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Published: June 29th 2008
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Toyota
Me checking the map, somewhere in Norway We have now taken the Toyota for a test drive through Norway.
On Monday morning we left my parent's place and headed to Sorsele in the west to see my old friend Bodil. We spent two days in her lovely cabin right by a lake. We were meant to do a lot of fishing, but unfortunately it rained constantly without a single break the whole time. By Wednesday morning we gave up and set course for Norway.
We crossed the border in the high mountains near Tärnaby and then continued down the E6 towards Trondheim. Just north of Trondheim in the west part of the country we decided to stop for the night at a camping ground.
My mum and dad had made sure we were equipped for all eventualities:
"Do you have enough food? Do you have a flashlight? I put an extra blanket in the back seat. Will you remember to check the oil level? Do you have rubbish bags? Do you know where you're going? Here's another map. The tools are in the boot. Don't drive too fast! Do you have a good knife? I have checked the spare tyre, just in case..."
Please
note that last bit, about the spare tyre. As annoying as parents can be, sometimes they get it right. Just as we pulled up to a camping we got a flat tyre. We were incredibly grateful to have a spare tyre and all the tools in the car as we changed the completely deflated wheel in the rain.
The next day, Thursday, the weather was a lot better. We spent half the day going around places in Trondheim trying to get the punctured tyre professionally repaired, and finally a helpful man in a tyre shop fixed it for a mere 100 NOK, and also checked the pressure and bolts on all tyres. Thank you, helpful man!
We continued our journey. The plan had been to reach the famous Trollstigen that same day, but with all the tyre hoolaballoo we decided to make it a day just an hour's drive from Trollstigen. We found a camping in a fantastic spot by a river under majestic mountains.
I might add that all people that run campings in Norway seem to be of a certain kind. Weird but friendly, odd but welcoming. Perhaps it's the Norwegian law - you have
to fulfill certain personality or character criteria to be allowed to run a camping ground.
Anyway. On Friday morning (Enrico's birthday, woooo!) we drove towards Trollstigen. Trollstigen is this unlikely little road that leads up the mountain above a gorgeous valley. As you start at the bottom of the valley you can see the road winding up the mountain side, with campers, cars and caravans slowly climbing up or down like spiders on a wall. At one point half way up there is an old stone bridge over a waterfall - it looks in no way safe. And the road turns and bends 180 degrees every few meters, so you have the distinct feeling that you will sooner of later bump into the back of your own car.
As you ascend up the side of the mountain you are struck by the immense beauty of the Norwegian landscape. I don't believe there are many places in the world where the snow clad high mountains and the sea are in the same spot. There is too much to take in - rivers, rapids, uncountable waterfalls, towering cliffs, glittering peaks and deep green valleys.
Eventually, after having had to
Tunnel
At one point we passed through a tunnel which was over 6 kilometers long cross a fjord by ferry, we reached Geiranger. To get to Geiranger town you have to climb down a road much like Trollstigen, but instead of a view of a valley you have a breathtaking view of the fjord with grand cruise ships far below you. You then pass through the tiny town and up the mountain on the other side. I can't describe it well enough, you will have to look at the pictures (or even better - go to Norway!).
Once the Toyota got us safely to the top of the mountain the road took us past peaks that were over 1700 meters above sea level where there are no trees and still plenty of snow this time of year. We passed a frozen lake with pools of water as green as a swimming pool (but a lot colder, I assure you). The rivers up there are freezing but absolutely clear.
We continued towards Oslo and stopped for the night about an hour's drive from the city. On Saturday morning we went in to Oslo to have a look around. We walked up and down Karl Johans Gate a couple of times, didn't find anything particularily
Trollstigen
Trollstigen seen from the top exciting to do. And then we ran into a gay parade. It was very entertaining, I have never seen so many feather boas and rainbow banners all in the same place before. But I must say a lorry full of half naked, overweight, hairy, bellydancing Norwegian men can prove a bit much for anyone... The conclusion is that Oslo is really rather boing, until you run into a gay parade.
We left Oslo late in the afternoon and by midnight we arrived back at my sister's house in Linköping, Sweden. So, now we are washing our clothes and getting ready to begin the real journey.
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cicci
non-member comment
Synd att jag inte visste
att ni skulle till Linköping, tar knappt en halvtimme med tåg härifrån...