Nordmarka walk 20 August 2006
Berry picking.
The walk followed the same routes as used last year, but much shorter, since a large part of it was devoted to berry picking. Unfortunately it was too late for cloud berries (multebær), and too early for the redcurrants (rips), but there were enough of the others.
From Movann, the track climbs up to reach an area of open countryside, where the first berries appear. You may notice a theme here.
Starting with wild strawberries (jordbær). These are much smaller than the ones you buy, but they far surpass them in terms of flavour.
Everywhere, and I do mean literally everywhere, there are blueberries (blåbær). We had collected enough to make a few jars of siltetøy by the end of the walk.
And of course the raspberries (bringebær). Not so abundant as the others, but certainly still good.
The inappropriately named fireweed, with its usual accompaniment of bumblebees.
A european adder (viper), on the side of the trail. These are the only venomous snakes in Norway (and UK), but in general they prefer to hide and escape and will only bite if seriously provoked. Even if they do bite, their venom is rarely fatal (apparently it is less poisonous than a bee sting).
The small lake on the way to Tømte.
Just mere seconds after taking this picture, Claudio decided to test the stability of the marsh around the lake. The sturdy ground gave way, and he plunged up to his ... erm ... 'cold bits' in a newly formed pool.
Doh!
Reflections.
Dragonfly. These are almost impossible to photograph; They do not like to be close enough for the camera to see well enough. They do not like to stay still enough for you to point a camera at them. Even when they do stay still, they shake so much while hovering, that even a high shutter speed is not high enough to see them properly. And when they are still enough to take a picture, the camera cannot target them well enough amongst the grass to get the focus right. This picture is the best of many, many attempts, and I shall have to be satisfied with that.
Butterfly.
Cotton.
Water lilly.
Lillypads.
Pac-Man.
Sitting at the top of the first summit of Langedalskollen. Using a mobile phone. Talking to damer. Ja, ja. Time to turn around and go back.
From Movann, the track climbs up to reach an area of open countryside, where the first berries appear. You may notice a theme here.
Starting with wild strawberries (jordbær). These are much smaller than the ones you buy, but they far surpass them in terms of flavour.
Everywhere, and I do mean literally everywhere, there are blueberries (blåbær). We had collected enough to make a few jars of siltetøy by the end of the walk.
And of course the raspberries (bringebær). Not so abundant as the others, but certainly still good.
The inappropriately named fireweed, with its usual accompaniment of bumblebees.
A european adder (viper), on the side of the trail. These are the only venomous snakes in Norway (and UK), but in general they prefer to hide and escape and will only bite if seriously provoked. Even if they do bite, their venom is rarely fatal (apparently it is less poisonous than a bee sting).
The small lake on the way to Tømte.
Just mere seconds after taking this picture, Claudio decided to test the stability of the marsh around the lake. The sturdy ground gave way, and he plunged up to his ... erm ... 'cold bits' in a newly formed pool.
Doh!
Reflections.
Dragonfly. These are almost impossible to photograph; They do not like to be close enough for the camera to see well enough. They do not like to stay still enough for you to point a camera at them. Even when they do stay still, they shake so much while hovering, that even a high shutter speed is not high enough to see them properly. And when they are still enough to take a picture, the camera cannot target them well enough amongst the grass to get the focus right. This picture is the best of many, many attempts, and I shall have to be satisfied with that.
Butterfly.
Cotton.
Water lilly.
Lillypads.
Pac-Man.
Sitting at the top of the first summit of Langedalskollen. Using a mobile phone. Talking to damer. Ja, ja. Time to turn around and go back.