At the end of my school year, I had decided that I wanted to stop by Norway to see my brother on the way home to the States. He had mentioned the idea of possibly cycling. I am rather new to the sport, but he is an avid cyclist who knows the rules of the road. He has also never owned a car, biked through Chicago wild winters, and moved to Norway with not 1 but 2 bikes...after his thorough planning, we were ready, for 3 days of full on cycling. My butt already hurt, and I hadn't even sat in the saddle yet!

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We were in Myrdal, Norway at this point. We had been on our bikes for about an hour or so, and I had already fallen off, tumbled down the mountainside, forgot my bag with my passport and life in it way back up the hill and when I realized I didn't have my camera to take a photo of a waterfall, my brother ran all the way back up about 5 switchbacks to get it for me. In addition to all of that, I had been electrocuted by a fence, trying to pet a goat with awesome horns and I was already beginning to chafe...it can only get better.

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Ahh...the train we were just on...we had taken the train 3 hours west into where we would find the most amazing mountains, fresh air, quiet and endless roads to cycle on. Giddy...why yes!

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After a full day of cycling, we stopped for a picnic dinner. Soup it was. We decided that with the endless summer light of Norway, we would continue on to find a place to sleep. You can't just put up a tent anywhere in Norway, so we cycled and cycled...until my brother found a spot on the side of a mountainside, in someone's yard to put up his 1 person tent. We squeezed in, thankful for a spot to lay our weary heads and bodies...to wake up to the sound of people leaving their homes heading toward their car. They were friendly and didn't mind that we took up a wee little spot on their land, and when they saw me come out of the tent, to their surprise...my brother told them, that indeed, we slept 2 in that small little tent. 

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After we woke up, we cycled up, up, up and away! Exhausted and invigorated...we enjoyed the view.

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"Find the light" my brother said...hence the shit-eating-grins on our faces...

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We made it to the ferry. A beautiful day. My brother kept telling me that it is rare for the sun to shine this much. I was happy to not have to be biking in wet clothes and on wet roads...we enjoyed our coffee from a bag, and now I have a wooden cup just like this one in the picture. Thank you for the perfect christmas gift brothah. With gratitude,

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The first morning of my visit...jet-lagged from my journey and thrilled to see my lil' bro...

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Wine, cheese, cured meats, among the many tasty treats that my brother had put out all the while exclaiming..."The sun never comes out in Bergen" as we sat, drank, ate and enjoyed the sunshine on his deck in the endless daylight in the Bergen summer.

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Fast forward...6 months later...we are spending Christmas together in Lofoten/Kablevag Norway. In the arctic circle. What a gift to be together.

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John had signed me up to play in a soccer tournament with some of the locals. Thanks buddy. I had lots of fun!

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