppings about, but we didnt care. It was paradise!
The hut looks a little unsteady, like we did by the time we found it...
I am not a big man, but the old truckle bed was a bit of a squeeze. The inside of the cabin was beautiful.
The next day we followed forest roads (less chance of getting lost) until we came out of the forest and again found ourselves in sight of Lake Mjosa.
As we were walking along a couple chased us down the street, asking if we were pilgrims. They had heard that the route ran close, but had never seen a pilgrim on it, would we come for lunch? We went back to the Voll family's cabin, a holiday home they share with their extended family. It had stunning views over the lake, we could see the paddle steamer Skibladner crossing in the distance. They gave us a lovely lunch, (actually anything that wasn't instant noodles or instant mash based would have been lovely). It turned out their son Martin was travelling the world on a musical journey, (he has a website). Their other son, an army doctor, gave us a lift back to the route.
The kind Voll Family.
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