2Likes
|
|
24 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 6
|
|
Norway, July 2011
Sorry -- this is a pretty long post. My husband and I are planning a two week trip to Norway next July. We’re going to rent bikes in Kristiansand and… well, assuming this is a reasonable itinerary, here's what we'd like to do:
1 – Arrive in Kristiansand
2 – Rent bikes, ride to Hara via Rte. 9
3 – Ride to Gudvangen via Hardanger tourist road, ferry to Laerdal, Aurland mountain road, spend night in Aurland area
4 – Ride to Lom via Valdresfrye tourist road
5 – Ride to Stryn via Sognefjellet tourist road
6 – Stay in Stryn; maybe day trip to Vagsoy
7 – Ride to Alesund via Geiranger ferry and Trollstigen
8 – Stay in Alesund, ride to Atlantic Road
9 – Stay in Alesund
10 – Ride to Jolster
11 – Ride to Bergen via Gaularfjellet tourist road and Balestrand
12 – Ride to Stavanger
13 – Ride to Kristiansand – either via Jaeren tourist road or via Lysefjord ferry, Lysebotn road and Sirdal
14 – Return bikes. Zoo. Sleep.
15 – Return home.
I’ve tried to keep the days around 200 miles or less, and maybe 8 hours a day on the bikes with ferries and occasional breaks (we’re fine with 250 mile days in the mountains here in the southeastern US, and we’re okay with riding in the rain). I’m sure I’m overthinking this, but since it’s our first motorcycle trip outside the US and we’re not at all familiar with the country (yet), I want to make sure I haven’t set us up for something we can’t do.
So… does this plan make sense?
(I told you it would be long. Thanks for reading all of this.)
|
24 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Herts
Posts: 5
|
|
I Spent 3 weeks in Norway a couple of years ago. Take lots of money, plenty of wet weather gear and have fun. Speed limits are are low and beware of the hefty fines in you're caught speeding. The mileage is ok, although it may take longer then you think. (The Alps/Dolomites are more spectacular)
|
24 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Oslo, Norway.
Posts: 10
|
|
Hi Karen,
Sounds like a great trip!
Regarding point no. 3, from Gudvangen to Aurland:
it's a short trip in a tunnel, you don't need a ferry The area is spectacular, and you will not be disappointed by the Aurland mountain road!
Check this link:
Ukjent vei til Rute 50 - Google Maps
Good luck!
|
24 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Italy
Posts: 55
|
|
Hello Karen, to be honest I didn't looked every stop of your itinerary, but I rode that region in 2005 and I think it's not difficult to respect that itinerary, if you are a little elastic.
I think you'll be happy of your choice: Norway is a wonderful country, mainly in the region you want to visit.
Yes, as George1 told you, prices are very high, but you can spare lot of money cooking by yourself or eating at the fuel stations, and sleeping in campsites.
Campsites are everywhere and if you choose hytte (bungalows) you will be very comfortable.
On the other side, if money is not a problem, we wrote for nothing...
I wrote something about my itinerary here, if you are interested: Fiordi norvegesi 2005
Google translator can help you.
Bye
|
24 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Staffordshire. uk
Posts: 766
|
|
Try this write up for some good info...
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/cou...n-a-shoestring
Coming from the states the cost of fuel will astound you, $9 a gallon! However, we're paying almost that much here in the UK. One thing that will be of help to you is making sure your credit card will work in their gas pumps. Generally people pay at the pump there. It will save you lots of time as you can wait a long time inside the gas station to get served. They're the local store and sell hot food as well. The hotdogs are usually pretty good along with their coffee. There is no problem finding gas in Norway generally especially in the area you're travelling in but make sure you fill up before you go over the mountains. I was there this year and cabins were around NOK 350. Camping around NOK 150. That was for 1 person, it may be more for 2. Don't get hung up on the cost of stuff, if you want just buy it in the supermarkets at around $2 a can. Outside of the main cities you won't find bars anyway except in hotels. You can pay up to $12 for a pint! Bergen is a lovely city and if you don't mind getting drunk at 5 in the afternoon check out when happy hour is as they practically give the stuff away.
Your route sounds pretty good. Remember that you'll be stopping a lot to take photo's though. There will be amazing views around every corner! Hardanger and the Trollstigen are some of my favourites. When you leave Kristiansand there is a nice alternative to the 9 on the 41. It follows the valley and there are some great views. I'd say that almost every road in that area is spectacular especially once you get onto the plateau and in the fjords, you can't go wrong. In the west it will rain, I can guarantee it, so be prepared. On your way to Geiranger on the 63 it's worth visiting Dalsnibba viewpoint for some spectacular photo's looking down into Geirangerfjord.
Have a wonderful time.
|
24 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 6
|
|
Thanks so much for the advice.
We've also got a direct-route itinerary, in case we get stuck anywhere -- fewer miles, skipping stops, that sort of thing -- and we're prepared for the possibility that we won't be able to go everywhere we'd like. But we're going to try.
We're doing mostly camping cabins, and getting food from gas stations and supermarkets. I'm actually relieved to hear gas is $9 a gallon -- I had figured about $10. (Good to know I'm not completely clueless about this!) We're putting away some cash for this and trying to budget around $150-$200 a day, but we'll be bringing a credit card just in case. Money's not really a problem now, but it probably will be when this trip is over.
