Heddal stave church

~26 miles

Wet this morning, the plan for the day is an anti clockwise loop via Heddal then over the top to Gaustatoppen, Mael then any road that looks interesting back to Flatdal.

Checked the oil - fine, coolant - a little low so topped up - otherwise all good.

Nothing on the road around 10:00 we arrive with time for the mandatory car/location shot.

One heavily creosoted 800 year old church with separate bell tower.

I queried the various roman numerals around some church uprights, seems rather like triggers broom, 800 years means parts of this church have been replaced over time and those numerals are evidence of the outer gallery work done in the 50s.

You expect to meet Theoden around the corner. Wandering through the graveyard incredible norse names on headstones.

Inside the feeling is height and little light from only a few small windows, gloomy but warm timber everywhere.

Left and right doors for men/women with their own motifs and intricate carving,

From a distance the new church I assumed had a random timber roof - its stone tiles though, how much does that weigh?

In the Museum/coffee shop some battle axes who's design appears on the Telemark coat of arms and flag,

...and a piece on Tolkien and how his legend for the UK (Lord of the Rings) borrows heavily from existing tales, legends and Norse characters. (Luckily there were paper copies of the same info in English for reference), nice to see JRRT references though.

Cafe has an exhibit on cutting timber! - all the various saws/axes/splitting methods on display.

Everything is sort of 'calm' here - perfect location for hot chocolate and dry off before the next drive over the mountain.

Starting to see these odd top-heavy barns next to old and new houses (to the right) - must find out what they are!