Day:267, Words:267

There was not a breath of wind on this serene Sunday. Indeed it appeared to be the last breath of kind weather before the winter storm. It is ironic how stable the weather has been over the past weeks. Temperatures over ten degrees, little wind and little rain. Occassionally, we awake to some picturesque snow frosting on the mountain peaks, but by the afternoon, most of it has gone. Indeed the season of autumn can be very short lived, depending on the length of the summer and arrival of the first snow. At the end of September, the authorities will collect the various exercise books that sit in shiny post boxes all over the mountain hikes. The number of trips will be carefully tallied and prizes awarded to the most enthusiatic mountain hikers for 2012. Those keen to catch a rival or beat their 2011 tally are making a last ditch effort in the coming week.

Those less competitve, although still after some outdoor activitiy have been hitting the mountains as rumours of ripe tyttebær have spread throughout the town. The english translation is the source of many a heated debate, some insisting it is lingenberry, others preferring mountain cranberry or cowberry.

In any case, berry picking is a serious sport for the folk up here. Today we met neighbour who was simply picking a few handfuls to compliment her dessert. Wild mushrooms or cantarellas are also found during this time, making for a fresh mountainous buffet for all Øksfjordians to enjoy. Still, the odd apple, orange or lemon tree would be well received in these parts.

 

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