LAKE TYEN—THE TOURIST CLUB CHÂLET—LORTWICK SŒTER—LAKE DRIFTWOOD—A COLD MORNING—A CHEAP MEAL—THUNDER IN THE AIR—SUNSHINE AGAIN—THE SEPARATION—THE GALLANT OLE FAREWELL—TO CHRISTIANA—ENERGY ALWAYS—PUSH ON—THE BERGEN ROAD—THE VIOLINIST—ONE DOLLAR MORE—PICTURESQUE SCENE.
Eisbod, on Lake Bygdin, had been left at one o’clock. The Lake Tyen was soon reached. The Lake Bygdin is said to be 17½ English miles long, Lake Tyen about 12 miles. The evening was beautiful when we reached Lake Tyen. Our route lay along its left shore nearly the whole length of the lake.
After we had journeyed some short distance, following the narrow footpath or rough track, we reached Tvindehougen.
This is also a wooden châlet, on a rise of ground above the lake, erected, we were told, at the cost of the “Norwegian Tourist Club” for their accommodation in summer. The cost, we were told, was 100 dollars, equivalent to about 20l. The sketch of the châlet we then made is given below, with a view of the lake, and the Koldedalstinderne (peaks of the cold valley).[110]
NORWEGIAN TOURIST CLUB CHÂLET.
Ole shouted to some fishermen at “Fiskebod,” on the other side of the lake. It was expected they would bring some fish. One man came in his boat after we had waited quite a quarter of an hour. Ole was disappointed to find he had brought no fish. It occurred to us we should have to pay him after calling him over: a glass of aquavitæ settled matters to his satisfaction. There were two men at the “Tourists’ Châlet.” One was a tall thin fellow, draped in leather, and nothing else—coat, breeches, stockings, and a sort of skin shoe. The châlet consists of two rooms, with superior kind of “bunks,” or bedsteads, but no fittings of any kind. The windows are too low to obtain a pleasant view of the lake when standing up, and are not adapted for ventilation. Travellers staying at the châlet must take everything with them, including bedding, &c. There is a stove in one room. We must, of course, consider that this châlet of the Norwegian club, is only intended for summer residence. Travellers who avail themselves of its accommodation, must be mountaineers. It is a shelter from the storm, wind, and night-air, and is not intended for anything more. The evening was warm and sultry; at the same time we enjoyed the summer’s sun, as we made our way, as best we could, along the narrow broken track.
Except ourself, all the party were very thirsty; even Ole, seldom troubled with thirst, made frequent visits to the clear rippling mountain streams, which often crossed our path.
At evening close, we reached a green, pleasant slope, below a rising bank, covered with juniper bushes, and very near a shingly beach on the lake.
We were within five or ten minutes of the time, Ole predicted we should reach the sœter of Lortwick. The name, Ole said, meant dirty. Not from the state of the sœter, but from the prevailing bad weather of that part of the lake. If we could judge from the outside of the sœter, it might also have suited the name.