Day 76

DateMonday, November 21, 1994

Lillehammer

CountryNorway

Reading: 9 min
Words: 2,034
Images: 63

Route so far

Day 76 turned out to be one of the absolute highlight days of the entire trip — not just back then as a 23-year-old kid, but still to this day.

After waking up to a clear blue sky and fresh snow, Katrine and I drove to Lillehammer. This would end up being the furthest north I would get on the entire journey — 61° 8' 0". As we got closer to the Olympic venues, I could feel a mix of excitement and disbelief. I had watched the 1994 Winter Olympics from The Dome back in Kearney, and now I was actually there.

The high point of the day came when we went up to the top of the Lysgårdsbakken ski jump. Standing at the very top, 146 meters (479 feet) above the ground, looking out over the Olympic venues and the valley below, I felt like I was on top of the world — almost touching Heaven. With Katrine by my side, it genuinely felt like I had won the gold medal in winning at life.

We also spent time at the Maihaugen open-air museum, walking through centuries-old Norwegian farmhouses and buildings, some over 700 years old. But more than the sights, what made the day so meaningful were the long, honest conversations I had with Katrine. We talked about life, love, depression, recovery, and everything in between.

It was a pretty freaking amazing day for a simple kid from Kearney, Nebraska — and one that I will always be grateful for.

Standing on top of the world, at the top of the Olympic Ski Jump platform at Lysgårdsbakken in Lillehammer, Norway.

My Photographs from today in Lillehammer, Norway

29 photographs

With My Friend Katrine
It was so good to see her again after all those years since Australia. We had such an easy, natural friendship, and spending time with her and her family felt like picking up right where we left off. I’m really grateful I got to reconnect with her on this trip.
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Color Photo with Katrine
I didn’t have much color film, but this moment felt worth using some of it on. We took this photo right after the black-and-white one, and unfortunately, I didn’t realize until I got home and developed the pictures that Katrine had blinked. I wish we would have taken just one more! Still, I’m glad I have this color version of us together — I love our smiles!
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On the Way to Lillehammer
Katrine wanted to show me Lillehammer, so we took her car for the hour-long drive. Along the way, I asked her to pull over a few times so I could take pictures — it was just too beautiful to pass by. This was our first stop. The quiet stream cutting through the snow and the frosted trees made everything feel so peaceful and magical.
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Lake Mjøsa
This was our second photo stop on the drive to Lillehammer. We pulled over to take in this beautiful view of Lake Mjøsa — Norway’s largest lake — stretching out between the snow-covered hills. The bare trees along the shore and the calm, misty water made it feel incredibly peaceful. I couldn’t resist asking Katrine to stop so I could capture it.
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View of Lillehammer Across Lake Mjøsa
This was another stop on our drive to Lillehammer. From across the lake, you can see the town of Lillehammer nestled along the shore, with the famous Olympic ski jump ramps clearly visible up in the hills. It was exciting to finally see the actual site of the 1994 Winter Olympics from a distance.
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Homes in Lillehammer
These are typical homes in Lillehammer. I loved how the snow sat on the roofs and how the stone walls and wooden houses gave the neighborhood such a cozy, traditional feel.
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Norwegian Phone Booth
This snow-covered phone booth in Norway caught my eye. I had been photographing phone booths in different countries throughout the trip, and this one felt very Norwegian — simple and functional.
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Church Spire in Lillehammer
This beautiful view of Lillehammer was taken in the late afternoon light. The church spire stands out against the snowy hills, glowing warmly in the sun.
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Olympic Village Flagpoles
These flagpoles stood at the Olympic Village in Lillehammer. Even though the 1994 Winter Olympics had ended months earlier, seeing the Norwegian flags still flying here felt special. The golden light hitting the snowy hills in the background made the whole scene feel calm and proud at the same time.
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Ski Jumper Practicing
While we were at the ski jump facility, one lone ski jumper was practicing — he basically had the whole place to himself. It was really fun to watch him fly down the ramp and launch into the air.
Standing up so high to watch him was both exhilarating and terrifying for me. After my fear of open water, heights are my next biggest challenge, so being at the top of the ski jump gave me a real mix of excitement and nerves!
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View from the Top of the Ski Jump
From the very top of the ski jump, the view was absolutely incredible. You could see the entire valley, the town of Lillehammer below, and Lake Mjøsa — Norway’s largest lake — stretching out into the distance with mist hanging over it. Standing up there with the sun breaking through the trees made it feel almost magical. It was one of those moments where the view completely took your breath away.
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Standing On Top of the World!
This was one of those perfect moments. Standing at the top of the ski jump with the entire valley, the town of Lillehammer, and Lake Mjøsa spread out below me, I felt like I was winning the gold medal of life. After everything I had been through earlier that year, being here — alive, free, and taking in this incredible view — felt like a huge personal victory. I couldn’t stop smiling.
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Garmo Stave Church at Maihaugen
Next, Katrine took me to Maihaugen, one of Norway’s largest and most famous open-air museums in Lillehammer. The museum features over 200 historic buildings from the Gudbrandsdal region, including farms, workshops, and traditional wooden churches.
This beautiful structure is the Garmo Stave Church. Originally built in the 1200s in the village of Garmo, it was carefully dismantled and moved to Maihaugen in 1921. Standing in front of it covered in snow felt like stepping back in time — it was one of the most impressive and peaceful places we visited that day.
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Garmo Stave Church in color
Here it is in color. The deep brown wood against the bright blue sky and fresh white snow made the Garmo Stave Church look even more beautiful. Standing in front of this 13th-century church on a clear winter day was one of the highlights of our visit to Maihaugen.
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Historic Farm Buildings at Maihaugen
These beautifully preserved log structures are part of Maihaugen’s collection of historic farmhouses, barns and workshops from the Gudbrandsdal region, many dating back several hundred years. Walking among them felt like stepping back into rural Norwegian life from centuries ago.
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Icicles at Maihaugen
This photo shows one of the traditional wooden buildings at Maihaugen, with long icicles hanging from the corners of the roof. The old split-rail fence, also covered in snow, leads the eye across the quiet winter landscape toward the valley below. It was these small details — the icicles, the snow-laden fence, and the peaceful surroundings — that made walking through Maihaugen feel so magical.
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Winter Scenes at Maihaugen
The smaller wooden buildings, fences and snow-covered farm structures gave us a glimpse of rural Norwegian life from centuries ago. Everywhere we walked, it felt as though the modern world had disappeared.
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Paths Through the Woods
These quiet paths wind through the snowy woods at Maihaugen, lined by traditional wooden fences as they disappear into the trees. Walking along them gave us a real sense of how people would have moved between the different farms and buildings on a winter day long ago.
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Winter Landscapes at Maihaugen
Snow and ice transformed Maihaugen into a quiet winter landscape. Frozen water, snow-covered trees and the low November light made the entire open-air museum feel peaceful and almost untouched.
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Golden Light at Maihaugen
The low November sun filtered through the snow-covered trees, casting warm golden light across the cold blue shadows. It was one of those moments when the winter landscape seemed to glow.
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Striking a Pose
Katrine grabbed my camera and suggested I pose in front of one of the historic buildings at Maihaugen. Standing there in the snow with the traditional wooden architecture behind me felt like a perfect moment to capture during our visit.
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Feeling Like a Champion
This was the last photo of the day at Maihaugen. After everything I had been through, standing there in the snow I really did feel like a champion. In the spur of the moment I raised both arms in victory, and Katrine caught this great shot. It perfectly summed up how I was feeling — grateful, strong, and on top of the world.
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1994From my journal

