Chas and Katrina "Never stop exploring": June 2011

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Another hilly week in Norway


How's that for a day on the fiords

Hoping for a ferry at Helgoroa we made our way towards the jetty and were hopeful when we saw a fellow biker waiting. We asked what time it was leaving only to be disappointed to be told that the ferry season didn't start for 3 days. This meant a very long hilly trip around the fiord to get to Langsund. One hill went from sea level to 135m on a very steep and winding, narrow road. Our toughest day to date and it knocked the stuffing out of us. However we have past through some beautiful towns adjacent to the fiords, where every bay is packed with boats. 23rd of June was midsummers night and we were expecting big time partying with bonefires. A very windy day and huge afternoon thunderstorm storm put pay to the celebrations. It is interesting experiencing the long day light hours and lack of total darkness. The Norwegians stay up very late at night and can be very loud at night. Following days involved more ferry crossings but some don't go on Sundays meaning more miles up / down hills.

Morning tea in Larvik

Norwegian strawberries .... Had to eat the whole punnet as no room in bags!!

They build their bridges high

One of thousands of road tunnels in Norway

Day care centre out for a walk

Oh no Not fluffy dice (Katrina found them on the side of the road)

We had to find a way to get onto this bridge- more pushing up hill!!

Down hill at last...

This could be limestone cliffs on the NZ west coast except the trees are all pine

Chas' favourite camp site todate at Kjonnoya

How does the song go..." Norwegian wood"

Wet ferry ride from Kragano to Stabestad

Enjoying the sun and look at the gradient of the hill

A mountain lake along the way

From sea level upwards and upwards!!!

Only another 8kms to camp...

Monday, June 20, 2011

Sweden to Norway

After a last and exquisite camp site in Sweden we crossed over the border toll bridge at Svinesund into Norway, at this stage with no maps. Hopefully we would come across the national cycle route sign.... which we did!
Stopping at a huge shopping complex in Sarspborg we located maps to take us to Kristiansand. On route we have passed through the fortified town of Fredrickstad, crossed the ferry from Moss to Horten and island hopped to Sandefjord on some cute wee ferries. Weather has been mixed, evidently Norway rains a lot! Look out for our next post, it could well mention "hills" !

Last camp in Sweden

Crossing Sweden Norway border

Fredrickstad old town

Moss harbour

Norwegian cycle route 1

Church near Horten

A one minute ferry ride!!!

Looking the part on OLE 111

The mail boat ferry , Marlborough Sounds style

Sandefjord town centre

Celebrating Norwegian whaling in Sandefjord

Monday, June 13, 2011

Made it North from Goteborg

Despite the lack of maps we managed to navigate sucessfully from our camp south of Goteborg through the city an ended up cycling a 63km day. The terrain has changed considerably and now we are toiling up hills which are getting steeper, in fact we did our first push up a hill yesterday. Biking from the town of Stenungsund across many bridges linking up islands, we camped at another fantastic site on Malo Island. Passed the 2000km mark which is a bit of a milestone for us. From Malo to Hamburgsund our diary note says "a tiring day at the office". Another 58 kms over many hills but fantastic coastal scenery with rocks smoothed from the ice age and great coastal villages like Lysekil, and lush forests. Only 2 or 3 days remaining in Sweden before we cross the border into Norway.