last week i mentioned a 35 km hiking trail along the coast. today's walk is a short segment of that trail starting from gumserød cove and westward to a little beyond røvikfjorden.
it's an amazing day. there's been a break from the cold spell we had so near the sea the snow is gone. it's still icy some places but the sun is shining and the wind is unusually light. the first shore i come to is by the docks in the cove where the sheltered water is close to glassy
a few minutes over some slippery rocks and i arrive at a tiny sandy beach covered with rotting seaweed left by the autumn storms. i suspect the summer cottage folks make an effort to remove the strong smelling algae because it seems like a great spot for a swim away from the "crowds" at the larger more accessible beaches.
innermost in the next cove (presumptuously named a fjord). there's a scenic historic farm. back in the days of prohibition this "fjord" was a known smuglers cove. the unusually distinguished buildings indicate that smuggling was indeed profitable.
earlier this century one of norway's most accomplished artists, Odd Nerdrum bought the farm. he once claimed that it is here he paints his most popular paintings but the farm became once again legally entangled/ this time over taxes and ownership rights disputes.
anyway it is still a stately small scale farm with goats and horses
i like how the shrubbery clings to the land. the reddish bushes are sloe, Prunus spinosa a common coastal wild plum that is far too astringent to eat. however they make a great liqueur when picked after a few frosts.
it's more surprising to see a spruce tree in this windswept landscape. the gnarly bleached trunk may look like driftwood but this old tree is very much alive. instead of growing straight and tall this brave pioneer has learned to creep. though no taller than a christmas tree one would decorate at home its many branches cover a large area.
there are even a few cones
signs of glacial erosion are prominent. it's amazing how the bedrock can be sculpted like this but the glacial here was up to 2 km thick. the pressure underneath was enormous and it wasn't just ice scraping the rock. as the glacier slowly moved it picked up stones and sand that did most of the grinding and polishing. there was also flowing water involved in making the shapely swirls.
speaking of ice, the pools in shady areas are still frozen. some have fascinating designs that makes me wonder about the physics involved.
i cannot fathom how these fanciful designs are created but they are definitely cool. i took many pics and will post more in monomad soon. to find them i wandered well off the trail exploring the open rocky areas closest to the sea
it was great weather so even far from the path i was not totally alone
but i pretty much had the place to myself. this close to the solstice the sun stays low and sets around 3 o'clock. i start to head back but am in no hurry. the best part of the day is just starting.
following the water's edge i came across a swimming platform. the coast is rugged but the waves break on the rocks farther out. with smooth water but no good shallow place to enter and exit the sea somebody made this platform which can be lowered into the water in summertime.
back on the path again i pass the farmhouse bathing in the setting sun and
discover a bush that is either a true optimist or totally confused. my guess is the latter. either way i am sure it will manage. it's not this bush's first winter. you have to take risks in life if you want to accomplish something.
but taking risks is dangerous business. in 1929 a german boat sank behind these rocks trying to enter the smugglers cove. i never heard what happened to the valuable cargo on board but all the crew survived.
nice rack, i mean rock.
i stumble upon some huge crystals embedded in the rock. i have featured these crystals before and have since learned that the stone is larvikite. i've never seen this size crystal before and so appropriately in the shape of a fish.
there is something special about an unbroken horizon. the simplicity of it clears my mind as the colors fill my eyes
i pause a few minutes before returning to my parked car. it's been a great walk.
on the short drive home i saw the moon had already risen so i pulled over, opened my window and took the shot .
HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL WEDNESDAY WALKERS