Anyone from here been to Norway?

[The Heff]

Hi all,

A group of us from Co. Down are heading to Norway next year.

Just looking to hear of any experiences that you may have had good or bad, while abroad with bike/travel/recovery insurance

Which policies offer good cover and which companies to avoid etc

Thanks in advance for your comments

Heff

 

[socket086]

went there 5years ago will have to go back again someday.
we went in early may and pushed up north until we got to some frozen lakes and boy was that fun to tear out on to a frozen lake and just spend a day playing on ice with bikes, dropping bikes like flies make sure you have engine guards.
the roads dont realy have any straight runs up down left and right all day long. the air is so fresh and clean i would love to move there but in winter it gets cold cold and more cold.
the beer is good and so is the crack.
if you like tunnels there are everywhere.
watch speed in villages and show respect in towns
and you wont have any problems.
the locals are very frendly and love a good laught.
one more thing when away from the south dont pass a petrol station if you have less than half tank or run the risk of running out,i had
to use a hose a few times as i was with a few rt's the had some spare.
on recovery not sure about norway but had reason in past to be rescued bmw recovery isnt worth a wank carol nass i found are best to get one out of a jam.

 

[bogman]

Been to north Norway on the bike twice, beautiful scenery I must say, weather can be unpredictable on the west coast, Lofoten island is stunning, Trollfjord and its white tailed eagles a must,Jostedalsbreen Glacier and its offshoots, Rjukan and its historical water treatment plant. beer is 8-12€ a pint unless you shop in Rema/Remi, expect savage penalties if you speed, that or gaol, very expensive, no recession in Norway

Here's a few from last year

Last years trip

 

[Damien]

There is a great thread here.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=536673&highlight=lindesnes

Looks like a great place.

 

[mikeTR]

Great photos Bogman

Your route looks very similar to the one I have in mind for 2011. How many days did you do it over? And did you find the mileage about right, or would you have increased, decreased with the benefit of hindsight?

Cheers

 

[Rasher]

Get a logon at Alpine Roads forum, a few of the guys there are from Norway, some great ride reports and ideas, plus the will happily dish out advice

 

[LivNorway]

If you like hairpins, Heff, klick here:
Sunndalsøra - Aursjøhytta - Eikesdalen http://kart.gulesider.no/m/IEOnU

Dalsnibba - Geiranger - Ørnesvingen http://kart.gulesider.no/m/IEObv


Going down to Aurland from Hol http://kart.gulesider.no/m/IEOJ8

Going down to Lysebotn http://kart.gulesider.no/m/IEO0V

Rysstad - Lysebotn http://www.bikemap.net/route/281530#lat=59.04941&lng=7.09204&zoom=10&type=0
I struggle to make this route on a map because a small part of it seem to be closed all year. As far as I know all is open in summer, but most of it are closed in vinter.
You better find out before you go there! Ask here: http://www.vegvesen.no/en/The+NPRA/Contact+us/Contact+information/Contact+information.56794.cms
Lysebotn - Rysstad (- Kristiansand). http://www.cyclopedia.no/ShowRoute.aspx?id=35&ip=1
From Lysebotn there are ferries for tourists in the summer, to Stavanger and some places between Lysebotn and Stavanger.

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

Suleskar - Lysebotn:
http://www.pinger.pl/szukaj/po_tagu/p/31/?t=rogaland

http://www.klikk.no/motor/mc/article449400.ece

Lysebotn - Suleskar - Rysstad, map; http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour...053269,7.091675&spn=0.617214,1.766052&t=h&z=9

Øygardstøl = Ørneredet = the strangelooking house on the route Lysebotn - Suleskar: http://www.folkehjelp.no/no/Arbeid_...e=Articles; action=Article.publicShow;ID=2544

Something in English: http://www.gonorway.no/norway/articles/198

Webcameras Lysefjorden (the fjord Stavanger - Lysebotn): http://www.lysefjordcam.com/?side=oanes&lang=en

I tried to find time table for the ferry Stavanger - Lysebotn. Well, here's the route, a map: http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour...l=58.945758,6.17157&spn=0.619144,1.766052&z=9
Try this for the touristboat 'Turistbilferjen': http://www.lysefjordeninfo.no/en/index.html
And this for 'Turistferja: Stavanger - Lauvvik - Forsand - Lysebotn' : http://www.tide.no/Default.aspx?pageid=1182

Liv.

 

[Flintlock]

Goin on this trip also-thanks for the info. One question. Travelling up the E6 from Oslo-would it be possible to cover 500 miles in a day? this is the milage we reckoned we could do on the way up to the Artic Circle. We are giving ourselves 10 days to get up there and back, then cut briefly through Finland and back down through Sweden and through Europe back to UK via France.

 

[irishbiker27]

Norway

It's a beautiful country,
toured around it two years ago in june/july.
did get quite a bit of rain but the scenery is worth it.
as said before tunnels everywhere, the mount blanc tunnel got nothing on them. I travelled up as a far as Nordkapp, well worth the drive if you have the time. and to celebrate the midnight sun.It's a very unusual experiernce to see raindeer crossing the road.
Oh if you go in summer and are camping bring something to cover your eyes.
another weird feeling 24 hr daylight.
Beer is very expensive. The country is amazing
will try to post some photos.

 

[dunner]

RTE PLAYER

Check out the RTE Player site on the Viking Run

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Norway!

