March 31: At long last, Spring

At long last, Spring

Crocuses, Vinstra, Norway

March 30: Breakfast of Champions

Saturday morning in Vinstra: waffles with brown cheese, and cross country skiing on TV

March 29: Cold Frosty Morn

Back at the car: snowflakes on the windshield

March 27: Frozen Treasures

Melting snow and ice is beginning to reveal what's been hidden underneath

Reindeer antler

Lichen and ice

March 26: Explorers in a Frozen land

Our second day in Jotunheimen National Park, Norway, exploring off-trail near the Glitterheim backcountry lodge.

March 28: Glitterheim return

Beginning the long 26km trek back from Glitterheim, aided by warmer temperatures – and gravity

Finding our own trail across the pass (1600m)

Finally, a break in the weather!

Almost home: three skiers crossing a frozen lake (Russvatnet)

March 25: Glitterheim trek

Day one in Jotunheimen National Park began with a 26 km ski trek, over a 1600m pass, into the Glitterheim backcountry lodge.

Lunch stop

Traversing the windswept pass overlooking Glittertind Peak (2464 m), the second highest mountain in Norway

Soon there

March 24: Vinstra ski tour

March 23: Little Cabin Home on the Hill

Trail into the Holmstul cabin, Vinstra, Norway

March 22: Spring Training, Norsk style

More action from the World Cup biathlon competitions at Holmenkollen, Oslo:

American biathlete Susan Dunklee is understandably elated en route to finishing third in the women's 7.5 km sprint.

Buoyed by chants of "Tora, Tora, Tora," Norwegian national champion (and clear crowd favorite) Tora Berger charges toward the finish. 

Ole Einer Bjorndalen, known locally as "the king of biathlon," is the most decorated Winter Olympian ever.

March 21: Norway's National Pastime

Back in the USA, the first day of Spring signals the start of baseball season. But here in Norway, fans are enthralled with a different national pastime: skiing, including "ski shooting," or biathlon.

Holmenkollen Ski Arena in Oslo was host to the final competitions for the this year's Biathlon World Cup. 

Fans young and old braved the less-than-Springlike elements to cheer their national favorites.

Could this lad be dreaming of a Red Ryder BB Gun?

March 20: Waiting for Spring

Lost,  and found

Not ready for cycling yet

March 19: Neighborhood watch

"The spy" (as nicknamed by John's dad)

March 18: Take me in your Lifeboat

Little girl, big boat, @ Stavern, Norway

March 17: Glacial Moraines and Viking Remains

Mølen beach: Where the glacial moraine meets the sea

Treading lightly around ancient cairns, at Mølen beach

March 16: Coffee Time

March 15: At home in Porsgrunn, Norway

Spring cleaning

Making muesli cookies

Nap time

March 14: Father and Son Reunion

John and his dad, age 93

March 13: Morning in Porsgrunn

Seeing red out the kitchen window

March 12: Crossing into Norway

Fourteen hours in an airplane, two sleepless nights, and one factory tour later, we finally arrived in Norway. Clearing skies greeted us as we crossed the fjord south of Oslo.

Sunset over fields south of Oslo

March 11: Hello Sweden

You only live once, at least according to Volvo.

Airport display in Gothenburg, Sweden

March 10, 2014: Goodbye, L.A.

Welcome back to my photography blog. For the next five months, I'll be traveling through Europe with cameras in tow, along with a Volvo packed with skis, bikes, mandolin--and John, of course!

I will try to update this blog (as time and internet access permits), sharing photos and stories from the road with all my friends and family back home. 

Next stop: Norway!

Goodbye, LA