I am thrilled by the Vikings’ remarkable ability to navigate without the aid of modern technology. They didn’t even have watches!
The Vikings relied solely on the sun, the moon, the stars, and the wind for navigation. They honed their skills by listening to sounds, observing the shapes of clouds, feeling the wind on their skin, and scanning the horizon during sea voyages.
In situations where land was obscured by fog or distance, they utilized other sensory cues such as scents or the presence of birds to guide them.
Their navigation techniques were truly unmatched! Moreover, they accomplished astonishing feats like sailing 5000 km across the North Atlantic in their open boats. It’s truly awe-inspiring!
Note
Lately, I have been fascinated by Vikings and their sailing. It inspired me to create an image of a longboat navigating through rough seas with the majestic mountains of Lofoten in the background. I’m not very good at painting, so I have teamed up with AI 🎁😊
Warning! Prepare yourself for an AI flight. I’m dreaming of Norway and what’s easier than flying with AI. The image is created by AI using my prompts 😉😊😎
A picture of Tafjordfjella, Norway, generated with AI by my prompts
Next time you’re planning a trip, consider the remarkable beauty and enriching opportunities that Tafjordfjella in Norway has to offer. You might just find yourself embarking on an unforgettable adventure that exceeds all expectations.
The Land of Peaks and Valleys
A mountain range spanning across Møre og Romsdal and Innlandet counties
Home to several peaks exceeding 1,900 meters, including Puttegga (highest at 1,999 meters)
Picturesque valleys carved by glaciers, creating a diverse and captivating landscape
Tafjordfjella, meaning “The Tafjord Mountains,” stretches across the counties of Møre og Romsdal and Innlandet, offering a true paradise for outdoor enthusiasts. The region boasts numerous peaks exceeding 1,900 meters, with Puttegga claiming the title of the highest at 1,999 meters. Millennia of glacial activity sculpted breathtaking valleys, leaving behind a tapestry of rugged peaks, lush meadows, and sparkling lakes.
Exploring the Norwegian Trekking Association Cabins
These cabins offer comfortable overnight stays and essential amenities for hikers
Popular DNT cabins in the area include Reindalsseter, Pyttbua, Veltdalshytta, Vakkerstøylen, and Danskehytta
The Norwegian Trekking Association, also known as DNT, plays a crucial role in facilitating exploration in Tafjordfjella. They maintain a network of well-maintained cabins strategically located throughout the region. These cabins provide hikers with comfortable overnight stays, often equipped with basic amenities like sleeping bunks, cooking facilities, and even fireplaces.
Forget Don Juan, Kierkegaard, and Casanova – I have been seduced. By whom, you ask? None other than artificial intelligence, the smooth-talking robot of the digital age. Are you still intrigued? Stay tuned, because this story involves prompts, paintings, and a touch of humour. You see, I have a soft spot for watercolor illustrations. So naturally I turned to artificial intelligence to conjure up the perfect image of a Black Woodpecker, Dryocopus martius. Seems simple enough, right? Wrong. No matter how I worded my directions, the AI seemed fixated on the pileated woodpecker. I tried and I tried again, only to end up with a bizarre hybrid that looked more like Woody Woodpecker than anything else. Talk about a plot twist! And just like that, I found myself in a dilemma. How could I justify showcasing an advanced hybrid woodpecker on my blog as a Black Woodpecker? The answer? I couldn’t. But wait, who can resist the charms of a Woody Woodpecker look-alike? Now I sit and think: does AI know me? Does it remember that I once spun a ridiculous yarn about catching catfish? Imagine this: sailing out to sea, whistling a tune, and bonking a catfish on the head with a club. Ridiculous, right? Yet AI and I somehow seem to be cut from the same cloth – prone to tall tales and whimsical adventures. But maybe it’s time to reassess my urges and steer clear of the seductive allure of AI. After all, there’s only so much trouble you can get into before throwing in the towel. 😊
What an awesome winter weather. It all started with a blizzard in Jutland, and eventually we got snow in Copenhagen and North Zealand as well. Completely unreal winter weather where people were stuck in traffic for many hours. It doesn’t happen that often in Denmark anymore.
I had to quote William Shakespeare for Blow Blow You Winter Wind ❤️😊
..Thy tooth is not so keen, Because thou art not seen, Although thy breath be rude…
I have always loved the twilight, ever since I was a little girl. When the sun sets in winter and the clouds turn red. When landscapes are under the spell of snow, the adventure begins. Even life in the streets seems enchanted.