Lucky enough to have been to Norway on three long tours. Twice to the Nordkapp then on to Kirkenes and the Russian border aswell as a trip up to the Arctic circle and Swedish Lappland with Mrs P riding her own bike on her first tour.

The fjords in the southwest were fantastic and the arctic north is truly spectacular, empty and sometimes freezing cold in late may. It's always a challenge to cross the arctic circle and eventually reach the North cape.

The weather on the whole has been good with temperatures ranging between +20 degrees C and -9 degrees C in the north with snow. the roads were good and i've only ever hit one pothole in 12'000 miles riding there!

Anyone travelling north on the E6 Arctic Highway or 'blood road' should read 'Norway's Arctic Highway' by John Douglas it's a great read and contains a whole lot more information about Norweigian history and wildlife etc.

I've seen Sea Eagles, Golden Eagles, Reindeer, Musk Ox, Beavers, Elk, Deer, Arctic Hare and both blue and white Arctic Foxes. One of which I narrowly missed hitting with my front wheel.

I've met many Norweigians who've offered me accomodation from farmers to photographers and the people i've met are genuine and friendly especially when they realise we're from Scotland but boy the Germans have absolutely no chance......!

FP.

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Distance!

Goin on this trip also-thanks for the info. One question. Travelling up the E6 from Oslo-would it be possible to cover 500 miles in a day? this is the milage we reckoned we could do on the way up to the Artic Circle. We are giving ourselves 10 days to get up there and back, then cut briefly through Finland and back down through Sweden and through Europe back to UK via France.

Longest day up to the Nordkapp was 600miles starting early 7am finishing 8pm but 350 can be plenty especially at 80/90kph(don't speed)

If you want to get there quickly ride up the Inlandsbahn in Sweden the limit is 110kph and the road is good but 'Pine Fresh Flash'.

Made it to the Arctic Circle in three days from Haugesund/Stavanger and Nordkapp on the fourth evening arriving 10pm for the midnight sun on 25th May 2007 and 1st june 2003 when it was very, very cold and reindeer 'twanged' the guy ropes on my tent at the campsie 20km south of the Nordkapp!

Norway's tunnels are fantastic, the longest Laerdals is 24.5km long and we stopped in the middle for a cup of coffee.......!

FP.

 

[Flintlock]

Thanks for the additional info guys-no doubt we will have more Q's to put on here before we go

 

[Mzokk]

Me and the Missus went in 2005. Lot easyier to get to then with the ferry from Newcastle to Kristiansand.

We loved Norway. The scenery is amazing. Did around 1750 miles in the week which does not sound like much but one day we had five ferry trips!! The people are very friendly and invariably speak English. The roads were quiet and well surfaced. A lot of them are single track and there are a lot of (very cold) tunnels. I put the winter muffs on the bike and we both had heated jackets. We were very glad of them on an 80 mile trip in the rain across the hardanger vidda. 4300ft up with snow piled 10ft high on either side of the road. My Avatar photo is from that trip in June!!

A few Photos Here http://www.panoramio.com/user/4139307/tags/Norway

 

[Mide]

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=177723

Have a look at this

We travelled 5,500 miles in 16 days

We had planned 300-350miles a day but it didn't pan out that way. The first day we did less than 200 miles! We went up into the mountains and travelled much slower than we had anticipated.

It's very expensive in Norway, especially alcohol!

We had a fantastic trip, would love to be looking forward to it again!!

If we can answer any questions, just ask

 

[Flintlock]

That's great folks-thanks-what about crossing from Norway into Finland and Finland-Sweden-straightforward enough or would there be much of a delay?

 

[LivNorway]

That's great folks-thanks-what about crossing from Norway into Finland and Finland-Sweden-straightforward enough or would there be much of a delay?

I don't know how much time you need for that.
But I knew in one second I want to tell you that is boring if you like hairpins, fjords & mountains.

I can try to make a map with some of Swedens mountains, if you like.

Finland = many small lakes = mosquitoes. But if you can handle that, and you like flat nature, I guess it is ok.

But up north, in Norway, Sweden and Finland we have natives called lapps/same. The try make a living rom reindeers and the nature.

All in all, what I try to tell you is:
Go to Norway, and stay there!

Liv.

 

[Flintlock]

Thanks Liv-we will be over there for 10 days-to take in Denmark, up through Oslo, then E6 all the way up to the Artic Circle, further north, then into Finland, turning South and back through Sweden back to Denmark and home via Germany Holland Belgium France. We want the experience of other countries hence the return via Finland and Sweden.

 

[LivNorway]

Thanks Liv-we will be over there for 10 days-to take in Denmark, up through Oslo, then E6 all the way up to the Artic Circle, further north, then into Finland, turning South and back through Sweden back to Denmark and home via Germany Holland Belgium France. We want the experience of other countries hence the return via Finland and Sweden.

Oooh!
Way too many kilomtres!
You won't get time to really see and feel what is special for each area.
You'll see a lot of tarmac, but no time to stop and get to know nice & small places.

I live in Oslo.
When I plan a tour to the west (Flåm, Geiranger, Vik i Sign, Årdalstangen, Sogndal and so on) from here I want to do only that area in 10 days.

Denmark, Sweden and Finland is NOT like Norway when it comes to nature & hairpins.
Get a topographic map and study it, and you'll see what I mean.
Try this map: http://kart.gulesider.no/m/I1nQI Zoom in. Or klick on ''flyfoto''.

-But you do as you like!

Liv.