Frank in Norway: Meråker, Fish and Chanterelles: Part One

Fresh Trout

We went to Meråker last weekend. Meråker is about two hours Northeast of Trondheim, in the mountains, near Norway's border with Sweden. Our friends, Asle and Solfrid invited us and our friends (their friends, too) Johan and Elin to spend the weekend at their "hytte" (cabin) up there. We left Trondheim late Saturday morning, picked up Johan and Elin and headed toward the mountains. It was a very pleasant drive. We stopped at one of the beautiful rest stops along the way and enjoyed some coffee and an apple cake I had baked two days before.

Solfrid greeted us upon arrival.

Solfrid walks down the path to greet us!

Asle and Solfrid built the cabin about 4 years ago.

Interior view. Beautiful wood paneling.

I really liked the staircase leading to the sleeping loft where we slept.

View from the loft. The design allows for safe use of stairs in a very compact space.

As I've mentioned before, I like the small simple cabins the Norwegians build. I wonder if this type of cabin exists in the States anymore.

A luncheon of fresh pan-fried trout and "Apple Betty" for dessert awaited us. Norwegian apples are in season now and they are tart and delicious. I made baked apples the week before and they were excellent. Write me for recipes.

After lunch we went for a leisurely two-hour walk down to the lake, then up into the hills where the Sami people raise their reindeer. Autumn arrives early in the mountains of Norway. There was a freshness in the air, the fall colors were starting to emerge and the forest had a wet, autumnal odour like an unraked lawn after a heavy rain. The photos to a Southern Californian look dry and brittle, but I assure you that the opposite is true. The grassy hills were dank and almost "marshy"; the golden orange grasses were supple and fresh. Lingonberries were everywhere as were mushrooms of different shapes, sizes and levels of toxicity. The lake was clean and pretty. Calmness and the pervasive sense of summer's end added to the sublimity.