Mountain farm in Valdres, Norway

Mountain farm up in the hillside in Nord-Aurdal, a small community, in Valdres, Norway.

Waiting for the next rain shower. Storefjell in Norway

Oh yes - half an hour later we was in the middle of the passing rain shower under this little hike to the summit of Storefjell (Big mountain) between Gol and Fagernes in Norway.

Typical for the weather in this very cold and rainy month of June.

3 iphone6+ photos stitched

Sunday in the valley Tisleidalen, Valdres, Norway

A Sunday in the end of June we pass an old mountain farm on our way along the valley Tisleidalen on our bikes. From the gravel road we have a fine view over to the low mountains on the other side of the valley. 

3iphone6+  photos stitched 

Global warming but summer frost in Valdres, Norway

Rain and cold weather have dominated the weather in June up here in the mountains only 3hrs NorthWest of Oslo. And the last night we had freezing 0 degrees Celsius - not much tast of summer in that. But the landscape seeems to thrive all set in strong green.

Tranquil mountain lake. Valdres, Norway

A small lake along Panorama Road in Tisleidalen valley up in the mountains in the middle of Norway South.  A bright day in between all the days with rain now in June. Only app +15C in the day with no more than +4C in the night. We are still awaiting some better summer temperature up here.

Rain and water everywhere. Valdres in Norway

I am up at my mountain cottage and waiting for some nice weather with a touch of summer. But for a long periode there is mainly rain and lots of water everywhere - like here in Høgefoss in the neighboorhood. Nice for a photostop when passing on a grey and rather cold day in June

Road trip from Bergen to Oslo, Norway

There is some mountains between Bergen and Oslo.

Some days ago I had a road trip home from Bergen after picking up my wifes new car in Bergen. 

On the photo the last leg before crossing over the mountain range app. Halfway on my way back.

App. Distance Bergen - Oslo 500km

Farm between mountains (in backlight). Borgund, Norway West

After visiting the Tvindefoss waterfall I continued along the highway E16 through one tunnel app 16km and the world longest road tunnel some 24km long. And then coming up this valley leading up to the mountains to be crossed between West and East in Norway.

Going East I had the sun in my back - but stopping for a small walk it was worth turning back and shoot to the west with the backlight there. Again the camera in the iphone6 surprises with an interesting result (with a little help from the PP treatment in the app Camera+

Tvindefoss Watererfall by Voss, Norway

Just by the highway E16 close to Voss in the West part of Norway. 150m high a great view now in May/June when the melting snow contributes to the powerful impression.

I was returning from Bergen where I landed in the morning to pick up the madams new (lightly used) car. The trip back home was app. 500km with an option to spend one night at our mountain place app. Half the way from Bergen to Oslo. BTW a very touristic and popular road trip in Norway.

Meet the late Swedish Trubadur Evert Taube in the harbour of Gothenburg. Sweden

Gotenhenburg harbor one of the most busy in Scandinavia. I am not sure why the placed this statue of the in Sweden word famous trubador Evert Taube right here - also close to the Gothenburg Opera building. Here some more from the net:

Evert Axel Taube was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer (1890-1976). He was born in Gothenburg, and brought up on the island of Vinga, where his father, a ship's captain, was the lighthouse keeper. Taube is best known for his folk songs.

The sculptor was Eino Hanski (1928-2000) and this monument was erected on 10 August 1996 by Västanvind, the Taube Association.
In the background is the barque Viking (see the associated Ships & Harbours web site), and the Göta Älvbron bridge, linking the two halves of Gothenburg.

Gothenburg, Sweden - Åvagen (the river road)

Moody along the Å - the river - in  the city of Gothenburg - close to Svenska Mässan

A fine day for biking in Gothenburg, Sweden

I was coming in to the city of Gothenburg - biking from my camp at Lisebergsbyn. On my way I passed one of the entrances to the big entertainment park: Liseberg.

Later I went down to the harbour and other places of interest in this town next in size next after Stockholm. Biking this day was app. 25km - inclusive a stop for a lunch by the harbour.

Some history from the net:

Gothenburg was founded as a heavily fortified, primarily Dutch, trading colony, by royal charter in 1621 by King Gustavus Adolphus. In addition to the generous privileges (e.g. tax relaxation) given to his Dutch allies from the then-ongoing Thirty Years' War, the king also attracted significant numbers of his German and Scottish allies to populate his only town on the western coast. At a key strategic location at the mouth of the Göta älv, where Scandinavia's largest drainage basin enters the sea, the Port of Gothenburg is now the largest port in the Nordic countries

The hanging and freezing Wood Anemone. Østfold. Norway

The month of May have been rather cold up here in Norway. The last two days we even waked up to snow on the ground. No problem to understand the Wood Anemone who will not open their flowers - instead keep them closed like a tent protecting themselves from the uninviting weather.

