As we drive through the Norwegian fjords and marvel at the beautiful blossoms on the apple trees we realised we’ve been chasing Spring. As Springtime is one of my favourite times of year I am in heaven right now.

After an unseasonably warm March, Spring came early to Southern Germany and we got to see the trees put on its Spring dress of new foliage. In the surrounding countryside the fruit orchards and vineyards were in blossom and the enormous Horse Chestnut tree by our favourite forest destination, Bärenschlößle, had its characteristic showy flowers early this year. By the end of April, as we have travelled north we got to see the bulbs blossoming in Holland and in Denmark the lambs were already quite sturdy as they skipped around the fields.

And now in Norway it is like Groundhog Day, nature has rewound the clock and we are getting to experience Spring all over again. Along the southern coast from Egersund to Stavanger we left the mountains behind us and the landscape opens up. This part of the country reminds me of home (in Ireland). Green pastures, alongside white sandy beaches are dotted with returning migratory birds and newborn lambs, a little more hesitant on their feet, than their Danish counterparts. Everywhere there are meadows filled with beautiful wild flowers and in front gardens and window boxes the bulbs are just at their best. We heard a cuckoo yesterday. Nature is truly putting their best foot forward and with glorious sunshine to enjoy it, you’ll hear no complaints from me.

We took a short break from the road for a couple of nights and watched from our camping spot in Ølberg as helicopter after helicopter flew low overhead and land at the nearby Sola/Stavanger airport. This is oil country and a seemingly endless fleet of helicopters takes fresh crews and supplies to the hundreds of oil rigs in the North Sea before returning crews to the mainland. We spent a morning in nearby Stavanger. As well as being a beautiful and historic city, Stavanger is the gateway to the North Sea oil industry. Modern buildings vie with Norway’s oldest Cathedral dating from 1125 and the windy, cobble streets and workers cottages of the Gamle (old town), which have thankfully been preserved. I’m can be bit agnostic about visiting cities but Stavanger has a charm about it and is worth taking the time to explore.

From Stavanger we’ve taken a more inland route. And if I thought the first part of our trip was breathtaking then what was to come has been only jaw dropping. But more about our exploration of the Western Fjords in my next instalment.