A small water fall in the fall. Valdres, Norway

On our way home from our place in the mountains this weekend - we pass this small waterfall surrounded by fall colors.

Typical after the the first night with frost up here (-5C last night)

Cranberries - season's final wild berries

Fall by our basecamp in september. Valdres. Norway

We have been some days up at our mountain place. As we had some frost (-5C) in a couple of nights now in the end of September the fall colors is coming in the vegetation up here in the low mountains of central Norway.

Our base camp up here is our cottage build in 1987. Today there is in all 4 houses up here with the cottage, a small guesthouse and to smaller houses for mic. equipment.  At the far left you can even have a glimpse of our small travel caravan - parked up here.

More details of the fall colors near our cottage.

Jotunheimen National Park. Norway. September impressions

A fine day in september as we are biking into this fine valley in direction of the lodge Glitterheim in the National Park.

The peak in the back is Glittertind - the second highest mountain in Norway.

WIKI: Glittertind Mountain in Lom, Norway

Glittertind is the second highest mountain in Norway, at 2,465 m above sea level, including the glacier at its peak. It is located within the municipality of Lom, in the Jotunheimen mountain area.

Impressive nature and views as we follow the gravel road into the National Park

Det very green glacier water in the Vågå / Vaga lake. Norway

From the mountains lots of grand and small rivers have ended their wild run down to the valley where they all meets in the lake for their next transport to the big river Gudbrandsdals lågen on their way south to the sea. 

WIKI: The Vågåvatn lake is located in Lom and Vågå municipalities, Oppland county, Norway. The river Otta, which begins in Skjåk municipality, flows into lake Vågåvatn.

The fine, old, rectory belonging to the church in Vågåmo along th lake Vågåvatnet. 

Some fine old buildings and also the well maintained garden outside.

View towards Vågå and the river and lake in behind.

The green glacier water in the wild river Sjoa. Norway

The wild river Sjoa brings melted glacier water down to the valley.
As in the narrow passage seen above.
Further down Sjoa is also a very popular for Rafting,

WIKI: The Sjoa river provides the outlet from lake Gjende at Gjendesheim in the Jotunheimen mountains of Norway's Jotunheim National Park. It flows eastward into the Gudbrandsdalslågen river via the Heidal traditional district in the Gudbrandsdal. Wikipedia

Of a Stonehouse and Reindeers in Jotunheimen National Park, Norway

Interesting old stone house found out there in the National Park. Divided in 2 parts with living rooms for the humans and the household animals separated.

Placed right by the Glitterheim Lodge in the end of a small gravel road in the hart of the National Park.

There is wild reindeer's in Jotunheimen but those seen here is semi-domesticated reindeer's.

It is no problem coming close to these animals. They are very shy and even meeting a bunch of them is really no problem - they usually will turn away from you and your path.

Usually they move in numbers - but can also be find alone as here.

From the net:

Mighty they stand. Northern Europe’s highest mountains. Untamed and rich with wildlife. Cut through by glaciers, rivers and valleys. This is Jotunheimen, ‘Home of the Giants’.

In the Home of the Giants you touch the sky walking over the famous Besseggen ridge. Fly with eagles standing on top of the mighty Galdhøpiggen or just lie on your back in the lush meadows of this natural beauty embraced by picturesque Lom, the green slopes of Gudbrandsdalen, traditional Valdres, the waters of the Sognefjord and the eternal ice of the Jostedalsbreen glacier.

Biking to Glitterheim lodge in Jotunheimen, Norway

There is just some 8km from the closed car road (by the border to the National Park) going in to Glitterheim Lodge in Jotunheimen. Beside no more than +5C and some wind a fine trip to bike along the gravel road this day in September

The Madam is looking forward to a simple lunch served in the old lodge - more than 100 years old

TURISTFORENINGEN: At 1400 m elevation, Glitterheim has the heights of the Jotunheimen at its door. Peaks like Glittertind, Nautgardstind, Memurutind and Trollsteineggen are goals for summit enthusiasts 

From Glitterheim, there's a nature trail with features for children and adults, including details on plants, animals, traditions and early settlements in the area. 

