She Simply Wanders

Category: Van Camping-Norway

  • Fjord Hopping Among Endless Sunsets

    Fjord Hopping Among Endless Sunsets

    As an American, I am accustomed to the sun rising in the east, traveling nearly overhead by midday, and setting in the west. Sure, in the winter, this all takes place a bit more to the south, and in the summer, it takes place a bit more to the north, but the same pattern always…

  • On the Top of the World and Not Alone…

    On the Top of the World and Not Alone…

    I write this on the island of Senja in northern Norway, near the base of Selga, a mountain that I climbed two summers ago in July. It was sunny then and green. Today, the clouds are sunk low, covering the tops of the mountains, while snow coats the visible landscape.  It has been incredibly satisfying…

  • A Spring, erm…WINTER Trip to Northern Norway!

    A Spring, erm…WINTER Trip to Northern Norway!

    Only after we had booked our nonrefundable flights and camper van rental did it dawn on me that my vision of the Lofton Islands in April was horribly flawed. I had been picturing spring blossoms, green hillsides, and trees budding out, just like it was in Bergen. In an abrupt jolt back to reality, I…

  • The Central Highlands

    My final days on the road were spent exploring a new section of central Norway. After leaving the Musk Ox I journeyed several kilometers off of the main E6 to Høvringen Camping, located just outside the town of Høvringen. The campground was perched high up on a hillside and nearly every spot offered exceptional views. It…

  • Musk Ox of Norway

    Once I left Kystriksveien, I drove straight through Trondheim and continued south, planning to stop for the night when I saw an area that I wanted to explore further. I settled in at Granmo Camping, in the town of Oppdal, had dinner, and jumped online. To my amazement, I had stopped within 20 kilometers of…

  • Kystriksveien- Coastal Hwy

    Upon arriving in Bodø, after the four-hour ferry ride from Moskenes, I began my multiple-day journey down Kystriksveien (the Coastal Highway). Most of the days were plagued with bad weather and poor visibility. Yet, there were still many highlights from this scenic route. My first stop was Saltstraumen, which is home to one of the…

  • Reine, Norway

    Oh, how I loved Reine. My introduction was actually two days prior. It was just past Reine, in the town of Moskenes, that I was turned away by the full campground sign. Trying my luck, I returned to the same campground. Once again, the sign at the entrance read full. There were two reasons that…

  • Ryten + Kvalvika Beach Hike

    Two days after hiking Veggen, I found myself gearing up for another hike, one I had noted from the minimal research I had done while still in the States. Unfortunately, I approached the day in a rough state after my first poor night’s sleep in Norway. The previous evening, I was turned away by a…

  • Haukland Beach + Mt. Veggen

    After leaving the Matmora area, I traveled west, deeper into the most populated areas of the Lofoten Islands, the areas known to be flooded with tourists. The first tourist hotspot I came upon was the town of Svolvær, an incredibly scenic and walkable town. Check out photos of Svolvær here. I also briefly journeyed into…

  • The Weather Effect

    After a very stormy second night at Camping Raften, I woke with my body feeling the effects of the hike up Matmora. With the rain coming down sideways and the visibility near zero, I opted to enjoy a lazy morning reading and slowly pulling myself together. After several hours I began to accept that the…