FRiday until Sunday

We spent two days relaxing in Ulstad on the North coast of Lofoton.

Caught the Coastal Steamer last night from Stamsund and now heading south down the Coast in glorious sunshine.

Will be in Bergen on Wednesday afternoon

Thursday 19th July

Arriving on Lofoton...

Wednesday 18th July

Very light all night, this, coupled with my concerns about finding a petrol station, meant I didn't sleep too soundly!

Driving north I was relieved to find a petrol station just 12 miles up the road.

Caught the ferry from Brennes to Jektvika with no problems, crossing over the Arctic Circle about 25 minutes into the voyage.

Continuing north we found ourselves on the last ferry of the day (for us), between Agskarden and Foroya. From here we had a 120km slog to Bodo. The weather had turned and we found ourselves being blown all over the road, dark clouds overhead. We passed the second largest glacier in Norway, very impressive.

The bridges in Norway are quite amazing. They seem to flow from the road and are fantastic pieces of architecture. [Mitch, I think you'd be impressed.]

Managed to book passage on the afternoon ferry from Bodo to Lofoton Islands for Thursday. Arrived in Bodo around 7.30pm, both knackered and
in need of warm food we cooked up a large chicken curry and fried rice, all demolished within minutes!

Looking forward to a few days rest and pottering around Lofoten before catching the Hurtigrutin Boat back to Bergen on Sunday night.

Tuesday 17th July

Reluctant to leave Torghatten we dragged our heels and left late. We caught the ferry from Horn to Anddalsvagen without too much trouble. We travelled the 17 km towards the next ferry at Forvika where we had to wait for around 90 minutes before boarding as the last car! Although we had this wait we think the ferry service in Norway is impressive. The wait is only due to the large number of people who are touring up the Norwegian Tourist Route, one main road [number 17] with ferry's joining the road. Up until now the ferry's have been very slick and it is good to know that they always try to fit as many cars/ campervans on as possible.

Anyway the scenery from this ferry is spectacular and we were treated to clear views of the peaks of the Seven Sisters Mountain range. The sky is clear today and really quite warm.

We arrived at Tjotta and continued north to Sandnessjoen, climbing the impressive suspension bridge nearby with clear views to the mountains ahead. Northwards caught our final ferry of the day from Levang to Nesna. Here we joined the National Tourist Route again and were treated to incredible views. We have driven most of today with the windscreen wide open, this seems to really help the load on the engine and Monty is flying along... [although not sure how long I'll cope with flies in my teeth and a rubber complexion!!![t]] ... we haven't passed a petrol station in the last 60 miles!!

We eventually reached our campsite around 8.30pm and pitched in a record 13 minutes. The last box of wine was finished tonight! [Not good! We have another week to go. How will R cope!]

The GPS tells me the nearest petrol station is 62 miles away, I have 6 litres of petrol including the spare! Maybe we will be here longer than we planned...

The sun is still up and it's midnight, we cross the arctic circle tomorrow and then on to Bodo.

Monday 16th July

A wet start but soon brightened...

We are heading back towards the coast and great scenery again, had to wait over two hours for a ferry, but met a lovely little girl from Edinburgh who kept us amused!

Happy 3rd birthday ISLAY!!!!

Sunday 15th July

Sunday 15th July

Great sleep in before waving Martin and Edel off, back ro Drammen.

We say goodbye to our new friends on the campsite, heading off at the crack of midday!

Avoiding the main road north we take the ferry from Flakk onto Fosna. We follow small roads heading northeast, weather is not good but the car runs well in the damp air, no supermarkets open anywhere today and we "fast food" it...we meet the main road, 17, and avoid the town of Namsos as it appears industrial.

25 kms east we come across our first campsite for hours. Book a cheap hut for the night and delve deep into our dried "emergency" food supplies! Heater is on, we are full (of pasta!!), and drying out!

Saturday 14th July

Up early today and down to the town centre where all 130 cars line the streets. Lots of very big vintage and veteran machinery as well as postwar cars. We are, without a doubt, the grubbiest car on display, but people seem interested in the tiny dusty Austin amongst the giants.

