Ferries - harwich esbjerg shouldn't be too bad with 2 of you if you book well enough in advance - paid about £150 return last june in a group. Worked out cheaper than tunnel + fuel. It's really expensive on board though for food & drink, think £5 a pint.
From Esbjerg go north, various ferry routes to Norway from Fredrikshaven

You can always go Newcastle (north shields) to Amsterdam ( Ijmuiden) Cos its a long miserable ride from Scotland down to Harwich. Wheras at least its a nice ride ( 1 day) from Amsterdam north around the coast of holland to Germany and up into Denmark. Ferries still quite expensive.

We will arrive on June 2nd in Stavanger and start from there all the way up to Hammerfest and then into Finland, Russia etc...

This is our idea of route, after checking with a bunch of really nice Norwegian guys on another forum. Just copy paste the link into google and you should be able to see the route...:

http://www.wanderingsouls.be/allerlei/NORWAY.GPX

We planned on doing this in three weeks, so if anybody is up to it, we will be along this track from June 2 till June 23 something like that, feel free to contact us to hook up!!! We will be two and both driving DRZ's 400E

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www.wanderingsouls.be

Hi Jake
The mini meet is likely to clash with my other holiday plan. But will get in touch closer to the meet. Inverness is on the way to Cannich.
Regards
Badrakumar

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Chandrasekharan Badrakumar
Stainton, North Yorkshire, UK

Newcastle to Amsterdam ferry operate convenient hours. You wake up fresh to take the road. Let me sit on the desk and do some planning.
Thanks everybody for all the suggestions

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Chandrasekharan Badrakumar
Stainton, North Yorkshire, UK

Wife, dog and myself visited Norway with Motor home late August/early September last year. It was very wet in the western fjords. Apparently the Nordkapp had a nice dry summer! Supposedly the wettest summer in living memory.

I plan on returning this year with the bike.

Norway is pretty expensive and the Norwegian Kroner has increased in value against the Euro since we were there, plus fuel has universally increased in price. Last year, diesel was 23% more expensive than in Germany (but diesel in Germany is cheaper than petrol in Germany - unlike in the UK). Top up your fuel in Hirtshals before the Colorline Ferry crossing to Norway.

Food is 2-2.5 times more expensive than in Germany (but German food prices are probably cheaper than in the UK). Buy a mug of coffee at the Statoil station and get free coffee top ups for the year (or as long as your holiday lasts). Take as much of your food and booze with you. Buy fresh foods at the local supermarkets. Tap water is OK to drink. No need for bottled water.

We went Hirtshalls (Denmark) to Larvik (Norway) and would have preferred to return via Christiansand/Hirtshals, but it was fully booked for vehicles.

Don't speed as a speeding fine will seriously damage your wallet and enjoyment of Norway. Speed limit is generally 80km/h (50 mph) except on the motorway, which is usually 100km/h Larvik to Oslo.

Norwegian school holidays start mid June and many Norwegians head south. Road from Larvik to Oslo on Sunday evening was very slow due to the Norwegians returning from their weekend cottages and caravans in the summer.

Scenery is spectacular. Take your time. Many high level passes are closed until beginning June due to snow (especially the fun hairpin roads).

Norwegians all very friendly and most speak good enough English and are very helpful.

If on a bike, you won't pay road tolls or the environmental tolls at the entrance to large cities like Oslo, Stavanger, etc. But you will have to pay a toll for the tunnel to Mageroya (Nordkapp) plus an exhorbitant fee to visit the artificial structures at the 'official' Nordkapp itself for 48hours. The Mageroya toll is due to be removed once the construction costs have been repaid late 2012/2013.

I think there is one other toll for bikes around about Trondheim. You have to pay for ferries of course, but cheaper than cars, etc.

Wild camping is allowed 150m away from the nearest buildings, cropped fields, gardens, etc. for one night. Official camp sites usually have free WiFi included in the price. Showers may or may not be extra.

Great biking roads and scenery. Enjoy.

Grey Beard

Yep, it is popular in season with lots of folks travelling south from Scotland to take this route; I suggest you also check if anyone is running a ferry route between the Firth of Forth and the continent - this has been a "summer only" option in the past - never used it, but I think it has been offered by DFDS (could have been P&O?).

ps Greybeard provides a good summary; Stavanger comes across as even more expensive than the rest of Norway because of its use as a base for the oil industry - about 6 years ago, a steak and chips + 1/4 bottle of wine came in at £86 per head, purchased in a hotel near the harbour.

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Dave

It looks like I have chosen an expensive destination for my first European trip. But it is a safe country I understand from all of you. Of course plenty of natural beauty. I am also reading Lonely Planet as well.

Recently I changed my Transalph to BMW R1200GS not the adventure version though because of height issues. So to get used to the bike I am planning a trip to Brighton.

Please pour me with more info. Every bit of information I get from this forum is useful.

Thanks
Badrakumar

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Chandrasekharan Badrakumar
Stainton, North Yorkshire, UK

Give me a pm before you get to Brighton and we can meet for a chat, maybe also get some other HU sleepers in Brighton area to join in. I live 5km along the coast. Lindsay.

Thanks for this info. I will explore this option and see if it works out well.
Badrakumar

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Chandrasekharan Badrakumar
Stainton, North Yorkshire, UK

Yes Love to meet some friends.

I will be leaving Inverness on Saturday the 5th May. Will get in touch closer to the date. Thanks

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Chandrasekharan Badrakumar
Stainton, North Yorkshire, UK

Hi, I don't have a diary with me but if you're here on a weekend it could easily be made into a pub mini meet. Cross fingers for the weather!!!!!! Lindsay.

any good fishing where you are Linzi??

Hi Bertrand, if you mean that literally it would seem to be yes. I don't fish, but there are lots of sea fishermen/women who use both the shingle beaches around Newhaven and the pier. Real fun could be had on a hired mackeral boat I suspect. Most fishing in Brighton seems to be more for partners.

Incidentally, my use of a seemingly female username has haunted me ever since I decided to respell my name (Lindsay is a male name in Scotland), so that I wouldn't forget it! That shows some considerable lack of confidence in my own memory. But what am I to do now? A new, more appropriate, username with the lower line stating that "he" used to be "Linzi". I'd just be digging myself in deeper, and I live near Brighton, too much explaining to be done. As they say,"One's born every day". Ciao, Lindsay

ta 4 fishing tip - yes I do like to drop a line in now and then! can't beat free fresh fish!
Your username can be changed but only by Grant- drop him a pm with your new chosen name and I am quietly confident he'll sort it-
Just pm your friends re new name- end of!