The Gudvangen-Laerdal ferry is included just because we're tourists and we want to ride the boat. The road over the mountain is one of the things we can skip if the weather makes it difficult. If we don't have to skip it, we'll be in the tunnel the next day on the way to Lom.
And with the happy hour info, my husband's very much looking forward to Bergen now.
So... rain gear, money, camera (preferably waterproof). I think we're set.
Thanks again!
|
24 Oct 2010
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: york
Posts: 265
|
|
If you check out posts from indu, he has a link to his info on Norway, and being from Oslo, it's inside information. If I understood computers better I could have put in a link but......
__________________
Anything can happen in the next half hour
|
24 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 6
|
|
Oothef, no worries about the link. His blog was how I found this site, and I've read a lot of what he's written here and at his blog. You're right, he provides a lot of good info.
Thanks!
|
25 Oct 2010
|
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: york
Posts: 265
|
|
Great, no one mentions midges, if they're anything like in Scotland it could be worth your while investigating and investing in repellents, Avon "skin so soft" seems to be highly rated(by the Royal Marines, known for their skin care expertise).
__________________
Anything can happen in the next half hour
Last edited by oothef; 25 Oct 2010 at 01:49.
Reason: wrong insect
|
25 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Aussie expat in Switzerland half way RTW
Posts: 611
|
|
Nordkap and Norway
Hi Karen & Hubby,
We are planning a similar trip but maybe a little earlier in the year, May and June. Who knows we might cross paths on the way down so perhaps we could meet up for a or something.
Actually on that note, my partner who is Norwegian coming from north of the Artic Circle in Sortland knows a lot about Norway and we'd be happy to share some of our knowledge of Norway with you.
It's important to note that eating and drinking out is prohibitively expensive, and I don't mean by a few dollars I mean by 300-1000% more expensive!
Don't plan on too many nights out, it'll eat your budget.
Also if you plan on camping, then it's helpful to know that it is your civil right in Scandinavia to camp anywhere. You can camp anywhere even on private property by not within (don't quote me) I think 50m of a house. You can use wood that you find (no chopped firewood) to make a fire. If on Private property you may be requested to move on after 1 day.
This is a good way to save money...
|
25 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 6
|
|
Correction -- the hubby now says "thanks anyway" for the Bergen info. He can't go. New job -- he checked today at work, and he won't have accrued enough vacation time by then.
I'm going, though (with his blessing, lucky for him -- I mean, lucky for me. Not lucky for him. I wouldn't have made his life hell if he'd tried to stop me, I swear. ) It's a shame he won't be there, but it's more money left over for another trip in 2012.
Oothef, it's funny that you mentioned Skin So Soft. My niece sells Avon, and I've already planned to order it. Now the poor girl wishes she lived closer so she could give me a pretty makeover -- I just want the bug repellent.
TurboCharger, have a safe trip. It looks like I'll miss you and your partner by a couple of weeks, but I'll gladly accept any knowledge you can share. My big thing was getting the route down, which I guess I've finally done. I guess now I have to find out the practical stuff. Tolls? Ferries? And of course I have an American credit card with no chip -- am I correct in thinking I might be better off just hitting an ATM every day and paying cash for everything? I don't like carrying cash if I don't have to, but I also don't want to be stuck unable to pay for things.
Thanks!
|
25 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 521
|
|
Hi Karen
Your itinerary is reasonable. It's a magnificent area you'll be visiting! :-)
More info on motorcycle travel in Norway here:
Budget travel in Norway - Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict
Oh, and welcome!
|
28 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Georgia, USA
Posts: 6
|
|
Indu, thanks for all of the info you've provided here and at your site. It's been a huge help to me in planning this.
|
29 Oct 2010
|
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: Oslo, Norway
Posts: 521
|
|
You're welcome. I'm glad the site is useful :-)
|
10 Nov 2010
|
|
Registered Users
HUBB regular
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: Catalonia
Posts: 31
|
|
Hi Karen,
Thanks for ths post, I too am planning a Scandanavia trip next summer and it's been really useful to see the replies to your queries about Norway.
I think we're most likely to be ships-that-pass-in-the-night but you never know. If my trip gets off the ground I'll try to do a on-line blog about it and perhaps we might coincide somewhere
Cheers and good luck
Simon
__________________
Blogging around Iberia
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
Next HU Events
ALL Dates subject to change.
2024:
- California: April 18-21
- Virginia: April 25-28
- Germany Summer: May 9-12
- Québec: May 17-19
- Bulgaria Mini: July 5-7
- CanWest: July 11-14
- Switzerland: August 15-18
- Ecuador: August 23-25
- Romania: August 30-Sept 1
- Austria: September 12-15
- France: September 20-22
- Germany Autumn: Oct 31-Nov 3
2025 Confirmed Events:
- Virginia: April 24-27 2025
- Queensland is back! May 2-4 2025
- Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 2025
- CanWest: July 10-13 2025
- Switzerland: Date TBC
- Ecuador: Date TBC
- Romania: Date TBC
- Austria: Sept. 11-15
- California: September 18-21
- France: September 19-21 2025
- Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2 2025
Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!
Questions about an event? Ask here
See all event details
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Lots more comments here!
Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook
"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
New to Horizons Unlimited?
New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!
Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.
Read more about Grant & Susan's story
Membership - help keep us going!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.
|
|
|