All is not lost, if you buy a coffee cup for 149nok (£17) at Statoil petrol station you get free refills for the rest of the year. Normally cup of coffee 20nok so at least two a day for the rest of the trip and I'm quids in.
Posted on the go
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
Norway saga day5 part1
Weather still sunny and slept fine last night . I've brought a bottle of whisky with me for a few tots of an evening, but had a craving for a beer last night. Off to the local supermarket and get two cans of Tuborg's finest. The shop robbed me of 42nok which makes a 500ml can of cooking lager about £2.50 each. So that makes it Uk pub prices in the supermarket - I'll have to pluck up courage and phone the bank manager to go in a local pub, but I remember paying about £8.50 for a pint in Bergen a few years ago.
All is not lost, if you buy a coffee cup for 149nok (£17) at Statoil petrol station you get free refills for the rest of the year. Normally cup of coffee 20nok so at least two a day for the rest of the trip and I'm quids in.
Posted on the go
All is not lost, if you buy a coffee cup for 149nok (£17) at Statoil petrol station you get free refills for the rest of the year. Normally cup of coffee 20nok so at least two a day for the rest of the trip and I'm quids in.
Posted on the go
Norway day5 part2
Another boat journey awaits to take me over to Lofoten Islands. It's 266nok (£32) one way, bike & me for the 4 hour trip.
It seems I've spent more time at sea than on the road. Meet a Norwegian couple on a brand new K1600 and spend the trip gassing about this& that. Must have a few bob between them as he's ridden up and she's flown over from Oslo to Bodo to meet him to do the bike trip.
In the que for the boat, a Swiss couple in a campervan have just boiled the kettle for a brew and offer me one, and then a german guy offers me the use of a camping chair to sit in the sun whilst we wait - what nice people!!
The iPod & iPhone are a bit low on charge ( no power in a tent!) but I charged them up a bit last night with an adapter off the bike. However there are power sockets at each table on the boat, so that's a tip for next time. No good to me today as I've left the chargers on the bike which is strapped to the car deck with no access when underway.
It seems I've spent more time at sea than on the road. Meet a Norwegian couple on a brand new K1600 and spend the trip gassing about this& that. Must have a few bob between them as he's ridden up and she's flown over from Oslo to Bodo to meet him to do the bike trip.
In the que for the boat, a Swiss couple in a campervan have just boiled the kettle for a brew and offer me one, and then a german guy offers me the use of a camping chair to sit in the sun whilst we wait - what nice people!!
The iPod & iPhone are a bit low on charge ( no power in a tent!) but I charged them up a bit last night with an adapter off the bike. However there are power sockets at each table on the boat, so that's a tip for next time. No good to me today as I've left the chargers on the bike which is strapped to the car deck with no access when underway.
Location:Bodo - Moskenes
Norway saga day4
Mosjoen to Bodo 248 miles
What a day! Couldn't believe the weather - blue skies and sunshine, and more of the same for tomorrow. As promised, up to Mo i Rana on the E6 and then west to pick up the 17 North Coastal highway. Catch the one hour ferry from Kilboghamn to Jetvika (82nok). It's whilst on this I cross the arctic circle - the boat sounds it's horn as we cross it and there is a marker on a nearby islet - a wire pyramid with a wire globe on it which you just may make out in the pic about one third along from the left.
Scenery like Scotlands north west, but on steroids. Snow capped mountains and glaciers everywhere you look, with the sea dotted with mountainous islands.
GPS says above arctic circle which is 66deg 33mins north!! That's a milestone for me on my travels and one of the reasons for coming to Norway.
Time now to catch another boat from Agskardet to Foroy (43nok), only 10 minutes on this one
Once off this, the main attraction is The Svartisen glacier
More miles of stunning views but a few long tunnels as well before the Saustrumen bridge at the end of the road near Bodo
With the weather spot on, time to get the tent out. Another tick in the box, this time camping above the arctic circle - sounds hardcore, just have to not mention the weather. It's 100nok for the pitch at Bodosjoen Camping and the hytte are only 350nok for a twin. For that you get electric lighting & a two ring cooker. Bear that in mind for next time.
This is the view from the campsite in Bodo, pity it's near the airport!!
What a day! Couldn't believe the weather - blue skies and sunshine, and more of the same for tomorrow. As promised, up to Mo i Rana on the E6 and then west to pick up the 17 North Coastal highway. Catch the one hour ferry from Kilboghamn to Jetvika (82nok). It's whilst on this I cross the arctic circle - the boat sounds it's horn as we cross it and there is a marker on a nearby islet - a wire pyramid with a wire globe on it which you just may make out in the pic about one third along from the left.
Scenery like Scotlands north west, but on steroids. Snow capped mountains and glaciers everywhere you look, with the sea dotted with mountainous islands.
GPS says above arctic circle which is 66deg 33mins north!! That's a milestone for me on my travels and one of the reasons for coming to Norway.
Time now to catch another boat from Agskardet to Foroy (43nok), only 10 minutes on this one
Once off this, the main attraction is The Svartisen glacier
More miles of stunning views but a few long tunnels as well before the Saustrumen bridge at the end of the road near Bodo
With the weather spot on, time to get the tent out. Another tick in the box, this time camping above the arctic circle - sounds hardcore, just have to not mention the weather. It's 100nok for the pitch at Bodosjoen Camping and the hytte are only 350nok for a twin. For that you get electric lighting & a two ring cooker. Bear that in mind for next time.
