Sunday 21st June, Oslo to Geiranger

Today has been a 'wow' day as we have driven through some amazing scenery. We left our hotel this morning at just gone 8.30 am and drove to Nes where we had a quick coffee break. Then it was on north to Beitostolen for lunch. Food was a simple BBQ at the side of the road (reindeer sausages, burgers and salad) next to a down hill cart track, the use of which was included in our tour.

Most of the men thoroughly enjoyed trying to get the fastest time, whilst the only woman to attempt it was Mary! I pleaded a bad back and just took photos.

Then we carried on driving, passing first through the Valdreflya area where there was snow piled high on both sides of the road. Spectacular views all around us.

Our afternoon stop was in Lom where we indulged in an ice cream, then walked a short distance to see the church. We did a quick circuit round the building, then crossed a local market of food and handicrafts (only because the public toilets were in the middle of it) before returning to the car.

Soon we were climbing again to another area of snow and mountains. We stopped for photos, then some of us paid to drive up a steep road, full of hairpin curves, to a viewing spot at Dalsnibba. From there we could see the valley we had driven through, and the road down to Geiranger, the fjord and our hotel.

We arrived at the hotel at 18.20, checked in then went for a swim. Mick took the offer to go and see the hotel's car collection while I had a leisurely shower. The car collection is the result of tourists arriving by boat and wanting to be taken up to the viewpoint in the period between the two world wars. The hotel,owners bought several large American cars for the purpose, and same of these are now preserved in the collection. The hotel manager not only gets to show people the collection, he also gets to drive them!

The view from our room!

Dinner was a buffet, including whale meat, then Bjarne gave a short presentation about the rest of the tour. It boiled down to: "I've done as much preparation as possible, now it's up to you to follow instructions. If you miss a ferry that's your hard luck, find a solution yourselves." Even Bjarne has not driven the most northerly sections of the route, so he just has his fingers crossed that all the information he's been given by the hotel and ferry companies is correct! It's going to be an interesting few days!

Total distance driven today: 282 miles.

 

Posted with Blogsy