Flying dogs at Pulpit Rock

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Scott and I had a frantic start to the weekend in Norway as I had just flown back from Krakow after being there all week for work. However, we were having better luck than the guy in front of us as we entered security checks at Gatwick, who heard the one thing you dread … ‘Sir, you’re at the wrong airport’. Oh dear, that guy didn’t have a chance in hell making it to Luton for his flight home, what a nightmare!

Given the time of year it wasn’t dark when we arrived around midnight, there was still some light in the sky so it felt more like 9pm. We had a semi-sleep in until 9am and then enjoyed some pickled fish for breakfast, before heading off to have a look around Stavanger. It was spooky walking around as there was no people at some stages it felt like a movie set, as it turned out we were up too early! By the time we got back from our stroll through the pretty old town there were people everywhere. We enjoyed a coffee and listened to Doll Parton’s greatest hits (as that is what a local sailor was playing from his yacht). On the way to the ferry we noticed the fishing boats at the dock and some people around, upon investigation we found the fishermen selling what they have caught that morning off the back off their boats! Brilliant, there were prawns, crab and lobster. We then caught the 1pm ferry to Tau and the bus from there to Preikerstolen (Pulpit Rock). Mountain Lodge A wonderful new architecturally designed mountain lodge had opened so we checked in to our amazing room with view onto Lake Refsvatnet and then headed out to one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Pulpit Rock is a sheer rock face that hangs over 600m above the Lyse-Fjord and provides stunning views. The walk up was a little tough as there were a few climbs, but one thing that amazed me were the amount of babies in back-packs and other small children hiking / being carried up to the top … good to see. There were a tonne of people coming down as we went up too, and they were flying past, we saw the evidence of a few tumbles as well with bloodied shins. Most of the hike was over large boulders and rocks so you had to keep your wits about you. The clouds were closing in so we were lucky to have a small break once we arrived at the top and caught our first glimpse of the rock. It is a spectacular site with fantastic views. It is tricky to explain, so best take a look at some of the photos:
PHOTOS

There were heaps of dogs up on the rock, I think it is the thing to do, go hiking with your dog. All I could think of was dogs flying off the rock into the Fjord, terrible I know. However, a local on the ferry over had told Scott and I an urban myth that a family had been BBQing up the top and a sausage had fallen on the ground. Of course not wanting to get sick from eating it, threw it over the edge and the dog went chasing after it and we all know dogs can’t fly.

We took a back route out and got some great views over Pulpit Rock and also back towards the North Sea, we were feeling tried and hungry as we didn’t take any food with us. But we were down at base in a few hours chomping on a well deserved ice cream. We ate at the lodge that evening and the food was amazing, excellent quality, tastes and presentation, couldn’t fault it.

Sunday morning we got up feeling a little sore after the up-hill hike and set off on a 2hr stroll around the lake. As it turned out it wasn’t really a stroll, it was up and down and over boulders again, but we got many lovely views across the lake. That afternoon we enjoyed lunch over looking the lake before heading off back to London. A brillinat weekend away!

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