Would it not be quicker to ride from Denmark across to Kristiansand? That is if motos can use the bridge. Whoops, wrong Kristiansand.

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Only trouble with the ferry is the timings really but sure we can work something out. I had originally intended to ride up to Norway via Sweden but it does add quite a few more miles.

When does the Chile trip finish - and is organised or solo?

Solo and it finishes when I want it to but not until I've had a ride round Brazil which is one of the few aims of this trip. Ride safe.

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

There is at least 5 ferries daily from Hirtsals to Kristansand, 3 by Fjordline which takes 2 hours and 15 minutes and 2 by Color Line which takes 3 hours and 15 minutes in June.'

If you have the time riding round Denmark and Sweden is no problem, it adds 1117km to the ride though, mostly on boring highway.

Cheers Bard

Looks like an interesting trip. I am planning a trip something similar, but was excluding Russia and Czech Republic. I live near Hamburg so would go Hitshals to Christiansand and then North (starting beginning June). I was in Norway this year (late August-early September) with wife and dog in a motor home (just as well because of the rain!). Only ventured as far north as Alesund. I want to do some walking in Lysefjord area and at the Nordkapp area plus Reisa National Park, plus take in the Lofoton Islands. I will watch this thread as it may be of interest to join you near the Nordkapp or at Kirkenes or somewhere near. (I swore I would not pay for the tourist trap at the Nordkapp, but will walk into the point a little further north on Mageroya Island for the midnight sun).

I had also planned the Baltic States and a visit to Auschwitz before heading home, but Czech Rep sounds good also. I had discounted Russia, but if there is a group with someone who can get by in Russian, that could be an opportunity.

Grey Beard

Would be great to meet up Grey Beard, bets time to go to North Cape for some photos is midnight, almost no people, well with the exception of a few bikers taking midnight photos in peace.

Lysebotn, that is a great ride. There is 2 death traps on the road, and if you want I can send you the points. That is the infamous "ferist" there are two placed in blind corners on the road, besides that it's a beautiful ride. If you want to do a stroll to Kjerag, do NOT park at the eagle nest, park a few hundred meters above for free instead. Also do not eat at the eagle nest, overpriced and crap food.

If you want a perfect ride you come to the area via Suleskard veien, 987
then hit 986 to 500, (Do the walk to Kjerag) then take a boat from Lysebotn to Moen, ride 661 to E13 and ride towards Jørpeland then hit 529 from there you can walk to the Pulpit rock.
After these amazing experiences, ride E13 to (one ferry on the way) Sand then take the ferry to Ropeid, turn towards Sauda on 520 and ride to Håra then I personally would ride 134 up Røldal to the lake Votna and camped out there. Well after this continue North towards North Cape, but the above ride would give you a heap of great riding and experiences.

Cheers Bard

Hello Bard

Thanks for the tips. Yes, the Kjeragbolten is the walk I plan to do at Lysefjord. We walked up to Pulpit Rock/Preikestolen in September, so don't plan to repeat that one. Nearly broke my ankle coming down from that walk (could have sworn I heard something break!) but it seems more or less OK now.

Yes, please send me the relevant links about the death traps (fore warned, fore armed, etc). I guess this is on the hairpin road down to Lysefjord?

I will have a look at your suggested route, etc.

I will walk in to the northerly point west of the Nordkapp rather than the Nordkapp Centre, perhaps with some finest Cragganmore Whisky to celebrate the midnight sun, hopefully it won't be too misty.

As I said, I don't plan on visiting the Nordkapp Centre/Hall unless I was able to bypass the toll control, by walking cross country. Would only be interested is seeing the sculpture of the 5 coins and take the obligatory photo of the iron sphere sculpture, not the visitor centre and it isn't the most northerly point anyway. I will probably do a 2 day walk at Mehamn Adventure Centre to the most northerly point on the Mainland (since Mageroya is an island).

The Reisa National Park is a two day through walk of 50km in Troms Region, so would overnight en route. Trying to get public transport info from the Norwegian Tourist Board, but this is not forthcoming so far.

After these walks I would perhaps meet up (south of Mehamn or near Kirkenes) and follow your planned schedule to Russia, Baltic States, Poland, Czech Republic and then return to Germany. I was going to go via Finland, but I've never been to Russia and imagine it will be an eye opener, so I'm game for that.

