Day 9 - Norway Tour 2011

Alsdalsnes to Lom / Hairpin Monday

Distance: 120 miles / 190 km

Song for today:  Perfect, Fairground Attraction

Big day today. We got up early and made our way along to the Trollstiggen road, after which we planned on riding to Geiranger and taking in Geirangerfjord. 

This is the roadsign at the bottom of the Trollstiggen, the only genuine troll roadsign in the world, apparently. Some overnight rain had made the roads slightly damp, which made the ride a bit more, exciting, shall we say? The road takes no less than eleven hairpin bends in short succession on a one in ten incline and is exciting and frightening in equal measures.

We had made our way to the top so early that the museum and shop were still closed. So, we settled for some photos from a viewing platform instead. 

I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, which had been my one priority on going to Norway, but those of a nervous disposition might want to give it a miss.

Another small ferry today. This one at Valldal where an enterprising young girl was strolling around with a basket selling fresh pretzels. We bought one and it was delicious.

The best was yet to come. The road into, and out of Geiranger is simply stunning. You drop down into the town along a long series of hairpins and exit steeply upwards out the other side in exactly the same way up what’s called the Eagle Road. 

When we finally arrived at Geiranger it was full to bursting. There were three cruise ships visiting today, including the Cunard liner the Queen Elizabeth, which seemed to be causing quite a stir.

The main viewpoints on the roads were mobbed, so we couldn’t stop in them (thus the lack of photos), and people were running back and forwards across the roads with their cameras. Bloody tourists! We decided to make a sharp exit.

The Eagle Road climbs way up into the snowline. Once again it is all hairpins on a one in ten incline and, at its highest point, is more than six hundred metres above sea level. As you might imagine, it was also much colder up there, with snow on the ground. I’d say that it was far more interesting/difficult (pick your verb) than the Trollstiggen, despite the hype. If they are going to promote one road, why not this one?

At Grotli, in the carpark of a hotel in what looks like the middle of nowhere, we came across the rather bizarre sight of a crashed WWII German bomber. We had to stop, which was probably the whole idea, and have something to eat and a look at the modest display explaining the history of the plane and the story behind it, which they plan on making into a movie, 'Comrade'.

I also managed to take the obligatory photo of a roadsign with a moose on it.

We ended up in Lom for the night. The town was a bit busier than we were expecting, but as there is a large Stav church (see photo below), as well as a museum, this probably explains its popularity.

However, we did manage to get beer tonight, thank goodness, and broke out more ration packs for our evening meal.

The miles are beginning to catch up with us, with various aches and pains becoming all too intrusive. We decided on one more days riding and then we’d stop somewhere for a couple of days rest before the final run to Oslo and the ferry back to Denmark. 

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