Norway here we come - July 2024

Great thread and fantastic pics & videos. I’ve always fancied Norway, but beer prices and very strict speed limits have deterred me. Does look breathtaking though. You’ve motivated me for sure.
PS. That Oresund Bridge is meant to be something else. Assume you’re not crossing on way home as just posting bike back??
Admittedly the beer is pricey. That can be alleviated somewhat by buying in supermarkets and 'drinking in'. I'm not the slowest of bikers and I've found it easy to ease up on the pace. Many of the roads can be easily enjoyed within the speed limit. There's been a few occasions where I've 'made progress' on the twisties. Because I'm worth it. 😄. I've not seen a single mobile speed camera so far (wildly hugging the wooden decking here ). Bottom line, the local speed limits don't detract at all.

In terms of cost, this one time I've chosen to ignore costs. Don't get me wrong, I'm far from dripping in money, more adequately described as very lightly misted. 🙂 Things are a bit pricier here, but it's still well worth coming. It's the best biking country I've been to so far.

Don't delay. Go. You'll not regret it. 🏍️🇧🇻😊👍
 
On a side note, there's a few lessons I've learned along the way.

I've a radio app, VR Radio on my phone and it's proved invaluable. When you're just pottering around the room it's great to have your familiar stations and shows to listen to. I've the free version which means some rare pop up ads at worst. Great user friendly UI and coupled with a JBL Clip, your audio entertainment is sorted.

As a nav app, Calimoto has proven its worth. It has sent us down twisty back roads many times and we've come across sights and sounds we would have otherwise missed. One thing to note - it gobbles battery. With the phone plugged into my canbus USB adaptor the battery percantage breaks even. Unplug it and it plummets. If you pull over and unplug your phone to take it with you, make sure to close the app. It'll happily resume when you reopen it before your back rolling.

Oxford Mondial suits have been excellent. We've mostly been lucky weather wise, but we did get caught in a couple of downpours. Bone dry every time. Venting is top notch when the temps rise.

I brought an old Samsung tablet for our movie nights in. Along with the JBL Clip, it's able to deliver Prime shows pretty well. I'll invest in a decent tablet for next time though, it would make the clip editing, YouTube uploading and the trip report writing way easier.

We brought paper maps of Norway. Can't beat the daily review of our journey and the planning ahead of things to come with real maps. Circle the places you've stayed, mark the sights you've seen, highlight the bits for your next Norway trip. It's all good.

Allocate some of your luggage space for carrying food and drink. Self catering is definitely more economic, and there's loads of places providing the option.

Chamois cream is great for longer days in the saddle. Same stuff that cyclists use. Believe me it makes all the difference, especially on the hotter days.

Think that's my know-it-all 0.02c for now. 😅
 
The roads all around Ålvik are awesome. Regardless of which direction you head, it's twisty smooth tarmac with little traffic surrounded by scenery that's hard to look away from. That's the stuff that dreams are made of! 😎
 
So it's now after 1am on our final night in our fjordside cabin. I should really be in bed. Have sorted out tomorrow's route to Hafslo, making sure to catch a few sights along the way. We could be looking at some rain in the first half of the day, but so be it. I'm on hols. In Norway. On my bike. With Pauline. And I have a big grin on me. 😊

There's a few bits and bobs along the way that warrant a closer look. And a closer look they will get. That's the point of the whole exercise! So I'm off to the leaba for a decent night's sleep. 👍IMG20240726001639.jpg
Tonight's fjordal (new word!) view
 
So today's ride was from Hardanger fjord to Hafslo, a trip of 200km or so. During our last night in Hardanger it lashed rain. Suits me as I'm tucked up in bed as it hammers off the roof. I do love that cosy feeling you get when listening to the rain. One of those things you get to bring out of your childhood. 🙂 Unlike a flexible body and dashing hair - both discarded many moons ago! 😄

There was a window of clear weather the next morning for an hour or so which we took full advantage of. We got about an hour before the rain found us. And find us it did 😯. We put the head down and rode as far as Flåm to seek out a coffee break. Even in the rain, the scenery is great, but Flåm town felt a bit plastic and packaged, so we opted to look esewhere. Just up the road in Aurlandsvanfen we found Marianne Bakerie and Kafe where we tucked into pizza focaccias with coffee and a cardamom bun to finish. Top notch noms, and not a bit of plastic in sight 👍. Much more up our street. IMG20240726132219.jpg
Grand bit of grub

IMG20240726135420.jpg
...and a nice setting too


By the time we'd finished our meal the weather had finally started to lift. While in the café I checked out ferry times for our crossing from Fodnes to Mannheller. This would be our first ferry after a week in Norway! By God we're pure lazy! 😂IMG20240726123752.jpg
A pretty wet and plastic Flåm.

