Norway Norway Norway!

[LivNorway]

-Going to Norway?
-Don't have time to read all my posts?

A summary for you:
The funniest roads area (hairpins, fjords, view, and even some snow in July if you like) are in the south west.

No need for going to Nordkapp; the best part is not up there, and it cost a lot to go the last kilometres just to see the fog.

Sweden is no fun compare to the Norwegian fjords and mountains - find a topografic map.

The list of ''must see'' is so long so most of us who live here have not seen halves of it... But (again) most of those things are in the south west.

Links for starters:
http://www.norwaynutshell.com/default.asp?adwords=pnutshell&gclid=CNL1oNfnnJ0CFQ003godJkgFSQ

http://www.visitnorway.com/en/sponsored/com/articles/Norway-in-a-nutshell-/

http://travelguide.osl.no/cms.cfm?nPageNo=3231&menuid=12&nMenuID=1897

http://www.fjordnorway.com/en/

http://www.norway.com/

And hostels in Norway: http://www.hihostels.no/english/

The weather: http://www.yr.no/english/1.2025949

..and the here ain't cheap.

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

Vikafjell in May.

Map showing the area Vikafjell:
http://www.gulesider.no/kart/#lat=6...ute=a_10000044463&routeType=fastest&tab=route

And some writing, in english, about roads in mountains in Norway:
http://www.nordicroads.com/website/index.asp?pageID=149

Another site for tourist, about our roads:
http://www.turistveg.no/modules/module_123/proxy.asp?C=50&I=159&map=1&D=2 -this is in the same area as Vikafjellet (Rv.13.).

Liv.

 

[AdamA]

Vikafjell....
Liv.

I used to ski there most winters in the early 90s....

This was it in June:
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[LivNorway]

I used to ski there most winters in the early 90s....

This was it in June:
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It look different in snow!

I remember the road work at a small tunnel up there, very humpy-dumpy - I guess not fun for solobikes.

It was in the news this year the road are closed often in the winter (because of the snow), and those who use it every day are tired of that. -But the nature are the boss, not us small people!

Liv.

 

[AdamA]

It look different in snow!

I remember the road work at a small tunnel up there, very humpy-dumpy - I guess not fun for solobikes.

Nah, we loved the roadworks. Time to play with the throttle.

It was in the news this year the road are closed often in the winter (because of the snow), and those who use it every day are tired of that. -But the nature are the boss, not us small people!

Liv.

We never used to have much of a problem gettin up there.
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[LivNorway]

Nah, we loved the roadworks. Time to play with the throttle.


We never used to have much of a problem gettin up there.
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Great!
We can put my sidecar on the roof of the first part, and put your bike inside the trailer - JIIIII-HA!
At night we trow your bike out and sleep inside.
Cool!

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

1.-Is the roads in Norway ok?
2. -Can I ride a Hayabusa or do I need to ride my GS?
3. -My friend rides an Harley Davidson; is the E-roads (E18, E6 and so on) the only roads he can ride in Norway?
4. -Is it going to snow up at the highest mountain roads in July?
5. -Do I need my long-johns in Norway in the summer?

Give me a crystal ball and I'll have a look for you.

OK.
No need for a GS for a typical tourist in Norway.
You'll find ok roads from Lindesnes in the south to Nordkapp in the North. And we have gravel roads too, but you can avoid those if you like.
So;
1. Yes, but the narrowest are often bad and gravel. You don't HAVE to ride those.
2. Hayabusa = ok. But if you have Hayabusa and GS - pick the GS because of the hairpins and the speed. Both bike are ok!
3. The HD-rider can ride most roads - if he are a sissy on gravel he might not pick the narrowest roads. But again; if those narrow roads are in a tourist area they most likely are tarmac!
''Narrowest roads'' = often dead-end roads, so you get an idea of what I mean.

4: Most likely not, and if it does it melt on the tarmac. But this is not 100% sure - but IF you get snow on the tarmac just wait one day.

5; yes!
In cold weather you need wool next to your skin. But some days it is +25c in the shadow = you'll never know!

Links that give you an idea of how the roads are:
Bridges:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_bridges_in_Norway_by_length
Tunnels:
http://www.lotsberg.net/data/norway/list.html

When most tourists on motorbikes pick a route they do not see gravel. That is because they do not do as I tell them to do! Most of you want to go to Nordkapp, and to ride so many km every day, so you pick the main road to manage it in a week. And you ride in Sweden... tsk tsk...
But:
If you pick the funniest roads in the fjord area (Sognefjorden and fjords in that area) you might find some gravel, and I'm sure you'll find many hairpins and tunnels. But even if you do that you can avoid gravel if you like!