From the net of Anemone Nemorosa:

Anemone nemorosa is an early-spring flowering plant in the buttercup family Ranunculaceae, native to Europe. Common names include wood anemone, windflower, thimbleweed, and smell fox, an allusion to the musky smell of the leaves. It is a herbaceous perennial plant growing 5–15 centimetres (2–6 in) tall. 

From my forest walk this morning in May I also include a photo of this tiny new branch on a young Spruce fir:

Photos with my iphone 6+

This little branch is also a part of the The taiga, which is also known as the boreal (meaning northern) forest region, occupies about 17 percent of Earth’s land surface area in a circumpolar belt of the far Northern Hemisphere. Northward beyond this limit, the taiga merges into the circumpolar tundra. The taiga is characterized predominantly by a limited number of conifer species—i.e., pine (Pinus), spruce (Picea), larch (Larix), fir (Abies)—and to a lesser degree by some deciduous genera such as birch (Betula) and poplar (Populus). These trees reach the highest latitudes of any trees on Earth. Plants and animals in the taiga are adapted to short growing seasons of long days that vary from cool to warm. Winters are long and very cold, the days are short, and a persistent snowpack is the norm. The taiga biomes of North America and Eurasia display a number of similarities, even sharing some plant and animal species.

Another walk along the cliffs by Cap Bear. France Sud

Today another look and walk with a view to the Naval Station and the old lighthouse at Cape Bear, backed by the Mediterranian.  

A most popular area for hiking along the cliffs from Port-Vendres and further to Banyuls sur mer.

This time of the year (springtime) the vegetation is green and the first wild flowers is starting to come.

From France-Voyage.com 

The Lighthouse of the Cap Béar is a monument in the municipality of  Port-Vendres (Pyrénées-Orientales, Occitanie). It is an attraction for holidaymakers staying in the region.

The Swan (an iphone version). Ostensjovannet, Oslo. Norway

Popular place in the springtime - the shores of the Østensjø lake in Oslo. Both for people taking a walk around the lake (5km) but of course also for many of the waders living around the lake.

This version was made with my iphone 6+ mounted on a selfie stick - used as an arm extender for a close-up of the slightly irritated Swan. Regard also her small "friends" right behind her.

PP with the app: Camera +

Another version of this swan right here:

Come for a Heavenly bike ride in Valdres, Norway

Seems to be a fine day for biking here in the mountains in Central Norway.  Posting this photo, advertising the pleasure of biking, seems most appropriate on a Good Friday.

Have some fine Easter days 😎

Between winter and spring in the mountains. Valdres, Norway

Tisleia river

In all years we have been used to having snow and skiing in the Easter days up in the mountains. But with all the climate changing this seems to have ended.

In these days it look more like a spring up here in the mountains North West of Oslo.

So a small walk along a gravel road is our option - following the popular trout river Tisleia

A view to the artificial lake in the river Agly in Languedoc-Rousillon. France South.

In this pano you can see the artificial lake near the village Caramany by the river Agly.

We made a tour around this lake starting from the bridge at the right side and crossing over in the end of the lake. App. 3hrs. Recommended....

Below a photo taken along the yellow marked route around the lake:

Mount Canigou - the Holy mountain of the Catalans in Spring (France)

In the very South of France - but still in Catalonia you will find this mighty mountain. In the early spring still dressed in a white cape. In the foreground some of the vineyards by the village  Belesta - one of those small places with everything closed a Sunday afternoon in March.

Vineyards in Paulilles, Cote Vermeille. South of France

Once again a walk in the vineyards in springtime. The Madam enjoys the view over to the Madeloc summit in the distance. This is the fine vineyards at the little bay Paulilles just outside the village Port-Vendres - not far from the border to Spain along the rugged coast and curved old coastroad.

From the net:
Paulilles is located about 2 miles (3 km) south of Port-Vendres behind the Las Portas pass along the scenic Route Départementale 914. It is a small scale Mediterranean bay, forming a prairie down to the sea between the Béar cape, and the Oullestrell cape and forms three beaches: Bernardi, del Mitg, Fourat separated by small cliffs in the bay. The original forest has been well preserved and is typical of the Mediterranean region. Local flora is well represented with the Armeria of Roussillon (Armeria ruscinonensis Girard), the polycarpon of Catalonia (Polycarpon polycarpoides), the Thymelaea hirsuta, the Limonium tremolsii, and also Tamarix (Tamaricaceae), and Gattiliers (Vitex agnus-castus).
All the waters around Paulilles are also protected by Natura 2000, for its Posidonia oceanica, a species of seagrass that is endemic to the Mediterranean Sea and Coralline algaes that offers shelter and nursing home for the rich aquatic life.[4] This marine plants forms large underwater meadows of high importance to the environmental conservation of the region.