Though Glitterheim is high in Alpine terrain, the area around the lodge is lush and green. Here there are bilberry bushes and cowberry bushes, and there's rhubarb along the south wall of the lodge.

Facilities: Glitterheim has 137 bunks, in two-bunk and four-bunk rooms, a larger room and a dormitory. All bunks have duvets and pillows with covers. You can also put the duvet aside and sleep in your own sleeping bag. 

In the main building, there's hot and cold water, and the lodge has a diesel generator (220 VAC). Nonetheless, it's wise to have a torch in your pack, because the generator is turned off around 23.00 in the evening. 

Beautiful mountainlandscape along the road to Glitterheim Lodge

Driving route 51 to the Jotunheimen National Park, Norway

The National Route 51 as you cross over Valdresflya on tour to Jotunheimen National Park. 

The white capped mountain in the back is Mont Besshø:

WIKI: Besshø, is a mountain in Vågå, Oppland, Norway, and is part of the Jotunheimen mountain range. It lies right above Bessvatnet, along the Besseggen hiking trail.

After a 2hrs drive from our cottage in the lower mountains and valleys in Valdres we have arrived at our camp for this tour at Randsverk along route 51. Short roads will lead us in to the Jorunheimen National Park.

In the afternoon, sitting inside the caravan, we have a fine view to a nearby summit.

Inside the National Park cars are not allowed - but some gravel roads works fine for our el-bikes.

Here from the road taking us to the tourist center Glitterheim in Jotunheimen.

Up here the wind and the cold air, even on a fine day in  the start of September, the Madam is well dressed while biking towards the high mountain of Glittertind (in the back).

WIKI: Glittertind is the second highest mountain in Norway, at 2,465 m above sea level, including the glacier at its peak. It is located within the municipality of Lom, in the Jotunheimen mountain area.

Reindeers in Jotunheimen National Park, Norway

After a time in the south of France we are back in Norway.
In the beginning of September we have taken the caravan on a tour to the Jotunheimen National Park for some hiking and biking.

this photo of some reindeers out in the fine landscape is captured along the road to the tourist center near Glittertind the second highest peak in Norway.

There is wild reindeers in Jotunheimen but those seen here is semi-domesticated reindeer (look for the blue marks in their ears).

From the net:
Mighty they stand. Northern Europe’s highest mountains. Untamed and rich with wildlife. Cut through by glaciers, rivers and valleys. This is Jotunheimen, ‘Home of the Giants’.

In the Home of the Giants you touch the sky walking over the famous Besseggen ridge. Fly with eagles standing on top of the mighty Galdhøpiggen or just lie on your back in the lush meadows of this natural beauty embraced by picturesque Lom, the green slopes of gudbrandsdalen, traditional Valdres, the waters of the Sognefjord and the eternal ice of the Jostedalsbreen glacier.

Pic Neoulos in the Alberes Mountains in the lower Pyrenees at the border France / Spain

The Madam on the summit of Pic Neoulos (alt. 1250m) at the border between France and Spain in The Alberes mountains - a part of the lower Pyrenees.
We drived up from the border village Perthus and hiked from a nearby Restaurant and Chalet.

The reward was a fantastic vista over the large, plain Rousillon landscape on the French side, while we at the other side could see lots of hills and distant villages in Spain in the direction of Jonquera and Figueres in Northern Catalan.

The lake in the middle is the artificial lake Rahoe a bit South of Perpignan - a popular hike around the lake is app. 7km long.

In a village near the foot of the mountain we can see the new house to our friend Elaine - the white building back in the center - very modern and stylish - a superb arcitechture in the beautiful landscape.

iphone 6+ St.Vincent festival. Collioure. South of France

St. Vincent the protector of fishermen and other people out on the sea - well worth a festival here in Collioure, the small village in the very South of France - by the foot of the Pyrenees.

For many, many years there is arranged a big fireworks, under the Festival, on the Aug. 16th. 

Visitors from all around is coming in to this small village - on road and on sea - all waiting for the spectacular event starting at 10PM:

And then: The show is on. See below for a short youtube impression:

Photo and video with iphone 6+