Martin and Edel have been loaned a 1938 Skoda Cabriolet for the rally and they, thankfully, allow us to follow them rather than try to translate the norwegian route instructions we have been given. The Skoda's clutch is sharp and we are treated to a very comical scene as Martin and Edel "bounce off" at every junction, tyres squeeling and gears crunching! The chummy chooses this time to start misfiring and after a few goes at cleaning the fuel jets I change the plugs and all is well again.

The 50 mile route takes us to 6 tests ranging from identifying 5 trees from their leaves to guessing the dimensions of a plank having driven along it! Needless to say at the end, the downhill ski jump, we hand in, quite possibly, the lowest scorecard of all time! The rally is impecably organised an everything runs very smoothly indeed.

Later that night we dress up and head out for a night on the town. The Royal Garden Hotel hosts the dinner and award ceremony, fish soup, venison and strawberries fill us followed by prizes! Needless to say we do not feature in the concours listings or the quizzes, however, we are called up to receive a beautiful cut crystal vase in recognition of the long distance we have travelled! Two bottles of aqua vita accompany this wonderful gift, all presented in perfect English! The night ends late and we head for bed....

Friday 13th July

We slept late and were just about up when Norwegiab A7 friends, Martin and Edel Faella arrived from Drammen.

They took us into Trondheim for lunch and to see the spectacular cathedral.

We returned to the campsite to be picked up by the rally bus and taken to the the docks for short ferry ride to the island of Monkholm. Here we visited the monastery and former jail before eating in the restaurant. A very nice and social evening, even if two beers and a glass of wine cost 26 pounds!!

The rally participants are very friendly and seem particularly taken with the fact that we have driven from Glasgow to be with them.

Wednesday 11th July

Very wet going today, have taken the Alantic Road...lots of spectacular bridges and islands, can't see eveything though, which is a pity. Having a damp look around Kristiansund which looks pretty....

Tuesday 10th July

Our third wedding anniversary!! Thanks for all the texts wishing us well!!

Today we have chilled out after 130 miles of hard driving yesterday and will spend another night in our cabin. Went into Bud, which is a strange place with no real center to it. Bit of a one horse town (the horse appears to have died however!).

Anyway got some food for our tea tonight (Local Smoked Salmon and prawns..), we are struggling to be inspired by the selection of food available here, good local food is very hard to find which is a pity.

We are getting a wonderful reception with regard to Monty, the people are quite taken with the car and always want to know lots about it! Very approachable and friendly and their grasp of English is staggering. Bud has been the first place that we have come to where English is spoken less.

We are well away from the tourist routes now, and it is quite noticeable. Cruise ships, campervans and coach tours have been the norm up to now, so it's quite a change and we are enjoying how quiet it is.

One thing that doesn't seem to be too pricey is the low alcohol beer which R keeps buying, he is now not too scared of running out of his rations he brought with him. Pity as I would have taken great pleasure in shaking MY fuller box of wine at him whilst he squeezes his dry (I am evil....)

Tanya

Managed to pick a few cockles and mussels from the shore at low tide today, very tasty!

Weather closing in and grey skies ahead....


R

Monday 9th July

The last entry was far too techincal so I have decided to put an entry in...

We drove up loads off hairpin bends from Geiranger to come down the Trolls Road, on probably the worst day possible! Thick cloud and rain, didn't see much ont he way up but on the way down it was pretty spectacular. Waterfalls are amazing in Norway, we had to take two ferries today to cut out long detours. There are many ferries around these Fjordlands and range from 5-11 pounds so far, so often it is cheaper to take the ferry rather than fill up the car with petrol and take the longer route.

We worked our way towards Moldes on reccomendation, but it was 5.30 and we still had no accomodation so skipt walking around. Headed for a small fishing village called Bud, reccomended by a guy on the ferry who had just returned from New York that morning!

Pulled in at around 7pm (latest so far) and booked into a cute little cabin to stay in for the night, as the thought of putting up a wet tent just didn't appeal.

