2025 June: The Strangest Newsletter yet!

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words.

Yes, this is such a fitting phrase for this month. We’ve done and seen a lot, and I decided to present you with pictures and titles only as I document our two-month tour of Norway. The saying” a picture is worth a thousand words” is so true. And it is fitting since the first origins of this phrase are attributed to the famed Norwegian playwright, Henrik Ibsen. He wrote “A thousand words leave not the same deep impression as does a single deed” in 1906. Over time, it has evolved into today’s saying, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” To honor Hendrick, I dedicate this newsletter to him during his visit to his country. But first, let’s catch up!

We had a great time hosting Lutz’s son and his family for two days, and then they were on their way. A couple of days later, Axel and Judy from Canada came to stay, and we spent our time riding bikes,

And of course, cooking and eating!

We celebrated our last evening with them by hosting a family get-together, which was amazing and a lot of fun. Additionally, the weather was perfect for spending time on the patio.

We had just enough time to trim the garden and set the automatic watering system before our next visit from family.

Thomas, Lutz’s sister’s son, and his family joined us for delicious meal out on the town.

The following day, we picked up our camper and began packing for our next adventure to Norway.

Our first stop in Germany was in Andernach to visit Elli, one of Lutz’s relatives, and her daughter, Ruth, who owns the best restaurant in Germany, Merowinger Hof! Elli’s 96-year-old friend came along and gave me a history lesson. Did you know that Andernach is the second-oldest city in Germany? The oldest is Trier.

The campground in Andernach was a little disappointing. We had a great sunset, but…

Our spot was next to the trash!

Our second stop on the way to Norway was in Bremen. It is such an interesting city, and I wish we had more time to explore it.

We were close enough to downtown that we rode our claspable bikes to explore.

Here Hans Christian Anderson’s fairy tales were evident everywhere. The Town Musicians of Bremen, Koki the rooster, Lupo the dog, Burlón the cat, and Tonto the donkey, form a band playing respectively guitar, trumpet, saxophone, and drums to win a contest in the city of Bremen.

Our third stop was in Zingst, at the Baltic Sea. Our neighbors and good friends from our time in Kaiserslautern, Anneliese, and Marcus, had rented a cute apartment and encouraged us to visit.

The small tourist town was really cute, and the sun was cooperating! We took a bike ride through the area and finished with a delicious seafood dinner.

Even our campsite was a short bike ride to their apartment.

The evening sunset was gorgeous.

Now it’s time for “a picture is worth a thousand words.” I will not bore you with a lengthy ramble—just a few words about how we ended up arriving in Oslo and specific locations.

We were torn: Do we drive through Denmark and camp for three days to reach Oslo, or do we pay for a 20-hour ferry? After much calculation, we chose the ferry! It was an easy decision. We took the ferry, considering we wanted to reach the Lofoten Islands, over a thousand kilometers from Oslo, Norway. The cost of camping, gas, and food came out even, and we saved two days of driving. So here we go, folks! Enjoy reading the pictures! Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you require any additional information. Several friends have already asked for tips and more details regarding ferry costs, gas prices, alcohol, and tolls. By the way, the buffet was amazing. Lutz was in heaven. Check out this amazing ferry!

We landed in Oslo 20 hours later. The only challenge was finding our car in the belly of the boat! We made a few passengers a little upset since they had to wait (LOL). Our first campsite in Oslo was in Ekeberg on a hill dedicated to art. It was one of the areas that the Germans used for ceremonies during WWII.

I love this piece of art….she’s peeing!

We took a bus tour of downtown. We visited the Fram Museum, which detailed the travels of Norwegian explorers Nansen, Amundsen, and Scott from Britain. The original boat was on display, and a walk-through was permitted. Next up, is the Kon-Tiki Museum. The restored boat, documentation, films, and displays of Heyerdahl and his crew’s journey from Callao, Peru, to the Archipelago in French Polynesia. The third, Natural Historical Museum covered the arrival of the Vikings, how Norway’s culture was influenced over the years, and the religious changes due to the introduction of Christianity. Displays showed several findings from the Viking era found in the area. One picture was especially noteworthy because it was the largest gold find. It was discovered by a farmer on his land. The church ceilings were usually wooden and painted to depict the followers of Christ. They indicated that the artist used local people as models, as they all had fair skin, rosy cheeks, and light-colored hair.

Enough of Oslo! It was busy and beautiful, but a little hectic for us. Onward and upward to Lillehammer. But first, a stop at the foggy Holmenkollen ski jumping in Oslo used in the Olympics.

Arriving in Lillehammer, we secured a great spot on the water. But before landing with the Tank, the name of our RV, we had to check out another famous ski jump on the hill behind Lillehammer. Lillehammer was a cute town and reminded me of Julian in San Diego. However, it is on a mountain, and walking is a challenge for those with bad knees. I took a picture of downtown as we drove by but it wasnt any good.  I took this one off line to give you a view of the main street. We had planned to stay for two days and head to the Valdres Natural Park in the mountains, but the rain was expected to continue for four or five more days, bringing snow to the area. Lutz changed course on our second day in Lillehammer and decided to head northwest toward the Rondane National Park, where there is sun!

The national park area reminded me of the high desert. Dry, cold, and still snow. As we progressed, the landscape transformed into a beautiful forest with waterfalls and hiking trails. We camped on the other side of the mountain in a rest stop where the sun came out! There are tons of signs indicating Moose crossings, but nothing until we woke up early to find one next to our RV.

We took off early the next morning. Our mission was to reach the Lofoten Islands and work our way slowly down to Oslo along the coast. Off we went and ended up in the Arctic Circle. What a great stop. A movie to boot! And lots of treasures. Plus tons of tunnels along the way.

The E6 one-lane highway that goes from Oslo to the north was scenic, narrow, beautiful, and hardly a car on the road (except early campers like us), We are now twenty minutes from the ferry that will take us to Lofoten in the morning. It is an equipped campground with a little restaurant.  The view is amazing, and the weather is trying to warm up. It’s time to make plans for our camping tour of Lofoten. I’ll be back next month with part 2 of touring Norway. Until then check out this delicious recipe and great traveling tips. Thanks for following my post and writing comments. I hope the pictures spoke more than a thousand words.

Fave Recipe: Sticky Asain Pork Belly

This sauce is the best! Quick easy meal that is so satisfying. Sweet, Sour, and savory in one bite. Check it out!

Fave Resource: Tips for Healthy, Happy Travels

Traveling can be exhausting, frustrating, and downright crazy at times. These tips by Rick Steves can help you minimize those bumps in the road and get you back in action! Click here to check this out!