Crossing Vikafjell

Day 36
This morning it didn't rain! The slovakians left before I even got out of my tent. I had breakfast while talking to a really nice man and his daughter from Wales. Then came the camping lady and I wanted to pay but she said no need for that and wished me good luck on my trip! That's so sweet. Today I even had sun and a rather high climb at almost 1300 meter. Before the tunnel I stopped for a break to eat something. A french couple offered me a cup of tea so I talked to them for a while, That's nice. Then I continued and finally the road was going down. Then came another tunnel but there was an old closed road so I took that one of course. And I needed a break really bad, Had to eat something and even just sit down on the road for a while. I could feel how tired I was now and decided to look for water and then a tentspot. I didn't really find anything, just farms and houses and a lot of small campings then suddenly I was at Voss. I didn't have the strength to go any further so I asked for a hostel and checked in there. I am staying in a room with 4 other girls and I get to sleep in sheets! There are 2 girls from Australia, one from Germany and the other one I think was from China, I didn't get to speak to her so much. I went to the kitchen and made myself a spicy dinner. Then I tried the wifi a bit and studied the map to plan the upcoming distances and finally I went to bed so exhausted I only managed to read two pages in my book. Distance today 70 km.

 

 

 

 

Leaving Sognefjellet

Day 35 - Turtagrö - Viksöyri
I woke up to a fantastic view, still a lot of fog but I was up at 6 to make breakfast and then the sky cleared a little. I met a norwegian guy who lives in Copenhagen and he said it will be good weather from now on like 19 degrees and sun. Later it seemed like he was actually right! When I went down it was so breathtaking beautiful that I had to stop all the time to take pictures. I have been in this area several times but mainly in the winter and it's different when you travel by bike. Later when I came down the sun bursted out! I went down this lovely little road winding along the side of the fjord with lots of old houses and apple trees. Then I had a lovely ferry trip over to the cutest little village by the fjord - Solvorn. Here was a climbing part as well but I think only 600 meters. Anyway after Trollstigen and Sognefjellet I can manage anything! I had coffee and some charging in Sogndal then I continued and finally I was at Helle. I didn't plan to go this far but I was looking for a tentspot and it was steep as hell all over the place so I continued and when I saw the ferry I was excited to get to the other side. On the other side there was no place either to camp, houses everywhere or steep as hell. Maybe I should have brought a portaledge and just hang it straight from the rock...  Anyway then I arrived at Vik and wanted to continue but realised that I had gone far today and it was getting dark and it was going uphill soon over the mountain. So I turned back to the camping and pitched my tent because what else could I do? When cooking I had company from 4 slovakian guys. Later I got to try some liqour from Riga. And there was wifi and now it is almost 1 am and I am really tired. Tomorrow morning I'm heading for Voss. Distance today 109 km

Tunnels passed: 3 and they were pitch dark and scary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sognefjellet 1434 meter

Day 34
This morning it was dry outside, no rain, it's unbeliavable! I could open up my tent and have breakfast while enjoying the view over the river. This is the first day for over a week that I could pack the tent all dry. Then we headed for Lom. Halfway there came the rain again. We went to a cafe to charge and drink coffee. Then I bought some supplies and we said goodbye. I'm heading over the Sognefjell. First the road went through the valley for a while before the climb started. I met a czech guy called Jan and he told me about another road that had less traffic along the Lusterfjord. Climbing up Sognefjellet was heavy and the rain came in the afternoon and stayed persistent. I also had an accident with my camera when I went really fast down and there was a bump in the road so my handlebar bag opened up and my camera flew out and smashed really hard in the road. I was terrified and totally sure it was broken but to my luck it still worked! Even though it came open a bit. I tried to press it together but was not completely successfull...anyway it is totally shockproof as promised! I went higher than yesterday 1434 meters above sea level. I got really cold and stopped at Sognefjellhytta for a coffee and a break from the rain. It didn't seem like it would stop but now it was not far. Finally the last 10 km the rain stopped and the fog came luring in. I arrived at Turtagrö and found myself a nice spot away from the hotel. By 8 pm I had set my tent with an amazing view and started cooking dinner. Then I went to the hotel for a beer and some charging. The place was crowded with happy people! Distance today 87 km.

Lom stave church dated from 1159.

Jan from Czech Republic. 

Maybe I should have taken this one?

The valley heading for Sognefjell.

Route 55.

Route 55.

Sognefjell in rain.

It keeps raining...

Only 9 km to my destination.

Just beautiful.

Almost there.

Time for dinner.

1038 meter above sealevel

Day 33
We started pretty early today I think maybe around 8 am. It was still a little rain and the tent was soaking wet when I folded it together. My shoes and socks were also wet.  But the touristbuses didn't start yet so at least that's a good thing now when we will climb higher on this road. The fog was hanging all over the valley but as we started it lifted for a short while and then came back thicker than ever. But when we got as high as 1000 meters it suddenly got all clear and we could see a glacier and the landscape was so beautiful up here! We met a nice couple from Israel and talked to them for a while then we continued to Djupvasshytta where we had coffee and charged our phones. The sun actually came out for a while, it's amazing! And we actually drove maybe an hour or two on a dry road but later on the rain came back again. Shortly after Skjåk we found a super camp spot, the rain stopped and we actually had evening sun so we could dry up the tents before moving in! Now we are just a short distance from Lom and this is our last night together because tomorrow we go separate ways. We made dinner and had a beer in the sun. This is so nice after a week of raining. So tomorrow we'll just go to Lom and have a coffee together and resupply. I'm taking the road over Sognefjellet and Lars is heading back for Sweden to catch a plane to Africa and continue cycle touring there for a couple of months. (You can follow him at lostcyclist.com). I think this road from Geiranger up to Djupvasshytta was a really tough mountain pass and the highest I've been cycling so far - 1038 meter above sea level. Distance today 76,5 km.

Early morning in the camp.

Beautiful!

Lars in the fog.

Clearing up as we get higher.

Photo by israelian woman.

Israelian couple with Lars.

Moomin.

1000 meter. Photo Lars Bengtsson.

Love this landscape.

Lars longing for coffee.

Djupvassfjordhytta 1038 meter.

Soil storage sheds. (Myldrehus).

No stops allowed...

Shelter from the rain.

Drying up at camp Ofossen.

Cooking.