Re the Russian VISA, I know it is easier with an invite from within Russia, but a Travel Agent can handle all that. What sort of cost and time does it require? I have a UK Passport.

Cheers

Grey Beard

I found somewhere on here a last week which was saying where to get the invite from but can't spot it just now. My understanding is it is better to have at least one hotel where we plan to stay in Russia and get an invite based on that (assume we will be a hotel in St Petersburg anyway). For those with UK passports I think it is then a case of taking them to the embassy in London along with the relevant docs. I know you can pay to get this done but guess it is much cheaper if you do it yourselves. Happy to take and collect passports for visas from anyone on UK passport. I would guess we should plan to get the visa applications in mid April but will do some further research.

Mid April may be a bit tight for getting my PP down to London but we shall see. Ref. accommodation, thought about backpackers and hostals, also room sharing tends to lower the price per person significantly being normally a solo traveller accomm. is the major part of my expenditure. Just finishing b'fast in sunny Mendoza Arg. before setting out for a saunter. Ride safe.

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Hi found this - sure we can do it cheaper but just so we know.

Russia - Visas

They charge £115 all in and turn in round in 8 days.They will also just provide the invitation for £14.

Least we have an order of magnitude.

Like Bard. I favour camping, certainly in Norway (sometimes official/commercial and sometimes wild camping, but given the time of year, it could be very cold and/or wet in the far north (and wet in the western fjords around Bergen and the jet stream normal position). If conditions get too unpleasant, then the hyttes would be the alternative option. You can get hyttes from 2 to maybe 6 persons, so in a group and early season would be OK price wise. Heating and electricity to dry things out and warm up. I don't like to think what the cost of hotel or even B&B would be in Norway. Camping (wife and self) plus motor home and electricity hookup cost on AVERAGE €30/night. Oslo (Bogstad) was the most expensive NOK330/night and Larvik was the cheapest NOK150 (end of season). For one person & motor cycle without electricity, it would be a lot cheaper. Showers were normally NOK10 for 6 minutes but they were sometimes included in the camping price. Many camp sites had WiFi included, but you really had to be close to the antenna location, usually on the Admin building. If not included, WiFi was generally prohibitively expensive, but you could buy a Norwegian data SIM card and stick that in your PC or use a WiFi Dongle or maybe if you have a smart phone couple your phone with Norwegian SIM Card to your PC, etc. The camp site at Preikestolen/Pulpit Rock was overpriced, unhelpful and unfriendly and justified it's exorbitant prices by it's location and certainly not by it's service!

In the cities within Russia, Baltic States Poland & Czech Republic, I guess basic hotel accommodation with secure overnight parking would be in order. I think the costs are likely to be reasonable. I am guessing Russia prices are reasonable but have no experience or knowledge of these of course.

Grey Beard

I hear people talking about multiple entry VISA's for Russia, but I guess that is not essential, though if doesn't cost any more, then I would select that option. Didn't realise it was that pricey. Oh, well, they have to maximise their foreign exchange, their oil won't last forever!!

Will have to make some enquiries here in Germany, as don't want to send passport over to UK in possible. I expect they require a minimum of 6 months left on the passport as well.

EDIT: Just read the link and the info about multiple entry Russian VISA !!!! Guess that will be single entry then!

Grey Beard

If only a single entry Russian visa is obtained then that would mean going around Kaliningrad wouldn't it?

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

Further info on backpackers, HI and Bug Norway are OK sites but made easier I would think if you had a map to hand but generally speaking dorm accom with breakfast, hotshowers, sometimes wi-fi and a kitchen seems to work out about £15.00 pppn especially in the crowded south getting more expensive as you get further north. If I was wanting to make faster progress on the less entertaining bits I would go for hostals as not having to put up and down a tent gives more riding time and also a reliable dry start counts for a lot. Finally, is the Newcastle-Stavanger ferry viable? Just going out to watch the girls on the paseo then off to an all you can eat parrilla, on the down side I will propbobly feel quite ill tomorrow. Ride safe.

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Mike
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Mike is riding the twisty road in the sky

I think the single entry visa is fine, multi-entry being more expensive.

Current planned mileages aren't too great so I think camping most nights and then a b&b , hostal etc every third or fourth night would make a good basis. Obviously depending where we are may influence that.

Looks like bard and me meeting in Kristiansand and then joining up with Grey Beard around/after Nordkapp. You planning to start from the UK maja? If so guess we could meet at the ferry in Harwich or at my house in the midlands?