Lindesnes sprachle.

It was a lovely sunny day when we woke up and it was a fine day for a walk along the coast, I bought a Rother walking guide of Southern Norway book but it doesn't really have many short walks in it but this one was about 2 1/2 hours and I figured the boys would be fine. I scouted out the blue paint flashes before breakfast so we knew where to start. Breakfast was scoffed and then the whinging started, I have no idea what gets into Callum sometimes but geezo!! When he gets started about something he doesn't half go on....Any way, we finally got under way and faced into the wind and started searching out the blue paint spots and sketchy path. The boys like looking for way markers and signs so they were happy scouting ahead and scrambling up amongst the boulders. This walk was good but definitely tougher than expected but the views were good, it was gorgeous but the wind never abated. Short sleeves would have been order of the day if it had, but instead it was plenty layers on the top half anyway.

The walk in total was only about 4.5km long but with plenty ups and down and really rough and at times wet stuff underfoot and it took us over 3 hours so that gives you an idea of the terrain. There was even a short 3 or 4 meter section with iron work in the rock to climb a scrambly step, all very exciting for the boys (and Mum😳). However they really enjoyed it and soon after we started the moaning stopped and we had a grand few hours seeing the rugged coastline and the lighthouse from a different angle. All pics from the walk were from Joyces iPhone as some donkey (😳) left his memory card in the reader rather than putting it in his camera. After the half way point the route back was via red markers and soon we were back at the van and Joyce rattled up a quick lunch while the boys and I had a kick about in the big carpark with the football. There were lots of cars here today, its Saturday and it a popular attraction for locals swell as us tourists I would think. One last thing we had to do when leaving was post our receipt of payment into the postbox in the carpark 100NOK, no idea if anyone checks the registrations on the vans but always best to be honest or maybe they'll change the parking arrangement and ban overnighting.

Back to the E39 and we were heading west towards Stavanger. Its a very hilly road, with lots of big uphills from sea level followed by downhills right back down again, but its always interesting, if there's not a big raging river beside us theres a lovely loch or lake...not sure what they call them here with rocky outcrops and trees. AND then there's the tunnels, the boys are loving the tunnels. some are quite long now and have slip roads exiting and joining while still inside the mountain, on one we came out a tunnel and straight onto a big bridge spanning the Listafjord, spectacular stuff!!  It also takes a long time to cover a short distance on the map. At Flekkefjord we stopped at an advertising board for the Geopark which we had just entered, it continues al the way from Flekkefjord area to Stavanger and there lots to see along the way-if you got time. There was an option to stay on the E39 or take the 44 coastal road. Its heading in the right direction and that what we plumped for, its slow, steep, narrow and spectacular, continually weaving up and down over mountain passes, back to sea level with hairpin bends and stunning views. The amount of bare rock visible, huge glaciated slabs or vertical rock walls is incredible, a climbers dream it were in Scotland, there's got to be some great routes on some of it. The boys are now helping me with the hairpin bends, some additional steering and lots of hilarity from the back is helping Bessie around the sharp turns, lol.

Time was wearing on, and tea for tonight wasn't just a straight forward task for Joyce needed to cook spag bols from scratch, so making it to Egersund was a bit much to ask, so after Ana Sira which is a lovely corner we climbed really steeply up above Jossingfjord through a tunnel with a separate walking/cycling tunnel running parallel to it and found a parking space at a view point and memorial, its a cracking spot however after we parked, the mist and cloud rolled in and the rain came on. Never mind, we've done a walk for the day, Ice Age 5 kept the boys amused, Mum made the tea and I sorted the van a bit, there's was no rush to do anything. The forecast is good again for tomorrow so we may explore the tunnels before heading off in the morning.

We are parked next to a war memorial to 4 New Zealand Airforce crew members. At the end of WW11 German vessels based at Egersund were moved to Jossingfjord to avoid possible allied air raids, however the Allies became aware of their location and a squadron of 20 Beaufighters planes of various nationalities were sent from Dallachy in Scotland to attack the vessels, the attack was largely unsuccessful as the planes were unable to keep the tight formation required whilst in the narrow fjord, only minor damage was sustained to the German vessels. The planes tried to regroup further out to sea and at a higher elevation but during pulling up and out 2 of the New Zealand Air Force place collided killing their pilots and navigators. One pair went down with their plane, the others were seen getting out the plane, onto the wing and onto a life raft that had been dropped nearby but the raft was never seen again, possibly swept out to see. The memorial was erected in the mid 1960's and a wreath is laid every year.

We will have a wee wander round the area tomorrow before heading past Egersund towards Stavanger. Watch this space😁.