Making Plans for Europe

Photo: Autumn storm over Vestfjord, Lofoten islands, Norway

For whatever reason, it’s been a pretty stagnant and boring summer (and year for that matter) for me so far.  I’ve hardly been able to get out of Santa Barbara and other than a few commercial assignments, I haven’t even touched my camera in months.  I’ve been trying to put something together for several months now, but I always seem to run into some sort of setback..  Finally now it seems I have somewhat of a haphazard travel plan materializing.

With Luck I should be back on the Lofoten islands around the last week of September.  It’s not exactly under the conditions I had hoped, to move there with a work visa.  But if I can manage to find a flat to rent, at least I’ll be able to continue with the application process.  If not, it might just forever remain an unfulfilled dream.  I know its a bit late in the year and I’m hoping autumn waits for me, but other engagements keep me here until then.  I had also hoped to hike another section on the Kungsleden or perhaps wander around Sarek national park in Sweden, but that will have to wait another year unfortunately.  So I’m looking at some other hiking options that I might be able to manage in October.  Been thinking about maybe crossing the High Tatra mountains from Slovakia to Poland, or perhaps something in Austria or Switzerland.  I Mainly just have to see how early the snow arrives and decide from there.  Otherwise I think I’ll pay another visit to Stockholm on the way down from Lofoten and maybe Copenhagen.  Then visit some friends in Germany and perhaps some old places in Czech Republic that I really like.  Hopefully I’ll catch some Christmas markets before going to Wales in early December or so, where I’ll stay a few more months.   As much as I seem to travel, it’s really been over 4 years since I did any proper ‘backpacking’ in the Euro sense of the word: hostels, trains, buses, hitchhiking, cities, etc.  I almost feel a bit nervous about it.

Photo: Empty stockfish drying rack, Lofoten islands, Norway

Photo: Scenic beach at Ramberg, Flakstadoy, Lofoten islands, Norway

Photo: Snow covered rocky coastline at Stamsund, Vestvagoy, Lofoten islands, Norway