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27 June 1881 — Molde | |
Monday. 27th June [1881]. Got up & breakfasted at 9 in the hotel with Monty & the Genl. We had a most plentiful breakfast with every kind of bread & rusk & thin wafers like ice wafers—& preserves lax (raw salmon)—meat eggs coffee &c. We wanted a steamer to go up the Fjord to Syltebo but we found that the one available had been engaged by Mr Davenport Bromley so we persuaded him to let us share it with him and we agreed to go up first to his place & go on later to our own. While the packing was being done the Genl. and I walked up the village to buy a common straw hat for me & looked at the shops &c and on our return met Henry going down to the steamer to embark as she had just arrived & we were to embark. After all was on board & we wanted to start Monty was missing . Mr Bromley was very fussy to start & sent after him. It was found that he was waiting for some cold lunch which we were to take with us to eat on the steamer as we cannot arrive at home till into the evening– At last Monty arrived—then we had to wait again for the lunch & it was quite 12.30 before we were off—our party—Mr D. Bromley & his son, Mr Petre and a Mr & Miss Hall who were going up to same valley as Mr Bromley. The day was lovely & Molde looked most picturesque reflected in the still water– The Genl. & I began to play picquet but the beauty of the scenery obliged us to give it up & look about us. We went winding thro’ the islands up the Fjord & the scenery became more & more striking—the hills rose sheer out of the water—a mass of grey rocks sprinkled by the freshest green grass & pine trees. Under the rocks lay ducks & divers & the fish seemed to jump for joy in all directions– Abt 2 o’clock we had our cold luncheon down in the little cabin & altho’ Mr Bromley had been so indignant at having to wait for our lunch he did not scorn to partake of our meal. When we went back on deck we went aft & stood watching the coast & admiring it. There was a good deal of snow on the tops of the hills & waterfalls emerged from it on all sides– As we got near Mr Bromley’s valley Romsdal it was more & more grand & the clouds on a high peak called the Horn cleared off just as we approached– We landed him & party & the Halls & then turned back & proceeded to our own destination. We had to return on our steps abt 2 hours & then strike into the Erids fiord. It was more & more beautiful as we went on and the Fjord more & more winding & we passed a most splendid dashing cascade which came dashing down with a great roar which the pilot told us was called “Scorge.” At last we went round the last point & came in sight of Syltebo our destination– Great hills with patches of snow pink in the evening light a green valley a rushing river—& a little white house with a red one behind it—the white one was ours & looked like a German toy &c popped down in a woods. We came to an anchor under a cliff near the little village of Noste and at once the inhabitants came off in their rude flat bottomed boats. Henry, the Genl., Hill & I landed first with our night bags & rugs– The old man & the youth who pulled the boat had a hard pull to get a little way up the river and then shot us across to the nearest point to the house. Then began the difficulty. We saw a man coming to meet us who proved to be our cook who spoke English & said he would show us the way so we set off & he led us over half a dozen streams which we had to jump & wade thro boggy bits which was not easy seeing we were each of us laden to the full. We found a native loitering about & begged him to help us he carried a bag a little way and then when pretending to help us over a stream profited by our looking another way & bolted. At last we got to the house wh was not more than 100 yards from shore & sat down exhausted & waited for Monty who soon appeared with the rest of the baggage in a cart. At 9.30 we sat down to our dinner with ravenous appetites. The cook said the dinner had been ready since 11 in the morng but it was none the worse for that we had a leg of mutton potatoes & biffin & good cream– By the time we had settled down & found our beds it was 12 but still broad daylight. | |
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