Vilhelm Kyhn, Winter Night in a Forest
Carl Schlesinger, A Winter Sunset
Wright Barker, A Winter Evening
Wilhelm Smith, Winter scene from the streets of Stockholm
Journalist, author and editor Eivind Eidslott has written this lovely piece of poetry: Når Sola Snur.
When the Sun Turns, is inspired by the Norwegian Mountain Rules and winter solstice. Translation from Norwegian to English by me:
There is no shame in turning around Turn around in time We all want to return home
That is why we turn in gale, in snow fog, in doubt. We turn in storm, in hail showers, in fog.
We turn in good weather, in stormy weather, in all kinds of weather. We turn around before dark, and hunger and cold. We go back before the body is empty, before the feet are worn out, before the mood runs out. We all want to return home
But turn now, Turn your head and see: Now the sun is turning, ouch! There is no shame in that. It’s got a new position of trust up there. The biggest task, The winter solstice. When the Sun Turns by Eivind Eidslott
Yesterday was the shortest day of the year and the sun was shining. The light of Winter Solstice. The sun is turning ❤️
Don’t miss these invaluable advises when planning trips in the Norwegian wilderness:
I read an article in an outdoor magazine yesterday. They recommended a walk in the western part of Norway. A very steep and dramatic part of the country I would say!
Pretty much anyone could do the walk, and if you did it in the summer months it should be okay they claimed. It was, however, an advantage to have some experience with mountain walks.
This questionable recommendation made me think of the mistakes I made when I was heading for the mountains for the first time. But I also thought about my sister’s neighbor. He had an accident a few months after my own.
Jens and Synnøve have family in Norway. They are often in Stavanger during the holidays, as they have close family ties. On these visits to Norway, Jens has spent part of the holidays with a friend where they hike in unknown terrain, bringing a tent and provisions. He is used to navigating using a map and compass. Everyone considers him to be an experienced hiker.
The friend was prevented once, and Jens missed his mountain walk. He got a few days off from the family dinners and set off alone with his gear, map, and compass. Jens wanted to hike in unmarked terrain along the Lysefjord to a self-service cabin to spend the night.
He parks the car and starts his walk. It’s late summer, and the weather is very changeable. There is a full day’s walk to the hut, and it is well past noon before he decides to eat his lunch. Here he takes his time and enjoys the moment. When the food is eaten, he studies the map and plots a compass course.
After an hour and a half, he becomes unsure of his whereabouts. The fix points don’t match the landscape he’s in.
I don’t know if it’s because he’s concentrating on the map, but suddenly he trips and falls several meters, landing on a small isolated ledge on the side of the mountain. His glasses are shattered in the fall. This implies that he can faintly sense the contours of the landscape and glimpse some water below him. Jens finds his phone, which is luckily undamaged. He contacts the Norwegian rescue service and tells them what has happened and where he is.
He then calls the family to inform them. Now he can only wait. It has started to rain a little and visibility is reduced. About half an hour has passed when he hears a helicopter. It gets closer and then disappears. He can hear it far away, and finally, there is complete silence. He waits for a while, but nothing more happens.
Jens contacts the rescue service again. They can’t find him. He isn’t at the coordinates where he says he is.
Jens provides information about the new compass course after lunch and his problems with locating himself later. Now he waits and hopes. It won’t be long before darkness falls. He considers whether to jump into the water below him and swim to shore, but his poor eyesight prevents him from entertaining that idea.
The phone’s battery is also about to die. It feels like a very, very long time before he can hear the helicopter again. The rescuers get closer and closer, finally spotting him down on the ledge. One of the rescuers is lowered down and secures the harness, but on the way up, he almost slips out of the harness and the action starts over again.
It is an incredibly relieved Jens, who later reunites with his family in the evening. He is bruised after the fall, but hasn’t broken anything. Jens’s daughter has been on her way out into the mountains to look for her father after the phone call, but fortunately, the rest of the family has persuaded her to wait for the rescue service’s efforts, and it turned out to be a good idea. It was also a good thing Jens didn’t jump into the water. It would have killed him, he found out later.
The pictures are from the area where Jens was walking. We were on a walk in Hunnedalen once, and strolled around Lysefjorden. This is also where the tourist attraction Kjerag is located.
Jens doesn’t hike in the mountains anymore. I don’t know whether it is a promise to himself or to his family.
Experience is a good teacher, but he will send you some insanely expensive bills.
~ Minna Antrim
Denmark is a small country with surprisingly big differences in the weather. In the southern part of Denmark, all children were lured out into a wonderful snowy landscape. It also snowed a bit 130 km north of the winter wonderland where I live, and it was lovely while it lasted 😁 But it soon started to thaw. Maybe next time we will have better luck ☃️⛷️❤️
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