-What do the natives do, then?
Fjords... OK?
-When?
School holiday start ca.24/06 and last to ca.18/08. But all August are ok, and normally most of September too if you do not ride too hight or too far north in a day with bad weather.

-Did this help?

Liv.

You can not see all the nice and small places if you ride like he** to Nordkapp and back in one week!

 

[LivNorway]

Open / closed roads in Norway.

The site Vegvesen are a little better, and some info are in English.

From here:
http://www.vegvesen.no/en/Home
http://www.vegvesen.no/en/Traffic I got this:
http://www.vegvesen.no/en/Traffic/On+the+road/Norwegian+road+messages
and next step this:
http://www.vegvesen.no/Trafikkinfor...n/Trafikkmeldinger?rapportid=601&type=utvalgt


Or go from the Start page http://www.vegvesen.no/ and click at ''Flere trafikkmeldinger'', and you get this again (a shortcut) http://www.vegvesen.no/Trafikkinfor...n/Trafikkmeldinger?rapportid=600&type=utvalgt

Try this Route Planner from here: http://www.vegvesen.no/en/Home
http://visveg.vegvesen.no/Visveg/mapviewer.jsf?lang=en
You can choose to show tourist roads - that makes it easier for you!
I made a route here - hope it shows:
http://visveg.vegvesen.no/Visveg/mapviewer.jsf?lang=en

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

A map showing maaaaaaany web cams in Norway!
http://kamera.kartet.no/map


Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

Snow in Oslo today!

Snow in Oslo today! -In May!

http://www.aftenposten.no/webcam/?kart=detalj&id=235&tittel=Oslo: Frognerseteren

Snow south of Oslo too, in Østfold (Fredrikstad):
http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/distrikt/ostfold/1.7108545

It's not normal.
So 99,9% of us have summer tyre on our cars and motorbikes.
-The traffic situation is simular to a snowy vinter day in England! You would feel like home...

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

Briksdalen / Briksdalsbreen / Olden.

A route from Briksdalen to Lysebotn:
A long route:
http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour...=59.104078,7.253723&spn=0.614903,1.766052&z=9

Briksdalen, new road or the old gravel road Gamle Strynefjells vei (Stryn), Lom, Sognefjell, Turtagrø, Urnes, ferry if you like from the dead-end road to Urnes stave church, Sogndal, Kaupanger, ferry to Lærdal, (campsite at dead-end road?), Borgund stave church, (the old road - not the new long tunnel,) to Stegastein and Lærdal, Undredal and Flåm (Flåmsdalen to Berekvam, or the old train to Vatnahalsen), Rv.50 Aurland-Geiteryggen-Hol, Geilo, Hardangervidda, Vøringsfossen / Fossli, bad gravel road with hairpins in Hjølmodalen (not for all, special!), Eidfjord, go up to a small farm kalled Kjeåsen, Odda, Seljestad (Røldal?), Suldal, Songesand, ferry to Lysebotn, ride up to The Eagles Nest / Øygardsseter, (and to Sirdal - not possible to Sirdal on this map, but I know it has been possible for many years.).

No need to ride the gravel roads.
Make a reservation on the ferry at Lyseforden.

''Kaupanger was a market town that King Sverre burned down in 1184 to punish the local inhabitants for disobeying him.'' -But the church is still there!
More about Kaupanger here: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Kaupanger_stave_church
On the picture you can see Kaupanger down to the left.

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

From Briksdalsbreen to Lærdal: (386km)

http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour...=61.396719,7.113647&spn=1.146642,3.532104&z=8

Briksdalen - Lærdal via Jølster, Hornindalsvatnet (deep lake http://www.visitnorway.com/uk/Product/?pid=32627 ), (Førde), Gaularfjell, Balestrand, ferge Vik i Sogn, Vikafjellet (snø), find the hairpins to Stalheim Hotel (Stalheimskleiva), Gudvangen, (Undredal, the smallest stave church in Norway: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Undredal_stave_church_25may2006.jpg ) Flåm, Aurland, (looooong tunnel or find the fun road with snow and the viewpoint Stegastein), Lærdal.
-My favorite roads!


..or the short cut: (186km)

http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour...4,7.042236&sspn=0.581329,1.766052&ie=UTF8&z=8 = Briksdalen - Lærdal, include an expencive toll road.

Facts about some stav churches: http://www.nordictours.no/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=102&Itemid=140&lang=

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

From Briksdalsebreen to Dalsnibba: (128km.)

http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour...896284,7.036743&spn=0.564116,1.766052&t=p&z=9

From Dalsnibba (nice gravel hairpins, ok road) you get the famous view; Geiranger.

