Fjørdgasm: Norway on the half shell

So here we were, 36 hours after we checked in with United in Kansas City, MO, and officially launched the Fjørdgasm: In Newark, New Jersey, still a good 20 hours away from landing in Oslo. A day at Newark Liberty with a not-quite-two-year-old was not part of the plan, damnit, but United Airlines and this mess of an airport had other plans. Mia, despite having apparently decided sleep is overrated, has been delighted and a delight, though; I'm starting to think she thrives on this, and maybe we should spend more time in airports. She likes airplanes. But let me tell you what happened … Dry-eraser coloring book, one of several life savers Traci bought for us. Traci rocks. Mia, Lilie, Emma, and I had been at Newark Liberty since 10:30 in the morning, when we landed from Kansas City on the flight that was supposed to be there yesterday, 18 hours earlier, in time for us to get on our non-stop flight to Oslo. Instead of getting happily whisked off directly to Oslo on s

T minus 7 days! This is happening! In a week, the first batch of us fly out of Kansas City, Missouri, to officially launch the Fjørdgasm! Are we preparing? Yes! Are we packing? Yes! Are we carefully considering every inch of space? Yes! Also, more exclamation marks! We are those people now! Check this out; this is how, in a surprise move, organized we are being! Pro-level prep: We marked out the footprint of the roof box and the rear cargo space. This is not an option. (Photo: Telegraph Herald ) Cramming six people into one vehicle for three weeks is a game of three-dimensional Tetris. And, if you're flying somewhere and then taking a road trip, that ups the stakes, because you don't have the option of figuring it out in the driveway at home and leaving the crap back in the garage that won't fit in the car. Stuff either flies with you or it doesn't, so let's get organizised ! The basics: Duffels. Suitcase, especially hard-sided suitcases, are a

Let's say you're on a budget, like us, and you want to save some money travelling Norway, as we do. Let's also say you're, like us, at least reasonably outdoorsy. Bring a tent . Now your cost of lodging drops to anywhere from US $20-30/night to zero, zip, nada. Norway is dotted with campgrounds where you can pitch your tent for $20-30 a night and usually have access to bathroom facilities, showers — I am a big fan of not stinking — and often a laundry room and kitchen. You will probably also an outlet available for a few extra kroners so you can charge up the GoPro. (Mind: Norway's grid is 220 volt. Plug your U.S.-spec 110-volt heated blanket in at night and you may find yourself in the burn unit the next morning.) Facilities other than bathrooms are often coin operated, so keep some change on hand. And take quick showers. Free, though? Yes indeed. Free. Almost anywhere. On the beach. In the forest. On the mountain. By the river. Norway has this nifty freedom