First week
Monday - Tuesday:
Route: Ulm - Bykle
Weather: Partly cloudy - downpour
Distance: 1599km
My plan was to start the trip at around 1700, but during the packing I noticed that I am missing some parts, so I needed to make quick visit to Touratech. Due to this issue, I started my trip couple of hours earlier.
I left from Touratech at 1830 and headed towards north. This was actually a good time to start, because working traffic had already cleared. Overally trip was easy and no issues during the ride. Beforehand I feared mainly the time between morning 0200 and 0300. Usually, during this time I feel most tired. Surprisingly, no issues at this time, I got tired 1 hour later this time. No big issues, I just had breaks more often.
Second time I got really tired was on really boring Danish motorways. This was not a problem either because I had plenty of time, so couple longer breaks and I got safely to the ferry terminal.
I was able to take 1 hour nap on top of the bike, because ferry terminal opened at 0830 (I was there at 0730).
After boarding the ferry, I continued my sleep. Well, it was not really a good sleep, because there was hyperactive kids on a boat. They were yelling, screaming, crying, jumping and running everywhere...
First thing in the Norway was to find a bank and exchange euros to Norwegian currency. I tryed two different banks without luck... Luckily ATM worked.
After getting money, I headed towards north. After few kilometers sky opened and rain just continued and continued. Did not take any photos during the ride, because I did not want my camera to get wet. Short comment from the sceneary: Nice, but nothing breath taking yet.
When rain just continued, I decided to skip camping and started looking a cottage. A bit north from Bykle I found nice one.
Tomorrow should still rain, but then on Thursday onwards weather should get clearer.
Wednesday:
Route: Bykle - Gaupne
Weather: Drizzle - downpour - rain showers - cloudy
Distance: 464km (2063km)
Couple bloodsucking insects disturbed my sleep until they were squashed against the wall :) Didn´t remember how disturbing sound they make.
I slept like a baby until eight. I must have been quite tired after the long ride yesterday. After breakfast I started heading further north. Aim for today was to get as close to Geiranger as possible.
Scenery was nice, small lakes, ponds, waterfalls and fjords. For some reason fjords do not look so amazing as all have said... I do not know why, maybe it is this rainy weather or I just haven´t found really nice fjord yet.
One good thing about the rain, waterfalls and white water rapids are looking really nice!
Today I also saw first norwegean police, no stop, no ticket :)
Planned to do camping today, but after getting to the camping area, I decided that it is safer to sleep in the cottage, othervice I might drown. So much water everywhere.
Thursday:
Route: Gaupne - Rokstong
Weather: Sunny - cloudy - foggy - drizzle - cloudy
Distance: 465km (2528km)
Today I got on the road around 0830. Slowly road climbed up to 1400m. This time weather was on my side so got some photos :) I was a bit disappointed that I did not knew that there was camping almost on the top, would have been really nice place to spend night.
Road to Geiranger was nice, curvy small road. Geiranger fjord was ok, but I do not know why people think this is such an awsome place... 3 large cruise ships were down below in a narrow fjord. This place was really packed with people and cars. I just quickly took photos and continued my trip to Trollstigen.
A bit before I reached Trollstigen road got up to a cloud. Due to this, I could not see anything from the top. On the way down there was nice waterfall. Road on the north side of Trollstigen was ok, really short though. Few hairspins, nothing special. This place was also really packed with cars and camper vans.
Next target was Atlantic coastal road. This place was my main target at this area of Norway. Reason for this is one bridge I have wanted to see and take a photo. Coastal road itself was short but I really liked the bridge. It is not comparable to (for example) Golden Gate, but still worth to see.
After the photos my trip continued pass Kristiansund to a campground. This time I am camping, just hoping that I would not wake to a rain... I really do not like packing wet tent.
Do not understand me wrongly, Geiranger and Trollstigen are worth to see. Maybe I am comparing sceneries too much to the alps and due to this these are nothing earth moving. Well, let´s see what is on ahead.
Friday:
Route: Rokstong - Sandvik
Weather: Cloudy - drizzle - cloudy
Distance: 553km (3081km)
Morning started cloudy, but dry. Nice! After quick breakfast trip continued, almost immediately with one ferry crossing. After riding to the ferry I tested if I can lift up my bike with all the gear on it, Yes, I can! This was not a planned test, for some reason I screwed up with sidestand and after this there was no way to keep it up. Well, no damage to the bike and at least other passengers got some value for their ferry ticket :)
Road was nice, small and twisty all the way to Orkanger, but after this started really boring ride pass Trondheim still towards north. Nicer road started again after I passed "Welcome to north Norway"-sign. In Trofors I stopped to eat something. At the same time news broadcast was telling about the bomb attack and one separate shooting incident.
I had a plan to ride close to Mo I Rana, but around Sandvik I spotted nice looking campground surrounded by lapland sceneary, so camped here for a night.
I guess I need to start making new route plans, because othervice I will run out of road. I will meet couple friends at the eve of Monday somewhere in northern Norway.
Saturday:
Route: Sandvik - Fredvang
Weather: Drizzle - cloudy
Distance: 340km (3421km)
Yesterday evening while I was typing day´s report, it had started to rain. Rained through the night and all the way to the Bodo ferryterminal. I had to pack damp tent (which I do not like), so need to get it dry somehow. Nothing special on today´s ride, except that I crossed Arctic circle.
I missed first ferry to Lofots by 10-15 minutes, then I had to wait around 3 hour for the next ferry. Took around 4 hours to get to the Moskenes in Lofots, best part is that rain had stopped during the ferry cruise. I decided to take first camping area and pitch my tent over there, this way I could also get it dry. I would rank scenery in Lofots top-1 on a route I have taken.
Camping place is a dream. I sit here on the shore of Atlantic ocean, listening birds screaming and ocean rumble. Wind is really strong, but hey, now there is no insects :)
Evening sun colored sky and hills with red color, hopefully some of my photos are ok. This place is pearl on this trip.
Sunday:
Route: Fredvang - Fredvang
Weather: Sunny - partly cloudy
Distance: 198km (3614km)
For the first time during the trip I woke up for the warmth of sun!
Slowly I got up, ate breakfast and started packing my camp.
Friend of mine called me and said that he has some fever, so he need to postpone departure for one day. Excellent! I should not be happy for anyones sickness, but this time I could not help myself. I decided to stay one more night at this excellent camping area (Coordinates: N68° 05.939´ E013° 09.869´).
Today was easy day, I checked surrounding areas, bought some food and did laundry.
Tomorrow trip will continue again.