Our cabin has a pretty view not unlike the west coast of Scotland and has a hotplate, table, chairs (something we have missed!) and two bunkbeds.

Both shattered so had some comfort food consisting of camping chips and lots of green veg, something we are finding hard to get here!

Tanya

Sunday 8th July

Glorious weather today, great views across the Geirangerfjord. The campsite is quiet and nice so have decided to stay here today. Took the opportunity to check out a fuel leak around the petrol tap. Removed the tank and cleaned up around the tap area, appears to be starting to crack. Repaired with some tank sealer.

Also removed the top water manifold and replaced the gasket which had started to weep water. A few oil leaks are starting to appear, mainly the rear main seal and the only paper gasket in the engine between the front of the crankcase and the timing case.


Tanya caught up on a lot of reading today. Late afternoon saw us heading down to Geiranger, very steep with many hairpins. Lots of tourists here, but got a good look at the Ornevegen, the road ascends the sheer valley wall out of Geiranger in 11 hairpin bends. From the valley floor it appears to climb like a lightning strike! A little rain tonight, looks like the weather may change tomorrow...

Saturday 7th July

Slept well at the mountain campsite, after a good breakfast we hit the road again, stopping in Byrkjelo for food supplies.

A little further north we drove up to the great Briksdal glacier. It seems to be smaller than when I was last here, ten years ago. Lots of lovely lakes here but decided to keep going. Having fueled the car up with petrol and Tanya with ice cream, we took the mountain road to Videsaeter. 36 hairpin bends, mostly in first gear, with bonnet open. Top water manifold is starting to leak a little and causing us to loose some water, plenty of meltwater around to help though. Valley on other side of pass is quite different, lots of large lumps of ice floating in water with very rocky surroundings.

Pulled into a quiet campsite near Geiranger tonight, weather excellent, although we are told it may change.

Friday 6th July

Headed off early, weather great and the scenery is fantastic. Through two long tunnels and onto Flam. Took the old road over the moutain, mostly first gear.

Scenery is stunning and it's getting very hot.

Took a ferry crossing and then right up into the snow regions and onto Sognal. Starting to see glaciers. Found a superb campsite 11kms off the main road, next to a huge waterfall. Had a few tunes on the instruments before watching the sun go down over the mountains.

Thursday 5th July

Great weather today so headed straight off into mountains, Harganger Fjord very pretty but also busy.

Most of day spent in 1st and 2nd gear, very steep roads and long tunnels.

Camped at Voss for the night. Large group of Brummie students making lots of noise, time to move on!!

Wednesday 4th July

On ferry all day, coastline starting to get more interesting the further north we go.

Arrived in Bergen at 10.30pm. Managed to find a campsite near to town and pitch tent on a postage stamp plot of grass.

Tuesday 3rd July

Followed the coastal road down towards Berwick, had coffee with the Williams', saw Johnathan and then onto Lindisfarne. Weather was very wet, water often over the tyres!

Headed onto South Shields and to Simon Rooney. Fixed the puncture in my drivers seat before Simon lead the way to the ferry in his Ruby.  Ferry left 1 1/2 hours late due to security issues.

Lots of seafood on the ferry but a little run down...

The Bothy...

The Chummy at the Bothy, blue sky ahead, hopefully....



After a great party at the Carpenter's for their 30th wedding anniversary we headed eastward and over to the Bothy. Lots of rain on the way over but now sunny.

Off out for dinner tonight to celebrate Rachel's birthday, Newcastle tomorrow.


Later

Back from a stupendous meal at "The Rocks" in Dunbar. Mussels, Scallops, Crayfish, red Snapper and Sea Bass! We went up in Dyksey's Citroen, had a few problems on the way and had to get the courtesy bus back! (we are going to collect the injured car in the morning....) Great night and wonderful food. Dyksey says a big hello to H and G!

Testing comments enabled..

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Getting packed...

Somehow we have got to get all this stuff into the back seat of the Chummy....