Puffins! Seeing them on the sea-facing mountain sides was the goal of our
visit to the island of Vaerøy.
A little research tought us that Vaerøy is
scarcely populated and the number of inhabitants is slowly decreasing. We could
imagine the primary cause of this being its remote and somewhat isolated
location. On the otherhand the Puffins are said to thrive on the cliffs on the
south side of the island.
After setting foot on the island, we set
off to visit the Puffins. It should be possible to see them with a several hour
hike. Preferring a little exercise above the noise of taking a rib-safari
(boat), we set off. Crossing the main ridge on the island proved more difficult
than we thought especially to find a safe path down on the west side of the
island. Navigating with the map, it showed that we needed to find the only
power-lines that crossed the ridge to find a suitable trail. Little did we know
that these no longer scarred the mountainside but remained as stubs just 20cm
high…
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| view of Sørland from the main mountain ridge |
 |
| looking north towards Moskøy |
Having descended we continued the hike, but
soon afterwards an old archilles injury started playing up. Combined with the
fact that the mountains to the south remained far off, we decided to turn back.
Dilemma: cross back over the ridge or walk the considerably longer road around
the north side of the island… the latter.
Most noteworthy on our walk around the
island was a pair of White-tailed Eagles, circling above the coast line.
Majestic creatures.
Closing in on the main village of Sørland,
it started to rain. We sheltered from the rain at the supermarket and ordered a
burger at the cafeteria alongside. Having another 7 hours ahead of us, we
decided to go out in the rain and see some more of the village and the harbour.
After half a street with several derelict
houses we came up with a game of collecting pictures of “talented” buildings.
We no longer wondered what drove people away from the island as the atmosphere was somewhat depressing...
The remaining hours before the ferry arrived were spent in the only other cafe-like business.
Conclusion: Puffin mission failed, soaked to the skin but had some great laughs...
"Puffin, Smuffin,...pfff"
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