After leaving Bergen we made our way to Fitjar, Norway to run classes for the Sunnhordland Padleklubb. We arrived a day early, and it was great to catch up with our wonderful hosts Geir Ingolf and Ingeborg, who we also stayed with last year. They made us feel right at home, and soon we were sitting around a table outside catching up while enjoying the gorgeous weather and scenery. This was our second year in Fitjar, and it was great to see some familiar faces. Throughout the three-day weekend I ran six Simplifying the Roll classes, while Mark ran six Fun – Balance – Games classes.

The Fun – Balance – Games class shows their talent during a sing-along.

There are many ways to work on balance.

Johanas also works on balance.

Geir Ingolf perfects the Shotgun Roll.

Ingeborg learns a Standard Roll (yep, she got it).

Most days we had great weather during the lunch break.

But even when temperatures cooled off our Kokatat Storm Cags kept us dry and warm.

After the weekend we stuck around for an extra day (Geir Ingolf and Ingeborg are such wonderful people that we didn’t want to leave), then we headed south to Preikestolen, an incredible cliff with a plateau at the top which is 604 meters above the water. The hike from Preikestolen Mountain Lodge takes about two hours each way and is very steep in places, but the view from the top is incredible and well worth the trip.

The trailhead to Preikestolen.

Maps along the trail showed a hiker’s progress.

Me at the top!

Mark at the top!

Looking over the edge felt safer from all fours.

Our last night with Geir Ingolf and Ingeborg we cooked up a tasty Mexican meal.

Now we’re on our way to Austevoll, an archepelago off the west coast of Norway, and just across the water from Fitjar.

Pictures by Helen and Mark.