Tag: Geiranger

Geiranger to Kristiansund

 

Kim’s turn to drive today and it started scarily with an 11% incline and nine hairpin bends. Luckily we were ahead of most of the coaches but it was still a busy tourist route.

We had a couple of car ferries today the first, about a third of the way along our 130 mile route (you just wouldn’t believe how long it takes to get anywhere in Norway!).  We’re not sure why you would choose a cruise on a ship the size of a small housing estate when you can choose a car ferry!

 

We had a short stop at a beautiful place with a stunning waterfall but this is the picture we have….

 

John made a new friend, Martin from Czech Republic, who is very keen for the UK to remain in the EU. He spends 5 months working in Norway during the summer and comes back again in December for another month selling Christmas trees. Kim was rather jealous of his lifestyle although he does spend his summer living a very tatty caravan!
Next stop, Trollsteigen. Another route similar to the glaciers we have already seen but without the snow. Mountains loomed up around us, waterfalls cascading, rivers running by the side of the road, more hairpin bends, ridiculously steep inclines and descents. This was another truly terrifying route to drive for a Brit that only really potters to Bedford or Luton. Photos really don’t do justice to the drama!

 

The scenery opened out when we left Trollsteigen and, rather than being grateful that the driving became easier, the scenery started to seem a little dull!
Our last treat before arriving in Kristiansund was the Atlantershavsvegen, a route comprising 9 bridges that links a number of islands to the mainland. A stunning drive over the bridge to nowhere..

 

 

We finally arrived in Kristiansund and will save our impressions of the area until tomorrow, other than to say we’ve earned a beer and there is a music festival next to our hotel tonight…. A little different to our wooden hut!

An early start…

Breakfast wasn’t included in our deal for the little wooden hut so we decided to make an early start.

We drove into Geiranger and treated ourselves to locally made cinnamon buns in Ole Cafe – there wasn’t really anything else on offer! Breakfast was fine, but the Americans who arrived shortly after us were not going to be satisfied with a measly bun and wandered off in a huff.
Now to take on today’s challenge of the Trollsteigen and Atlanterhavswegen

An evening in Geiranger

We survived our very long walk into Geiranger for a leisurely dinner – it cost a fortune but it was lovely to eat in a ‘proper’ restaurant. We stuck with drinking local beer (£8/33cl), you need to re-mortgage to drink wine!

 

The meal was lovely, Kim had deer with celeriac, John stayed with the veggie option of quinoa with avocado. Dessert was a shared apple and hazelnut cheesecake. The walk back to our Campinghytter was just right. As we settled down to read on our verandah, we were entertained by the huge cruise ship leaving. Who needs TV when you can watch a ship the size of an 8 storey apartment block sail up a narrow fjord.
Here’s a photo especially for Matt and any chocolate lovers…
Geiranger has its own chocolate maker who drives a Tesla (Teslas are very popular over here and had we’d known the Hertz rent them, we may have upgraded). The logo on the back encourages us to ‘Save the planet, it’s the only one with chocolate’. Even more reason to buy a Tesla……

Sogndal to Geiranger

We woke to sunshine and Sogndal looked a lot prettier. In fact John has chosen his next home. 

Our first stop was the bottom of Boyabreen glacier, the highlight was the cows. According to John, a lot of snot comes out of a cows nose when it sneezes! We’re also experts on H&S for glaciers…..
 

 

 

We had a lovely drive along Nordfjord before grinding to a halt in roadworks. Signs warned of a 30 minute delay which would drive you bonkers in England. Drivers got out of cars and and stood patiently, taking in the scenery.  We’d never seen such a good natured queue and it probably sums up Norwegians. They seem to be very calm and relaxed. We do wonder if that changes in the winter when they don’t see much daylight. Is that when their inner Viking surfaces?
We drove through Olden and encountered our first cruise ship, it completely dwarfed the town which was heaving with passengers desperate to buy souvenirs We kept driving until we found somewhere quieter!

 

We stopped for lunch in Stryn
Next stop, the Gamle Strynefjellsveg. Another amazing drive over a glacier. The poor hire car is really being put through its paces. We were stunned to find a ski lift and small cafe right in the middle of glacier full if enthusiastic snowboarders
Finally we arrived at our little wooden hut in Geiranger. Despite our worst fears, we have our own bathroom and fantastic views. The downsides are we have to make our own beds, clean before we leave and it’s a good 40 minute walk from the town.