Day 1
80km / 964m climb
It is entirely possible that I have prepared myself for the wrong trip. There was talk of cold weather, (we are above the Arctic Circle) and the possibility of much rain. The need for thermal layers under our team cycling kit and robust waterproof layers for over it. As part of our preparations, this had been the topic of many conversations and the justification for many new cycling purchases. There are plenty of days ahead when these may be needed but today, they were redundant as the sun shone throughout.
Before we left home for Norway, there had been a degree of angst as we discussed potential hazardous road conditions amongst a myriad of other pre-challenge concerns such as whether we have trained sufficiently, have the right bikes, tyres, kit and the cost of a Norwegian beer.
According to a recent study commissioned by the United Nations, Norway’s population was found to be one of the happiest in the world. Today we were immersed in an experience that, despite the cost of a Norwegian beer, could not fail to make us understand why this might be.
Stunning, beautiful, incredible, amazing were words heard throughout the day but these were more than words, they were from the heart and soul as we each fell in love with our surroundings. The rugged majesty of the landscape was our focus during tough climbs, not our aching limbs or hungry lungs. We were cocooned by beauty around us, the people and the experience. The sun shone throughout and I simply cannot find the words to adequately convey the wonder that was today’s experience.
Challenging Times 