Arrived

Stavanger and the Preikestolen

After what felt like an eternity on a fully booked ferry, rocking back and forth in the rough sea with waves between 4 and 5, I finally set foot on Norwegian soil. Fortunately, the ferry arrives at 6:30 a.m., so the completely exhausted ferry passenger (maybe not the best option to book only the cheapest reclining seat among 200 other guests) still has some time left in the day.

After a short break in the old town (it's 6:45 a.m., not a single café is open), I make my way towards the mountains. Since the Preikestolen has been recommended to me as a 'must-see' several times, that will be my destination for the day. Unfortunately, the weather ruins my plans and I use the day to catch up on the sleep I lost on the Fjord Line ferry.

But the next day, the weather is supposed to be good, and so I head towards the regional landmark. The friendly map at the bottom of the trail says 2up/2down, so it should be doable. However, there are a staggering number of cruise ship tourists from Stavanger, as well as other travelers who seem to be lacking in appropriate shoes and jackets. This leads to numerous traffic jams along the 4-kilometer-long trail, which also involves an elevation gain of around 600 meters. Nevertheless, I manage to complete the hike in 1.5 hours and I see... fog... and tons of Norwegian rain. Wonderful. After a short stay at the sacred cliff, I start my way back to at least escape the now downhill-running crowd.

Sightseeing Part 1 - CHECK!!!