Day 6, Part 1 (August 13, 22)

4:00 PM

I woke up early on the shore of Holstdammen in my hammock. Unfortunately, I didn't have a view because I had to stretch my tarp over the mat as rain was forecasted the day before. As I got out of my tent, a few drops from the tarp ran down my body. I stretched and watched as the sun bathed the opposite shore in light. To get some sun myself, I undressed and swam to the other side of the lake. The cold water enveloped me like a dress made of snowflakes.

After my swim, I packed up and set off. I had some nuts for breakfast on the way, which would take me back to Trondheim. I decided to take the Driftsvegen. This turned back from the moorland into the larch forest that I climbed on my fourth day. Between the mighty trees, the fjord and the port city slowly stretched out again. I saw a small viewpoint, which I ran down to where three backpackers were already waiting for me.

I talked to the group and they turned out to be two Germans and one Czech who started studying in Trondheim. We chatted a bit and I asked the group if I could spend the night at one of their places. The Czech, named Kryštof, offered me to stay with him. I thanked him and accepted the offer, and together we walked down the mountain until our paths slowly separated at the first bus stops. The German recommended me some spots to visit in Trondheim.

So I wandered alone again through Trondheim's city center and first wanted to go to the river. I crossed the river via a small pedestrian bridge, at the other end of which was a sports field where an athletics tournament was taking place. I watched the lively activity for a few minutes and cheered when the high jumpers made it over the bar.

After watching enough sports, I continued along the picturesque river promenade. I saw a Gothic cherry tree on the other side of the river, a fortress on a mountain, and colorful houses adorning the banks. I slowly approached the old town. When I reached a small shopping street with cafes, I turned off and walked up to the walls of the 'Festening'.

Once I reached the top, I had a view of the mountains, city, river, and fjord. I sat on a picnic bench, where I ate the rest of my breakfast nuts and powdered my sore feet a little, which by now had more blisters than toes, which was no wonder after two days of hiking in wet boots. After half an hour, I stood up again and walked around the fortress a bit before starting the descent.

On the descent, I passed a bicycle lift that pushed a cyclist up the mountain using a foot pedal. I continued back to the old town and strolled along the river again. I wanted to take another look at the church I had seen from the other side of the river, so I walked to it over an old bridge. The building was adorned with frescoes and various statues made of gray stone. With its green copper roofs, it reminded me a little of the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I strolled through the shopping districts and passed through a small shopping center where the shops were built in the classic Scandinavian style. Since my phone was running out of battery, I sat down in a small fast-food restaurant, where I had a small sandwich at a relatively cheap price, and here I am now, writing.