Arrived in Bergen

Barbara from BC, Canada

 We left Stavanger after 2 days of playing the tourist, a very nice town. The route out to the coast started just past the camp ground which made for an easy start. Our traveling companion that day was Barbara from British Columbia. She kept us entertained as we headed towards the ferry at Mekjarvik. Having plenty of time we caught an earlier one that stopped at the island of Kvitsoy, where we spent an hour or so exploring. There are actually 365 small island that make up Kvitsoy commune. Then the ferry arrived to take us to Skuddenshavn, where we said goodbye to Barbara. The next 3 days were superb cycling, through the islands with good weather and stunning scenery, narrow mountain roads... and many hills which we are getting used to. Arriving in Leirvik our camp was one of the nicest we have experienced. The fast ferry to Bergen the next day took us past more rocky outcrop islands in the fiords. Tom, Chas' nephew, was there to meet us and we biked to his house, where to our surprise Sarah, Tom' mother, had arrived the same day.

Kvitsoy... main street

Many of the 365 islands that make up Kvitsoy

Kvitsoy

Waiting for the ferry

Boat festival on Skudenshavn

Map of the islands

Small island community

Narrow mountain roads

Typical bridge linking islands with cycle lanes

Our great  Leirvik camp site

Leirvik market stall

Flutegruten.. fast ferry to Bergen

Sarah and Tom

Norway continued.....

A few wet days and some research revealed lots more big hills.... and discretion being the better part of valour we decided to miss out the biking section from Arendal to Stavanger and use the train. This in itself was a good trip passing through rocky outcrops to sheer sided mountains and long tunnels ( 1 x 8kms and 1x 9kms). Also seen were some spectacular water falls. it was a very,very wet day and was still raining hard when we arrived at the station and to our camp site. We now consider ourselves experts in putting up our tent in the pouring rain whilst keeping everything dry inside. A must do when in Stavanger is to take the 2 hour walking track up to Preikestolen. Breathe taking views... along with the crowds! Stavanger is buzzing right now with international beach volley ball, cruise ships and people on summer holiday. We visited the Petroleum Museum, tracking oil and gas exploration in Norway with models and interactive activities and films. a very state of the art museum. Heading for Bergen tomorrow up through the islands and should be there by 7th July.

Looking back at Stavanger from a ferrry

Small village of Tau as we head into the mountains

Preikestolen display panel

Start of the track

half way there

View down the Lysefjord

Our objective

Katrina waving but not to close to the edge because there is a 604m vertical drop

Shame about the crowd!!!

From the top

Chas' scary crack

Stavanger waterfront

1800s wooden houses

Stavanger waterfront

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...

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