Off to Norway on 22nd, starting to get anxious !

[Bob Jeffries]

Just over a week to go 3 of us leaving on the 22nd May.

Home to Harwich, ferry to HoH, then on to Wilhelmshaven, Cuxhaven, ferry to Kristiansand, then to Lysebotn, Røldal, Ulvik, Flam (2 days), Førde, Geiranger (2 days), Averøy, Namsos, Sandnessjøen, Bodo, ferry to the Loften Islands and Borg (2 days), Junkerdal, Steinkjer, Skeikampen, Åmot, back to Kristiansand and ferry to Emden, HoH and ferry back to Harwich and home.

A 23 day, 4500 mile, adventure to Norway. Started planning in lockdown and now it's almost here, getting excited and anxious - have I remembered everything, will all the passes on our route be clear etc etc.

Once I'm on my way I'll be fine but I'm always a wreck in the week leading up to the start of a big trip.

Any general advice on Norway always greatly appreciated.

 

[barak666]

That will be a great trip - Norway is a brilliant place to ride a motorcycle....just take your time and enjoy the scenery!

 

[deksawyer]

Take a lot more money than you have already planned for.

And have fun.

 

[squibb34]

I guess you are well prepared for the weather - 4 seasons in one day. The forward forecast suggests the first week should be pretty good, but June is likely to be something of a lottery.

Alcohol is ferociously expensive, but your liver will thank you.

Have a great time, take care & watch your speed.

 

[Posh Pete]

Trip report on here from 2013. Wish I was going again! Don't miss the Lofotens. Forego Nordkapp rather than that. Take plenty of pasta and have a dry 3 weeks. You'll love it!

 

[Mzokk]

You will have a cracking time. Did the South west Fjords in 2005 late June. Dalsnibba pass Nr Geiranger was closed due to snow and my missus and I had a room booked at the hotel we were about 12 miles from Geiranger at 4.30pm and had to backtrack via Stryn, Hellesylt, (missed last ferry at 6pm to Geiranger) Stranda>Ferry Ferry to Eidsdal eventually arriving at Geiranger from the North at 8:45. The Hotel kitchens closed at 9pm and I've never seen my misses get showered and dressed as quickly before or since Absolutely the best country I ever visited by motorcycle. BTW everyone speaks perfect English so no issues on that front.

 

[NeilDD]

Have good trip Bob
I'm doinng something similar next month.

Up through Sweden then down through Norway

 

[boatman]

It will be Grand ,,, as other have said DO NOT SPEED , beyond that it’s an easy country to ride , I have been several trips , I find the open space and distances quite addictive .
All the very best for your trip

 

[richardbd]

Take a lot more money than you have already planned for.

And have fun.

This - plus watch out for trolls…

 

[Bob Jeffries]

Thanks for all the advice guys, fingers crossed all the passes will be open, particularly the 4224 to Lysebotn, the 63 to Geiranger and the 63 to Trollstigen. We can get around them OK but it would be a shame to miss them.

We hope to hike to Pulpit Rock, go up the mountain railway in Flam, explore the Loften Islands and pop into the Artic Centre, the Arctic Circle Motorcycle Museum and the Hero's of Telemark Museum.

 

[Traffic893]

If you go anywhere near Førresfjorden, east of Haugesund, the Arquebus Krigshistorisk museum is very good.

 

[2 wheel humvee]

Looking forward to reading about your exploits Bob, have a great trip

 

[Wapping]

Looking forward to reading about your exploits Bob, have a great trip

In eager anticipation of which, the thread is moved.

PS Remember pictures, lots of pictures. Bods like pictures.

PPS I have been presumptive enough to assume the fellow is going by motorbike.

 

[Orinoco]

Aww, come on, I was hoping for at least one photo of 'M'off'

Looking forward to following

 

[Bob Jeffries]

The Three musketeers, me in middle, Keith On the left (Triumph 800) and Mike on the right.

Riding across to Harwich for the 23.00 ferry to HoH.

 

[Kitsilano]

Safe travels and have fun. You and other contributors commenting on their own experiences, continue to push this community forward - in a crazy world, we need your sense of adventure!

 

[Bob Jeffries]

Today the adventure proper started. We took the ferry from Cuxhaven to Kristiansand and so landed in Norway. Fortunately the road to Lysebotn was open despite the 20ft snow banks either side of the road. Tonight we are in a hut at Lysebotn and enjoyed a pint (£8/pint) and food (£18 each) in Oleks pub.

Tomorrow we get an early ferry down the fiord and weather permitting we'll walk to Pulpits Rock before heading to Røldal for the night.

 

[glenn2926]

Please keep updating this. I’m going in August with my lad. Living further North than you I’m going Hull Rotterdam. He lives in Chamonix so I’m meeting him in Hamburg as he’s putting his bike on the train to there.
Great to see some pictures of Norway before we go.
Thanks.

 

[Hairnet600]

nice

i went to lysebotn in 2017 at this time of year - no snow but it rained (i went in via bergen) and i got to where your squiggly road pic was and mist and fog lovely in germany and denmark and rubbish in norway then nice on the way south

found petrol and lodgings not to be as nuts as predicted - done scandinavia numerous times and unless you drink its not so bad

 

[Bob Jeffries]

We're now in Flaam. Rode over two passes yesterday, -1° at the top with blowing horizontal snow and about 5km of intermittent snow on the road. When we dropped down into the valley it was a pleasant 14° and full blue sky, a fabulous ride. Day off riding today then off to Forde tomorrow and Geiranger the day after.