Tag Archives: Jan Sverre Jenssen

Postcard from the Lyngen Alps

Posted on by

Michael and I have been on holiday in Northern Norway for a second time around! We had such a fantastic time last year, hence we decided to travel back to Tromsø. First we stayed two nights with my sample knitter Grete Jenssen & her husband Jan Sverre in Storsteinnes, and then another four nights at the Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromsø.

Unlike last year we had mainly rain and 8 to 12 degrees Celsius/46 to 53 degrees Fahrenheit, so it did not feel like summer at all. Still that did not stop us from travelling to Lyngen North at the Spåkenes peninsula, with a majestic view of the Lyngen Alps. All these wonderful photos are taken by my husband, except the one below.

I had brought thick tights but had to borrow a woollen hat from Grete – photographed above – to wear under my all-weather jacket hood. In Tromsø, I just gave in and bought a pair of leather gloves to keep me warm. A large number of the visiting Southerners could easily be spotted as they were wearing only shorts with t-shirts due to the heat wave in the South of Norway.

Jan Sverre was the designated driver that took us north on the E6 towards Alta, around the Kåfjord– see photo above and below for scale – to Spåkenes Coastal Fort. It was built by the Germans (or Soviet prisoners of war and German prisoners to be precise) in 1941.

The heavy enduring rain made the command bunker look even bleaker, giving us a shudder to the German occupation during WW2. I stood on top of the command bunker capturing both Grete and the view from it.

From the fort we trekked to the Bird Watching Tower, except that the signs stopped and in the end we gave up finding it, as the view was majestic anyway. Check out the ferry in the photo above for scale – click on the photo for a larger version. On the way there we crossed the bog and did however discover nearly ripe Cloudberries; that was a treat! We had a fabulous stay with Grete and Jan Sverre! Thank you so much! We will be back in the future, and you can see last year’s Postcard from Northern Norway here. If you have not been, do add it to your bucket list for the future, when it is safe to travel abroad again! Stay safe and healthy! Regards from Lyngen North in Northern Norway!

Share

Postcard from Northern Norway

Posted on by

I have been to Northern Norway for the first time ever! Michael and I have spent four nights with my sample knitter Grete Jenssen & her husband Jan Sverre in Storsteinnes and three nights at Scandic Ishavshotel in Tromsø. We decided early in July to travel north and to meet Grete for the first time in real life. Grete and I have been in touch since 2012, when she found me on Facebook. It did not take long until I felt like I had know her for ages! Above you see the view of Tromsø from the Cable Car going up to the mountain ledge Storsteinen (421 m above sea level). The weather was surprisingly warm and summery with 24 degrees Celsius/75 degrees Fahrenheit for being so far north – a two hour flight from Oslo. Michael and I did not walk down, but there were plenty of people who did. The 1250 steps are built by sherpas and some of the stones had their names inscribed, see below.

We had a magnificent view of the cable car and the Arctic Cathedral, in the centre of the photo below, from our room at the Scandic Ishavshotel to the right.

Grete had researched what to do while we were staying with them and we happily agreed to hike to the Blåisvannet/Blue Lake in Lyngen on Friday and to visit Senja on Saturday. On our first day, it was raining heavily so we went for a short drive to see some rock carvings nearby. The rain stopped and we had a lovely walk.

Jan Sverre drove us for about two hours to the carpark about 4 kilometers from the Blue Lake and we quickly realised that we were far from alone. A number of Finnish families had driven across the border and prepared for the easy trek. The last part of the walk up to the lake involves climbing over large stones and scree. The blue colour is due to the high content of silt particles in the meltwater from the Lenangsbreen glacier.

Here you see a number of people on their way up to the lake and with shadow on the glacier at the top.

Senja is the second largest island in Norway and spectacular! We stopped at a Norwegian Scenic Route point with a view that took my breath away! Jan Sverre is photographing the view. You can read more the Norwegian Scenic Route at Senja here: www.nasjonaleturistveger.no.

The view the other direction give you an idea of the scale and ruggedness of these mountains facing the Atlantic coast.

Senja has amazing beaches but very cold water. We spotted a few children in the water but only one brave adult.

Here is Michael sitting at the smooth rock surface at Tungeneset with that view to the Okshornan/Ox horn cliffs. I should specify that all these photos are taken by me and not Michael.

The easy access to the rock surface from another Norwegian Scenic Route viewpoint. Do notice the rugged mountains and the people photographed to add scale.

The Midnight Sun from the beach in front of Grete’s house, taken 15 minutes past midnight. The brightly light nights made it difficult to sleep, but they were amazing. One more post from Northern Norway is coming, this time including some knits! We had a fabulous week in the north, and want to come back to see more! If you have not been, do add it to your bucket list for the future, when it is safe to travel abroad again! Stay safe and healthy! Regards from Northern Norway!

Share