Sunday August 23rd 2015 Alta again. On the way back home with Rudi and Paulettes camper.

That was a good night’s sleep. When I leave my cabin early morning, to apply a minimum of physical hygiene, a man arrives in a car with a Dutch license plate. What may that be? Positive: Did I win a price? Negative, tax service? “Gooiendaag Harrie. Höbbe veer dich toch gevoonge (we finally found you) , says an unknown guy, over 20 y.o. in real southern Limburg language. Hey, that sounds nice and familiar. Ton, that’s half of the Dutch Groningen couple Eric and Ton, with whom I had been walking together on the killing Nordkallottledens, always told my dog Tosca: ears forward. That looks more beautiful. As a theater man, he obviously had an eye for presentation. I also point my ears forward. “How do you know me? One of them had ever heard of my blog or maybe had even read it. The Croatian guy at the reception of the camping pointed out that there was another Dutchman at the campsite. One who was walking to Cape North with his dog. The Croatian pointed to my cabin and voila, there they were in the early morning. Boys, let’s have a cup of coffee together. Sven, Joris and Rob from Reijmerstok, a village very close to my home, wanted to go to  Norwegian Cape North together. They bought a Subaru for 500 E, did some repairs like a new tire and hit the road. Yesterday they had reached their goal. Vivelevink! (well done!)
 
After I had changed their threesome into a coffee quartet, they continued their journey to the South, but not without first donating to Mama Alice. Again nice.
 
Some chatting with Paulette and Rudi. They were sitting next to their camper. Next Next I went walking with my monster Tosca. The Croatian, I do not know his name, offered me free use of his mountain bike again. Late last night at the front desk, I spent a while talking with him about the gap in pay between his country and here, the inertness of the population in his home village. People there don’t take initiatives for progress etc. etc. Maybe it’s the old communist influence. Possibly this conversation is debit for his generous bycicle offer.
 
With my (his) mountain bike, I ride 7 km to Alta center and go for a good swim. Delicious, not feeling your own weight, saunas, outdoor hot tubs, Turkish bath etc.

Sven, Joris en Rob uit Reijmerstok op bezoek in Alta

Sven, Joris and Rob from Reijmerstok visiting in Alta.

In the evening, I gather the rests of the spaghetti, which survived Tosca’s scronching last night, I add cheese, macaroni, bacon and meatballs in tomato sauce and the evening will undoubtedly be another success. At work I always said: I always eat the leftovers of the dog. So today this is reality. Also I always said, when Sonja was away for a weekend (I allow her to), that I had an occasion to share the bed with Tosca alone(the dog). In my one person single tent this happened quite often last year. It was difficult, but possible. Trainees or interns at our office used to look questioning to my secretary, not knowing what to think about my remarks about Tosca. So, if your name is Tosca and you’re living in the street, then know that there is a reliable, limited space to sleep available! Ha, ha, I better add quickly. Haha.
 
I shared the kitchen building with two funny middle aged females. Where do you come from, I ask. Colone (Germany) they answer. I say: oh, Kölle, da sjprèk d’r auch Kölsj plat, wah? (then you also speak Colone language/dialect) (rather similar to my dialect). No, not exactly, but the ice was broken. We chatted cozy together in the kitchen while their men probably were behind the beer in their camper. And that’s how I try to keep up a good atmosphere, aha, aha.
 
Where we’ll go tomorrow I do not know. Anyway southward. I feel as carefree as a child. No need to infrastructure anymore and I enjoy sitting in the camper, relaxing, looking at the backs of Rudi and of Paulette, just like a kid travelling with father and mother. The dolce far niente (delicious doing nothing). And thus it should be!

 

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