This is the view from the campsite in Bodo, pity it's near the airport!!
Monday, 13 June 2011
Norway saga day3
Oslo to Mosjoen - 596 miles
Couple of detours as the E6 was shut in 3 places due to the recent flooding. First detour was just after Lillehammer which took us over the river and a small road parallel to the E6 but on the other bank - the 312 & 319? - coming back across at Tretten. Half along it the tarmac gave out and it was compacted dirt/gravel. (Steve would have been horrified and Nige would have accused me of going down it on purpose if they had been there!!)
Over to Tretten and the E6 via this bridge, but only get as far as Ringebu before the road shut again due to the high water level.
The E6 is in the middle of the bottom picture - you can see a crossroads.
So, the second detour takes me over the E27 Rondevegen, a road I was going to use anyhow, then west along the E29 to rejoin the E6 north of Dombas.
Somewhere at the top of the Rondane - landscape is bare with peaks on one side and a few small lakes, but mostly stunted trees, lichen and patches of moss .
Weathers been ok up to about 11:00am then it gets greyer, and wetter and then just drizzles until about 16:00 just in time for the third detour of the day which ends up being nearly 40 miles long!! The bit of E6 closed was only about 20miles. This happens about 60 miles north of Grong and the detour is along a single track road with passing places, number 274? - it runs along two lakes. There's passing places but no one wants to stop and give way with the inevitable squeeze past between passing places. Comical to watch on the bike as there's plenty of room for me! Works ok in Scotland.
Anyhow I get back on the E6 at Grane, leaving just another 35 miles to get to the hostel at Mjavatn, north of Mosjoen. I'm the only one staying tonight, so have the run of a twenty room block. Not bad for 380NOK (£43) including breakfast.
Tomorrow, up to Moi Rana, then westwards to pick up Highway 17 and along the coast to Bodo - maybe!!
View Larger Map
Couple of detours as the E6 was shut in 3 places due to the recent flooding. First detour was just after Lillehammer which took us over the river and a small road parallel to the E6 but on the other bank - the 312 & 319? - coming back across at Tretten. Half along it the tarmac gave out and it was compacted dirt/gravel. (Steve would have been horrified and Nige would have accused me of going down it on purpose if they had been there!!)
Over to Tretten and the E6 via this bridge, but only get as far as Ringebu before the road shut again due to the high water level.
The E6 is in the middle of the bottom picture - you can see a crossroads.
So, the second detour takes me over the E27 Rondevegen, a road I was going to use anyhow, then west along the E29 to rejoin the E6 north of Dombas.
Somewhere at the top of the Rondane - landscape is bare with peaks on one side and a few small lakes, but mostly stunted trees, lichen and patches of moss .
Weathers been ok up to about 11:00am then it gets greyer, and wetter and then just drizzles until about 16:00 just in time for the third detour of the day which ends up being nearly 40 miles long!! The bit of E6 closed was only about 20miles. This happens about 60 miles north of Grong and the detour is along a single track road with passing places, number 274? - it runs along two lakes. There's passing places but no one wants to stop and give way with the inevitable squeeze past between passing places. Comical to watch on the bike as there's plenty of room for me! Works ok in Scotland.
Anyhow I get back on the E6 at Grane, leaving just another 35 miles to get to the hostel at Mjavatn, north of Mosjoen. I'm the only one staying tonight, so have the run of a twenty room block. Not bad for 380NOK (£43) including breakfast.
Tomorrow, up to Moi Rana, then westwards to pick up Highway 17 and along the coast to Bodo - maybe!!
View Larger Map
Sunday, 12 June 2011
Norway saga day2
The bikes not going anywhere!! This is how the crew strapped it down, talk about thorough. Methinks the guy has a bit of a bondage fetish going on the number of straps used. Check out the wheel chocks as well.
Last night was spent in herein the Tor Begonia drinking beer with an English and a Swedish trucker whilst watching five episodes of 'allo allo' one after the other. Brilliant!!
The boat got in to gothenburg at 14:00. Five hours and 250 miles later I've stopped north of Oslo at a place near gardermoen. Early night for an early start for the trek to Lofoten Islands - going to take 2 days to do it- watch this space
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Saturday, 11 June 2011
Norway Saga 2011
View of Immingham dock and coal import facility from the deck of Tor Begonia. Theres coal dust everywhere, even inside the little blue portacabin I was waiting in earlier. If you can make out four chimney stacks in the middle background, that's where i earn the dosh that let's me go on these jaunts!
Cabin fine, en suite and the mess room and day roomjust down the corridor. Another hour before we sail.
Norway Saga 2011
I'm on me way. Now at Immingham waiting to get loaded on the freighter Tor Begonia which will take me across the north sea to Gothenburg, Sweden. As you can see, luxury waiting facilities on offer, by that I mean the windows are intact and the roof looks weatherproof. I'm not going to check the toilet out, I'll wait till I get on the boat.
Posted on the go
Posted on the go
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