(yet another thread about a) trip to Nordkapp June 2010 (this time from Glasgow)

[GringoRojo]

Hi all, sorry for what seems like repeating someone else's post but just thought it would be easier for us to manage the info specific to our route/requirements.

We're planning a 4 week trip to Nordkapp from Glasgow next summer. At the moment there are three of us - my mate Richard on his GS1200A, my wife on her new F650GS and me on my Fazer1000.

Due to the ferry companies stopping the Newcastle-Gothenburg/Stanvanger routes we're having hop across the North Sea from Harwich to Esbjerg. (travel down to Harwich is sorted though as we're cutting out approx 800+ miles of British Motorway by lobbing the bikes on Richard's trailer and driving down in his biodiesel Landy where we're leaving it with very helpful friends)
We then stop a night in Copenhagen before getting another ferry to Oslo where the real riding begins. We've not set the exact route yet, but are planning to head up through Norway via Bergen, Trondhiem, Bodo, Tromso to Nordkapp then heading back down through Sweden somehow to Oslo for the return ferry.
We're planning doing some camping to keep costs down and mileage won't be massive each day & Mrs Gringo has been browsing brochures for things to see/do/roads to ride.

So, to my first questions...
are there any must see/do roads/sights/activities?
given that I have a road bike what are the road surfaces like further north?


cheers in advance

 

[Wicker]

I did the Bergen to Nordkapp run in June 2006 on a BMW R1200ST. Roads in Norway are a delight. Generally equivalent to A roads in the UK but with a better road surface.

I did come across one 50 mile stretch in northern Finland which was a graded gravel road but the bike managed okay if you stayed in the narrow strips compacted by other vehicles.

Biggest hazard for the rider is wandering reindeer which are very common above Narvik and you will invariably meet a few on the road. Also be aware that some fjord side roads suddenly narrow to one lane usually with a blind bend thrown in for good measure; the prevalence of skid marks in these areas is a good sign to exercise caution.

I am hoping that the direct Newcastle to Norway ferry will be reinstated some time soon as I want to to go back but cannot be bothered with the run to Harwich and epxenses of two ferry crossings. Also worth making sure you ahve good tyres. I did nearly 4,000 miles in 2 1/2 weeks and that was starting from Bergen which is reasonably far up Norway.

 

[LivNorway]

Give this link a try:
http://ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2038917#post2038917

Liv.

 

[Gav]

Hi Gringo

Enjoy your trip. The times I've been in Norway, the roads were generally O.K.. I would say that Scotland has among the worst road surfaces in Europe.
There may still be a bit of snow about on the mountain passes in the south in June, though and some might even be blocked. Liv might be able to go into more detail on this.

Camping's good in Norway. I've used campsites and rough camped. The good thing about the sites in Norway is the huts- very useful when it rains, which it does a lot.

 

[aRTy_Hexhead]

"Scotland has among the worst road surfaces in Europe"

You obviously have not been down the west coast of Ireland!!!

Scotland's roads are billiard smooth and snooker cue straight in comparison!!

 

[Farmer Palmer]

Hi all, sorry for what seems like repeating someone else's post but just thought it would be easier for us to manage the info specific to our route/requirements.

We're planning a 4 week trip to Nordkapp from Glasgow next summer. At the moment there are three of us - my mate Richard on his GS1200A, my wife on her new F650GS and me on my Fazer1000.

Due to the ferry companies stopping the Newcastle-Gothenburg/Stanvanger routes we're having hop across the North Sea from Harwich to Esbjerg. (travel down to Harwich is sorted though as we're cutting out approx 800+ miles of British Motorway by lobbing the bikes on Richard's trailer and driving down in his biodiesel Landy where we're leaving it with very helpful friends)
We then stop a night in Copenhagen before getting another ferry to Oslo where the real riding begins. We've not set the exact route yet, but are planning to head up through Norway via Bergen, Trondhiem, Bodo, Tromso to Nordkapp then heading back down through Sweden somehow to Oslo for the return ferry.
We're planning doing some camping to keep costs down and mileage won't be massive each day & Mrs Gringo has been browsing brochures for things to see/do/roads to ride.

So, to my first questions...
are there any must see/do roads/sights/activities?
given that I have a road bike what are the road surfaces like further north?


cheers in advance

Hi Gringo Rojo,

Sounds like a great trip. I've been up to the Nordkapp twice(2003/2007) both in late May and the weather in the north was very, very cold with snow on the way to the Russian border at Kirkenes! All the roads i've used in norway have been better than here in Scotland. There was only one pothole near the Arctic Circle at a bridge and it was filled in on the way back south.....!

In 2007 we just went up to the Arctic Circle in Norway/Sweden again in late May and the weather was cold at the A/C but fantastic everywhere else on the trip. It was Mrs P's first trip on her own bike an F650GS and she enjoyed the empty roads and good weather.

I really like 'Norways Arctic Highway' the 'Blood Road' or E6 and although some people think it's boring with its 80/90kph speed limits I thinks its great with plenty of fuel and good cheap Hytte Hut accommodation. If you want to get there fast though use the Inlandsbann in Sweden it has a speed limit of 110kph.

Check out

Norways Arctic Highway
Mo i Rana to Kirkenes by John Douglas(The Road To The Top of Europe)

ISBN I873756 73 9

Its a great book and it tells you a lot of information about the road, its history and good information about travel up there etc.

we're heading back up to the Nordkapp again in 2010 again in the last week of May but this time we're riding Buell Ulysses's instead of BM's.

FP.

 

[wully]

Why go all the way to Copenhagen when you could head north from Esbjerg to the top of Jylland and take a ferry from there?
The roads in Denmark are pretty straight and boring......

 

[1Rider]

PoE

As said, if you don't have to, avoid Copenhagen, save km, money and time. From the nothern tip of Denmark you have several good options. The best is probably to aim for Kristiansand. Once there you may pic and choose among several routes... If you can, stay flexible and up to date on WX forecast. Most of the places I know are nicer in sunny Wx

 

[Gav]

Hi aRTy_Hexhead

No, I haven't been down the west coast of Ireland but I did go up it this summer. Perhaps the side I was on was better.

I don't know what roads in Scotland you are referring to when you say billiard smooth and I wouldn't say snooker cue straight sounds very appealing.

Anyway, I did say among the worst. Perhaps the Irish roads are on a par.

Gringo, I would second what Farmer Palmer said about John Douglas' book. It's very detailed with a mile by mile account of the road from Mo to Kirkenes.

 

[wknight]

I too am heading to the Arctic Circle end of May 2010 and have decided to take the same ferry route as you because it gives us a chance to see Copenhagen before the overnight trip to Oslo.

Enjoy your trip, we will be on a 1200GS and a 650GS

 

[GringoRojo]

sorry for not responding before now, been having login problems n stuff.

thanks for all the replies, can't remember the reason for going through Copenhagen rather than heading to the top end, but we're actually looking forward to our overnight stay there. as me and mrs Gringo are wildlife watchers we're happy to have an extra set of mini cruises for some seawatching. we might do the bridge to Sweden and back (just because it's there )

our route has evolved a bit in that we're now thinking of heading straight up to the cape over 3-4 days then meander our way back down taking our time, but if we have to dash for the Oslo ferry we won't have too far to go. that means we have time for the Atlantic Highway and the Lofoten islands - likely taking a ferry down to Bodo and spending time in what seems to be the more scenic south.

but feel free to contradict and suggest ideas. we'll try to get a look at that book too.