What a day!
After stopping to take the photo of the fjord from the view point behind our hotel in Geiranger we continued along our picturesque route which took us on 2 ferries; through strawberry fields, mountain landscapes; forests, the cereal growing area, pasture lands and finally the Atlantic Coast with everything except for desert in between!
The weather was changeable to say the least! When we needed clear skies and views at Helligesten to see the switchback road down and the stunning waterfalls we were treated to an inversion which completely enclosed the whole valley, giving the impression that we were cut off from the rest of the world, very eerie.
The heavens then opened as we rode to our ferry but once we had refuelled
with burgers and coffee, the day got better and better.
Colin thinks he took more than 50 photo's (so far) today! We just kept stopping to try and capture the beauty and drama of the landscapes!
We finished today making our way along the Atalantic Road. Now, I had this image in my mind of a spectacular road filled with award winning bridges, the reality was a stunning route following the contours of the coastal road with stunning views of the sea but also tiny hidden hamlets and harbours with tiny fishing boats nestling safe behind the walls. There is 1 amazing roller coaster bridge which we went over without really realising that it was the one and only!
We got to the end of the road and realised two things:
1: we had just done the road!
2: we were in the place where our hotel was.
Being a bit put out that we hadn't taken any photos or really appreciated the road, I suggested that we go back and do it again. As we entered the road we pulled into the first stopping point to take a photo of the bridge in the distance; as we pulled on to the parking I recognised our hotel on a huge bill board!
Our hotel tonight is on an old fishing island and to get to it we knew we had to leave the bike on the mainland and get a boat; what we didn't know was where or how. By sheer fluke we had stumbled upon the exact place!
After taking some photo's our water taxi arrived to speed us over to the hotel very James Bondish- the young lad behind the wheel certainly enjoyed speeding through the water.
The island used to be a fishing village but in the 1970's began to fall into decline and lack of patrons.
It is now a refurbished and highly successful hotel and fish restaurant. Our room is in one of the annexes with an enclosed double bed-am not sure if Colin's feet will fit!!