Could not get Google to show route from Trollenstiegen to Andalsnes 🙂
The daily routine included a healthy breakfast with a banana, half an apple and one small orange or some other smaller fruit. Topped with granola and a fruit- or plain-yogurt. And always a cup of green tea with a squeezed lemon juice. So also in Geiranger. The planned distance to Andalsnes led via the Trollenstigen and was only 86 km. But I knew also high up some mountain passes. Still there was no hurry to depart.
Sitting on the dock of the bay
watching the ship roll in…
Last view back to Geiranger Fjord
First stop an Gudbrands Bru (bridge)
Many cataracts
Cutting through the rocks
Moving on uphill again.
Arrival Trollenstigen with grumpy weather. Still astonishing scenery. Astonishing road work engineering.
Great restaurant nearby. Had a coffee and snacks.
To outlook Trollenstigen
Trollenstigen view
Trollenstigen view
On Trollenstigen
It is only a short distance from Trollenstigen to Andalsnes. Found free parking near the harbor. There were three parked Hurtigruten vessels under refurbishment.
I cycled around town with the main aim to find a bicycle shop. I needed some chain oil urgently. The ride on the beach of Hirtshals left salty sand on the gears and chain. Luckily I found one. Peaceful night.
On Monday, 17.08.2020, I left with my motorhome for the north. The plan was to come back to the Lofoten after 2017 and to cycle with the tent and explore this part of the world in more detail.
The only preparation was to select some recommended routes through “beautiful” landscapes from the website of a travel agency for Norway.
Whereby one “must” destination was the Geiranger Fjord.
After one week in the Fjord area the persistent rainy weather motivated to change the plan for this time and head south again much sooner.
Only to find the weather improving on the way to Lillehammer. At the parking up near the “bakken” for the ski jumpers I met a German lady who by accident drove the same brand of motor-home like mine (FIAT Ducato ROTEC) and she voted strongly that I still give it shot. Her Norwegian weather application promises good conditions in the north for the forthcoming week.
I can be influenced so easily… -:) – But I never looked back and had a smashing time on the Lofoten…
Monday, 17.08.2020, Haag to Hamburg
Ready to go from Haag
Crossing into Germany
First signs of lower pressure.
Design +++
Sunset near
Hamburg
On that first day the the excitement to travel again was pushing me until close to Hamburg, some 985 km with few brakes. Stopped then at a highway parking area Rastanlage Harburger Berge West and it did not take long to fall asleep.
Tuesday, 18.08.2020, Hamburg – Aarhus
Fotos Hamburg
Elb Tunnel entrance
and inside
Parking near Altona
Near Altona Fish Market
Ferries all along
Parking vessels
Admin building with a difference.
Elb Philharmonic and guiding motive.
Fotos Kiel
Fotos Flensburg
Shopping at ALDI
Crossing into Denmark
The important rules in Denmark
Fotos Aarhus
Moving mirror
Excellent roads
Aarhus
Free parking
near enough to cycle to town
Wednesday, 19.08.2020, Aarhus – Hirtshals
Fotos
Leaving Aarhus
Go west
Klüvers Holstebro
Shrimp Salad
Fotos Thisted
On
route
to
Thisted
Fotos Aalesund
Mirror
Reality
Fotos Hirtshals in later afternoon. Waiting for the ferry next morning.
Monday, 24.08.2020, Oevre-Ardal – Geiranger, 195 km, 2.000 m plus altitude.
Proposed
ACTUAL
I had two options from the Navi and asked a couple which was on an early morning walk. They recommended the road over the mountains “Fardalvegen” as more beautiful. So I did. The very first ascent from Oevre was so steep so that I needed to use first gear in every hair pin bend. Unfortunately no hand free to take photos, only further up.
Quiet parking lot.
At the lake.
Fardalvegen
Vehicle and
Energy transfer
What goes up must go down
Turtagro Hotel
A long time up at 1.400 m
In memoriam
Nature creates forms
Right of way…
Wooden Church Lom
Fantastic location
Tight bends again
First view to Geiranger
Happy about first goal achieved
Typical church architecture
Camping at the Geiranger Fjord.
Summary until here:
My motorhome and I weathered the storms and were quite pleased to have arrived at Geiranger. Even in this dull weather it surpassed my imagination. As so many times before, changing a dream into reality is fantastic.
The following stages of the tour around Norway will be in a new post.
Summary of the day: Driving to town with motor-home because of distance and time. Then take the bike in town and find a charming, elegant and calm place. Finally heading westwards to Sweden through the typical Scandinavian landscape with waterfalls rivers, peaks and valleys.
Summary: For the risk of sounding repetitive, great roads, great landscapes, enjoyable driving. Arrived on time, found parking near old town and manage part one of bike tour around the city.
Summary: Chatted yesterday to the lady at the reception of the camp site and found out that there is a ferry from Lodingen to Bognes to short cut quite a distance via Bjerkvik. Still another demanding day after that with lots of road works and tunnel after tunnel. Most of them narrow and poorly lit. Great highlight to visit the Arctic Circle Center.
Camping in Korgen was informal next to the main school:
From the ferry:
From the road:
Arctic Circle Center
Afternoon and after driving entertainment in Korgen.
Summary: Short trip with again beautiful scenery as you would expect. Drove until I found a suitable camping site and then took the bike for further explorations. Reality exceeding my expectations.
Summary: Another day with the typical Norwegian Fjords and the winding roads along them. I was actually heading for Narvik when it stroke me to test the Lofoten Island Group. They are advertised in every cruise to the North Kapp. In Bjerkvik I turned right instead of straight and I was in. Never regret.
Summary: Despite the good road network I fell very tired about 1 hour before Tromsoe. Pulled over to a parking lot and took a long power nap. Worked very well. I did find an informal parking spot by luck, moved around with the bike in traditional fashion and enjoyed every minute there.
From the road:
Exploring Tromsoe:
Ishavskatedralen
Old friends
During cycling around the peninsula the weather cleared up just for my ride. Another day to be grateful.
Overnight parking in the background of a Motor-home dealership 🙂
As it was daylight all night through I could start exploring the area. I was on high adrenaline levels because of the achievement of 4.517 km in 12 days of driving and because of the gratefulness to be allowed to experience a dream coming true.
In the restaurant I met a lady from England in my age group 60+ who cycled up from Greece in two months. Respect, respect.
Meeting hall with restaurant.
00:00
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Grateful for that weather with midnight sun, a 4.500 km trip without any incident but with uncountable places of interest, beautiful countries, capitals, cities, castles and museums.
