In my last blog entry I spoke of visting 6 countries in 5 days so why did it take four days to find Norway?

Physically entry to Norway was a diversion off the main road into a customs area with nothing to declare exit was via a manned Police line.

However no attempt was made to stop me so I just road past into Norway.

So it didnt take 4 days?

Well physically I had two day in the Capital Oslo, then another day travelling South to Kristiansand but neither of these places protrayed to me the Norway I was expecting.

Nor the Norway shown in photos.

Yes the Capital had great history.

Norway which is one of 8 countries that shares the experience of having the Arctic circle pass through their landmass.

The others are Sweden,Finland (later in this trip), Canada,Denmark & Iceland..

Reading about Norway the facts that always come out is that it is a Scandinavian country,a land mass with many mountains, glaciers and deep coastal fjords with average temperatures for June between 11oC & 15oC.

Well until the ride from Kristiansand to Stravanger proved to be the real Norway.

The sun shone and great cloud formations agains at blue sky (well mainly) allowed the natural beauty of Norway to shine forth.

We rode up and down the various mountains. Most of which were a combination of heavy forests and farming lands where the crops are getting close to harvest and the silage crops have had at least the first of not the second cut already.

naturally where the are farms the opportunity to see the wooden farmhouses that are drawfted by the multi storyed animinal barns where the stock must be housed in some cases for 9 months of the year due to the severe weather and pastures covered by snow.

The landscape was almost a carpet pattern of green of the fields contrasted with the blues of the almost endless lakes and fjoirds.

Scattered along many lakes were the villages. The homes of wood with bright gardens of petunias and pansies.

The roads were single lanes each way and a maximum speed limit of 80kms left plenty of time to view this iconic Norweigian scenery.

The briskness of the climate was always evident as we climbed,entered into dark freezing tunnels and then were propelled into bright sunshine as we crossed bridge after bridge which gave an almost level ride despite crossing from peak to peak of the ranges. It was hard to judge elevation changes due to the extensive series of tunnels and bridges, only the glance over the bridge railings to valleys far below gave a human insight into these engineering feats.

The photos with this blog show some of the real natural landscapes of Norway. Others show signage and at the exchange rate of approx 1 Aud to 6 Nok show the high costs of living here.

The truck shown is a adaptation of what Australian's call a B double but instead of a Prime Mover and small A trailer they use a pantech with the A trailer being the pantech and then tow the B Trailer of the usual 40'dimension.

Accommodation is not cheap but with the use of HiNorway hostels not only has the cost become reasonable but also the uniqueness of hostelling has been experienced.

In Oslo it was the Hostel Ronningen, which during the school term operates as a high performance school for up and coming Football (Soccer) players who use the rooms as accommodation. They also use the facilities to produce a community musical each year and then in Summer Hi Norway manage it as a Hostel. I had a single room with shared bath for $47.63. That included breakfast, free 24/7 tea & coffee,parking and use of a large commonroom, kitchen, free laundry and ironing facilities.

In Kristiansand it was at Budget Hoel Kristiansand at a cost of $76.14 no breakfast or added facilities but free parking (normal parking was about $15 but we got the motorcycles for free. The building was older and in the traditional manner you make and strip your own bed.

Now at Stravanger the Hotel (hostel) is St Svithun Hotell. It is another unique setting as it is attached to Stravanger University hospital. My single room with private bathroom is $53. It has a very large foyer and yes patients use it too and a wide range of 24/7 cafes, a gift shop and tourist information. It seems ideal with a supermaket across the road and the bus stop in the next street.

Some reviewers have complained about seeing new born babies in the lobby guess they were born adults?

Others have mentioned hospital staff in the lobby well hey it is shared and they do eat like the rest of us and some even want to buy the paper or get a coffee (Kaffe) at one of the venues.

The medical helicopter retrieval team land on the roof just across the reception area.

No I have witnessed the real Norway roll on the Fjiord cruise.