The Viking Experience
So after the welcomebriefing and a very nice get-together dinner we started our tour form Alesund, wich is more than just a littel Fishermans village, it is a pitoresc little town with houses with the charme of the artdeco period. Once burned by a fire, rebuilt in stone in one masterpiece. Our road led us along the coastline towards the most famous Geiganger Fjord. We stopped by the so called Rose-churche, built in the 17th century but dates back to the middleages. While we were waiting for the local guide to open the building we were invited to Thor, the friendly neighbor and he showed us his MotoGuzzi and some old jukeboxes he restores. Strawberry Cake and a first ferryride. In the afternoon we took the panoramic ferry through the Fjord till Geiranger village where Angela awaited us to comfort us in our Hotel for this day. Weather?? yes of course there was weather........
Our second riding day started with no less than the dizzying road up to Djupevatn - which is the name of the area at the top end of the Geirangervegen. Only that this was not the end of the road we were going. An even more dizzying road took us up onto Norway's highest paved road. It is called the Nibbevegen. I can't say it any other way - the view from the top at the highest point "Dalsnibba" is simply mind-blowing. Compared to the week before, we were blessed with clear skies this time. Franz offered us a tasty picnic lunch in a spectacular Norwegian setting, giving us the strength to ride the remaining stretch to Fjaerland. Welcomed by the hotel manager and her fascinating stories before dinner. Despite the rainy afternoon, it was another beautiful day in Norwegian paradise and we feel blessed to have been riding through it.
On our first restday we did an excursion tor the fjell fortress, locatet 30 km west to Bergen. German Artillery was stationded there with a giant cannon. So this area is now a museum and an outdoor park to look into the History of WWII. With the Cafe on top a very scenic and peacefull place to stay
Today will be a long riding day and all of us are looking forward to it - because we will ride along no less than 10 Fjords, we will get to see the famous Hardanger bridge and we will also almost take a shower under the splashing gigantic water falls which can almost be touched by riding past them.
Today is a restday and it will be a restday. No inviting weather for hiking or riding, so most of our group enjoyed a long breakfast, another cup of coffee and then a visit to Stavanger. A charming harbour city 10 minutes away. Or a walk on the beach....