Living Norwegianly | August is the new Autumn

One popular Norwegian influencer wrote last week, “Summer has ended, driving back to Oslo!” 

My first reaction was “Hell no! I’m just about to start my epic late-summer road trip!”

But as it turns out, she might have been right…

As I set out for my three-week dream road trip to Helgeland (archipelago in northern Norway), the wind and rain swept in, washing away my plans. And from the looks of it, the weather won’t be changing anytime soon!

This past week has been all about closing a chapter of my life. I packed up my flat in Geilo in an intense and stressful five days—of course, it fell on my period! 

Friends have been asking, “Where are you moving to?” 

The truth is, I’ve wanted to leave Geilo since December, but my health wasn’t up for a move, and I didn’t know where to go.

May is the best month for spring ski touring, and as I drove to Jotunheimen with a friend for one last epic weekend of skiing, I asked the universe for a clear sign of where I should move. That weekend, by sheer coincidence, we met another group of skiers who live in Sogndal. Unprompted, they spent the next five days convincing me that Sogndal was *the* place to be.

Message received, universe.

I handed in my notice and have been watching Finn—the go-to marketplace in Norway—for our dream place to rent. But nothing suitable has come up in the past three months. So, while we wait, we’re heading north for a 1-3 month adventure, free of bills, rent, and responsibilities. It feels like the perfect time.

My work is online and flexible, so it’s coming with me. And with the weather as it is, it seems like the best time to finish up the program for The Wild Collective. 

A loosely planned road trip to shake things up is exactly what I need. A complete change of environment, routines, energy, places and people.

The dream of a warm summer, midnight sun, and amazing hikes up north has likely blown away, replaced by Autumn’s arrival.

So with the weather calling Helgeland off, the day I was moving out, I found myself with nowhere to go.

Thankfully, Norwegians are very friendly and welcoming, contrary to what you read and see on social media. 

I quickly fired off a few messages to friends and acquaintances, and they quickly came to my rescue.

I found myself in Sogndal surrounded by a great group of new and old friends, enjoying fresh crayfish by the fjord. As the juices dripped down our arms, we were warmed by the bonfire and good conversation. When we saw the rain coming down the fjord, we retreated into their cosy cabin, where we devoured raspberries and whipped cream.

What a way to start our new chapter!

The next day, we met up with Adventure Man and Fluffy White Cloud for a short, steep hike to their summer cabin. Along the way, we past forests of wild raspberries and embraced the popular Norwegian tradition of berry picking. Our goal? To pick 6 kilos of crowberries (krekling) using Norway’s highly efficient berry picker (Baer plukker), for Adventure Man’s and Farm Girl’s organic cider. (We smashed it with 8 kilos!)

As we continued hiking and picking berries in the light rain, the landscape shifted from greens to the warm autumnal hues. That’s when it hit me—the influencer was right, summer really has ended.

We arrived at the small, rustic cabin just as the sky opened up. Security there is highly sophisticated —a key hanging on a string inside. You just reach in and unlock the padlock.

You first enter a small hallway, where they store wood and food, and you take off all your wet stuff. The main cabin, which is just one room, has a fire, simple gas cooker, 3 single beds, table and a few chairs. Small windows provide views into the valley, where cows wonder by munching on grass and the rain easily runs off their backs.

Once the fire gets going, the room heats up quickly. We were warm and dry in next to no time. We cooked the Chanterelle mushrooms we picked on our way up for dinner, and ate milk chocolate for desert. 

The next morning, after a deep, restful sleep only fresh mountain air and a fire-warmed cabin can provide, we ambled back down the mountain, getting soaked once again.

It’s been an unexpectedly wet start to our road trip, but a wonderful one, surrounded by the friends who will soon be our neighbours.

There’s a side of me I’ve been exploring quietly—my spirituality. I’ve been forming my own understanding of harnessing the universe’s energy, surrendering, going with the flow, being in tune with nature. This journey is about embracing the divine masculine and feminine, and I’m slowly weaving it into my work, especially with The Wild Collective.

The theme for this road trip, and my intention, is surrender. Surrendering to the universe and allowing it to guide me to beautiful people and magical experiences. Instead of heading directly to Helgeland and then Senja, we’re now off to Lofoten, as a friend has kindly opened her door to us.

While there may no longer be midnight sun or warm 20°+ days, there will still be magic. And from April to August next year, I guarantee you’ll find me spring skiing, road tripping, and basking in the charm of a North Norwegian summer!

For now, I remain optimistic that this wet and windy weather will pass—but as the Norwegians say, "There is no bad weather, just bad clothes."

Snakkes, Adelaide x