DAY 76 / 11-21-94Norway

Woke up to a beautiful day at 10 this morning. The sky was clear blue, not a cloud in sight. The snow was a crisp, clean, white. The sun was shining brightly.

We left for Lillehammer! I can not get over how beautiful this country is. We drove along Norway’s longest lake, & I can’t wait to come back & spend some more time taking photos here someday. But I was able to get a couple killer shots today.

First we drove around Lillehammer. I saw the athlete’s village & the news/media building, still with a few satellite dishes on the roof. Next stop was the tourist information booth, to ask about the bobsled. Unfortunately, you need to make reservations about a week in advance. Second, it’s closed on Mondays. Since I failed both requirements, I didn’t get to ride, but I was able to spend the money on a kick-ass skiing hat.

We drove up to the top of the ski jump, and as I gazed down on the spot where the Opening / Closing ceremonies had taken place, as well as the whole town & valley, I got chills all over me, and not from the cold.

It was such a sense of Deja-vu, to be in the same place that I had watched on TV from The Dome, I mean, now I’m FUCKING HERE! I can not believe how lucky I am.

After composing myself after this breathtaking, awe-inspiring view, we went walking around Lillehammer.

We spent the whole day talking about life & love & depression & suicide & recovery & life. It is and always has been so easy to talk to Katrine.

We ate in a little café, then went window shopping. Next stop, after driving by the ice halls where some [Olympic] speed skating & hockey was held, was the Maihaugen Museum. It’s an open air museum with some of Norway’s oldest buildings & farmhouses, around 6 or 7 hundred years old. Then we went inside and toured a fantastic exhibit which traced Norway’s history from the glaciers of the ice-age through the arrival of man, wars with Denmark, 400 years of Swedish rule, Independence in 1905, Occupation [by the Nazi’s] in WWII, to the present day.

It was starting to get late in the day, & Karoline was at a babysitter’s, so we headed back home. After picking her up & going grocery shopping, we went home & cooked spaghetti for dinner. Afterwards I caught the last half hour of Melrose Place. We all spent the next few hours talking & taking pictures & I gave them a picture from me.

Katrine went to bed, & I wrote a few letters & then watched an episode of Dream On. I think I finally fell asleep at 1:00 [am].

JournalMy handwritten journal pages · 4 pages