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

A route from Briksdalen to Lysebotn:
A long route:
http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour...=59.104078,7.253723&spn=0.614903,1.766052&z=9

Briksdalen, new road or the old gravel road Gamle Strynefjells vei (Stryn), Lom, Sognefjell, Turtagrø, Urnes, ferry if you like from the dead-end road to Urnes stave church, Sogndal, Kaupanger, ferry to Lærdal, (campsite at dead-end road?), Borgund stave church, (the old road - not the new long tunnel,) to Stegastein and Lærdal, Undredal and Flåm (Flåmsdalen to Berekvam, or the old train to Vatnahalsen), Rv.50 Aurland-Geiteryggen-Hol, Geilo, Hardangervidda, Vøringsfossen / Fossli, bad gravel road with hairpins in Hjølmodalen (not for all, special!), Eidfjord, go up to a small farm kalled Kjeåsen, Odda, Seljestad (Røldal?), Suldal, Songesand, ferry to Lysebotn, ride up to The Eagles Nest / Øygardsseter, (and to Sirdal - not possible to Sirdal on this map, but I know it has been possible for many years.).

No need to ride the gravel roads.
Make a reservation on the ferry at Lyseforden.

''Kaupanger was a market town that King Sverre burned down in 1184 to punish the local inhabitants for disobeying him.'' -But the church is still there!
More about Kaupanger here: http://wapedia.mobi/en/Kaupanger_stave_church
On the picture you can see Kaupanger down to the left.

Liv.

The last fun part felt out.
-But here it is!
http://maps.google.no/maps?f=d&sour....050091,6.6572&spn=0.038492,0.110378&t=h&z=13
Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

Undredal.

I just love Undredal!

http://maps.google.no/maps?ll=60.951381,7.103391&spn=0.009085,0.027595&z=15&lci=com.panoramio.all

http://www.visitundredal.no/en/overnatting/camping/
http://www.visitundredal.no/en/underdalsbui/

http://www.undredal.no/undredalsosten-en.htm/
http://www.undredal.no/bygd-galleri2-en.htm

I'll look for pictures for you.

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

I just love Undredal!

http://maps.google.no/maps?ll=60.951381,7.103391&spn=0.009085,0.027595&z=15&lci=com.panoramio.all

http://www.visitundredal.no/en/overnatting/camping/
http://www.visitundredal.no/en/underdalsbui/

http://www.undredal.no/undredalsosten-en.htm/
http://www.undredal.no/bygd-galleri2-en.htm

I'll look for pictures for you.

Liv.

Pictues; the cheese in Undredal:
http://www.dagbladet.no/2009/07/08/reise/mat/en_bit_av_norge/geiter/verdensarven/7087960/

5 pictures here:
http://home.online.no/~h-eivart/jalbum/sognetur/slides/undredal_brygge.html

It's so small, so old, so nice!

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

Rjukan.

Vemork, Rjukan, museum:
http://www.visitvemork.com/dnn/en/Home/tabid/184/Default.aspx

Krossobanen, live cams;
http://www.krossobanen.no/webcampage.htm
Try the link - it's good!

Liv.

 

[LivNorway]

A multilink about vikingships in Norway, new and old:
http://home.online.no/~joeolavl/viking/index.htm

Liv.


....-and viking houses! http://home.online.no/~joeolavl/viking/grindverksbygg.htm

 

[LivNorway]

Flåm in winter.

If you pop over to Norway in winter you can still visit some of our attractions, like the old & steap train in Flåm; Flåmsbana.

http://www.flaamsbana.no/eng/Index.html

Winter:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7i0dpqQTKY

Summer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hxJamOe1Ois

There are hotels in Flåm, and a hotel up in the mountain; you can not ride to the hotel unless you are riding a pushbike! http://www.vatnahalsen.no/Beliggenheit-4924s.html&lang=en&show=3

I was there in February 2007; it was not too crowdy that day!

Liv.

 

[Ted]

Hello Liv. Have been reading all the information you have on this thread, thanks for putting it together. Going to be coming to Norway next summer around beginning of July. Have tents but think the hytter will be best for us 4bikes 5 people (3 men 2 women) have looked at the camping web sites and they are in English but the booking information is in Norwegian so not sure of prices. Spotted the school holidays are around this time as well, in your experience are the sites likely to be very busy if we just turn up and try and get cabins.
Were going to Nord Kapp but thinking about it now having read the various reports Only 2 GSs others are a GT and RT so will be sticking to tarmac all the way. Once we know when and were we are may be we can call in and say hello.