IMG20240726150234.jpg
Thank goodness for Fodnes!

IMG20240726150214.jpg
Approaching Mannheller on the ferry

IMG20240726150329.jpg
Check her out! Pauline looks pretty good too! 😍
 
Last edited:
In fairness on this leg of the trip, we did get to ride through the Laerdals tunnel, at 24.5km the longest road tunnel in the world. Construction started in 1995 and the tunnel opened in September 1999. At one point you are 1000m below the surface of the mountain above you, which is pretty cool. 😎 There are blue lit sections where your allowed to pull over for a break. dji_mimo_20240726_141732_0_1722030642552_video_trim_exported_333_1.jpg
Because I'm such a hardcore adventure biker we pushed on and rode the full length of the tunnel in one go. Apparently, even Chuck Norris needed a breather. Therefore, I'm Fuckin Awesome. 😅
 
Our final destination was a self catering spot just south of Hafslo. Once again we hit the jackpot re accommodation. The place was spacious, modern with a cracking view that changed as the sun descended. Stunning presh! IMG20240726155513.jpgIMG20240726155452.jpgIMG20240726155505.jpgIMG20240726155709.jpgIMG20240726155716.jpgIMG20240726231653.jpgIMG20240727000202.jpg

Pauline was delighted to see we had a washing machine and tumble dryer. Being the gentleman I am, I handed over all my smellies and let her loose on the provided facilities. 🙂 Sometimes I really exceed my own expectations, this was one of those moments😁.

A quick spin to the local supermarket had us sorted for dinner and beers. And milk for cups of tae, by far the most important purchase. I can live without food, water, oxygen, blood flow to name a few. But a cupán tae is a genetic requirement for my survival. It's my achilles heel, and if Chuck finds out, I'm done for!
 

Attachments

  • IMG20240726155529.jpg
    IMG20240726155529.jpg
    364.5 KB · Views: 11
  • IMG20240726155741.jpg
    IMG20240726155741.jpg
    372.1 KB · Views: 10
The wet rainy spin to Hafslo had me plenty tired. So what better excuse for a 'pensioners nap' on the sofa after dinner. I'm not yet in receipt of my pension, but I won't tell anyone if you don't. 😉

I think the short sleep / early up of the last few days has caught up with me. I kipped (and most likely snored) for the guts of three hours. A true adventure biker grabs sleep whenever possible. It's how we roll. 😎
 
A quick backtrack...on the day we bumped the insanely annoying Persian royalty (well they acted like royalty 🙄), we also found a real gem of a place called Skarsvatnet or Goldfish Lake. If you're in the locality look it up and drop by. It's quiet, peaceful, serene and not a spoilt prince or princess in sight. True to it's name it's populated with goldfish. And dragon flies and many beautiful things. IMG20240725172530.jpgIMG20240725175744.jpgIMG20240725175758.jpg

And we bumped into these two just around the corner. Gorgeous.
IMG20240725180707.jpg

IMG20240725180714.jpgIMG20240725180642.jpg
 

Attachments

  • IMG20240725175805.jpg
    IMG20240725175805.jpg
    179.5 KB · Views: 10
  • IMG20240725175823.jpg
    IMG20240725175823.jpg
    197.3 KB · Views: 9
Well after 4 hours kip I'm awake again. The bed is super fantastically comfortable but I'm simply too excited to stay asleep! 😊 Another throwback to being a sproglet. I'm liking this trip! 😎

Did I mention this spot near Hafslo is idyllic? Glad I got out of the leaba to take some pics... IMG20240727062153.jpgIMG20240727062631~2.jpg
 
After last night's sojourn on the sofa I did some research on today's plan. Our destination is Geiranger Fjord where we'll be staying for just one night. To get there we've a couple of of options: road only, or road and ferry. According to the weather forecast it might be kind of damp this afternoon. But if it stays clear and bright we'll stick to the tarmac and take in the numerous scenic viewpoints on the route. If it does turn dull and cloudy, we'll take the ferry option and enjoy the views from sea level as we cruise up Geiranger Fjord. I'm pretty sure we'll be well entertained either way. 👍😊. Expect a few media rich posts to turn up in the thread! 😉 Pic attached cos once a Tosser, always a Tosser! IMG20240727062402~2.jpg
 
Enjoying this - hope you have a few more weeks left to go before home
 


Back
Top Bottom