Cycling North

Today was Trondheim day.          A cycling city with cycle paths everywhere, Also outdoor shops. There is an old area  around the cathedral and there are streets and shops. The central square, however, is Norway as I know it. A Macdonalds,  Remix supermarket and H&M clothes shop. Also, as a reminder of Edinburgh, it was being dug up to put a tram line in.    Then after wandering around the city I checked out the outdoor shops but failied to find the fish market, I made my way back south along the coast to take the boat over the fiord.   I will be cycling up the side of Trondheimmsfiord for the next day or so. Whilst camping, I have seen fishermen gutting fish, but as I think it is halibut and they are vacuum packing it.(Presumably to be sold at great expense).

To past Orkanger and about 25 kms from Trondheim Not sheeting with rain today. However, not the predicted sunshine either. Seem to be staying at the windyest spot possible. A good days' cycle up and down along the coast, then inland through forest (up a big hill of course). Then onto the not too busy E 39 for 8 miles into Orkanger. My brake blocks needed renewing so I wanted to reach Trondheim in good time tomorrow. However, the large shopping centre on the edge of town had a sports shop and they have been changed.

Kristiansund to Kyrksaeterora Rain was forecast and rain there was/is..... bucket loads of it! Today has been raining cats and dogs. Heatwave in Scotland- enjoy your barbecues. Cycled along the 680 through Aure, then across a large hill which was very misty. In fact have had my cycle lights on all day. No pictures- did not stop or open bag to let in the rain! I am sure that in clear weather the views would have been good.  Hope everybody has read up on my Kawasaki just giving site.                           www.justgiving.com/sarah-browne8 

Bude to Kristiansund. 50 miles Alongside the Atlantic coast, over bridges, round a fiord and through a tunnel. The tunnel was built in 2009 and is 1.5 kms long and very deep. So deep that I could feel my ears pop. It does not allow cycling, so you have to take the bus through.                              A Dutch couple I met who also went thru' the Tunnel by bus.    A sunny day, passing fishing hamlets. A bit like the North Coast route around Scotland- camper vans and a surprisingly large number of sports cars.     I am having problems finding the centres of towns, I just think there are no small shops in rural Norway. There are plenty of supermarkets on the outskirts of town.   Also I have seen no seals, dolphins or the like. Just the one otter on the first day. Lots of seabirds through, and there are puffins on the outer islands.

Yesterday was a long day, so not pushing myself today. A relaxed cycle to Solholmen and ferry back onto mainland. Sitting at a picnic table looking at her maps was Tilly, I thought I would catch up with her at some point. Tilly is Swiss and has cycled from home, staying with the same Warmshowers host as me in Bergen. Unfortunately she was going in to Molded and then on to stay with a friend of a friend for the night. She has also being doing a slightly different route. I am following Euro route 1 along the coast, which island hops at times. She has taken an inland route at points (including the E39 which I am keen to avoid where possible). Whilst we were talking, an Australian cyclist passed going the other way. He is heading to Portugal and began, I think, at North Cape, but jumped a large section due to bad weather.      No where quick today have been following my official route around the coast. Am now at Bude  headland point. Tomorrow roads connect a coupl...

I returned to Ulsteinvik from my detour campsite. I went into the Remix supermarket, which looked remarkably like a Lidl, although being Norway, the prices are higher. Then it was the main road to the next ferry at Hareid. There was a shared route cycle path which was nice, but I got off it to give space to a group of nursery age children who were walking along holding hands in lines of 3 .           Coming off the ferry, my road became busy. Alesund not far away is a surprisingly large place and I hit the dreaded E39 the main arterial road/duel carriageway going North. There are cycle paths and between mio and me we got through.( Though why mio took me off the cycle path,  hrough an industrial estate only to return to the same road is questionable).       My route then led me along quiet roads up a fiord side, round it and back down the other side. Then I cycled 3 sides of the square which made up a peninsula in order to avoid a large tunn...

Cycled 65 miles today. Left Michele and Patricia at the campsite at Maloy; they are having a rest day. Plus it was raining. They carried an enormous amount of stuff- their tent had a separate sitting room and they had an inflatable carpet which filled the bedroom. They had pots and pans and separate shoes for the evening. Each evening they have one small beer between them as an aperitif. This costs the equavelent of 4 euros - a bottle of wine for them back home. I on the other hand am drinking tea- no Norwegian priced alcohol for me! Today I cycled along road number 15 which took me over one big hill and through 2 tunnels until I then turned onto 61- a perfect double carriage road which cut up and across the land, which separates 2 fjords. Then still on 61 the road uses the ferry at Kopamens to cross a small inlet - no waiting this time. The rain poured the whole time. However the man on the ferry who took my fare told me it will be better next week He knew Scotland  we'll as he ...

See pictures on previous blog. Today it was drizzling but I enjoyed my 25 mile cycle to the first ferry crossing. I stopped at a small supermarket and bought supplies and had a coffee. Things were going well. Reached the ferry Dock and about 20 minutes later Michele and Patricia caught up with me and we waited for the ferry. Three hours with only a bus shelter! Did not realise they are still on the winter timetable. At the other end, in order to avoid a long diversion inland and back again, plus to avoid 2 infrequent ferry crossings, we took the passenger boat to Morley. Not as bad as it sounds- you can not cycle around every single outcrop.   The rain has stopped (or paused), the campsite is good and the views from the tent stunning. Look at pictures in last blog, we did not realise there was a no camping sign until the tents went up. So today's milage  28 miles! The map seems to show that I have a proper day's cycle before the next ferry crossing. Shame I did not think ...

Only cycled 20 miles today. A very West Coast Scotland style route-lots of single track roads with ups and downs. Then it was a ferry ride across a fiord and we just missed a ferry so had to wait 2 hours for the next one. Dried out the tents in the sun. Cycling this part with 2 French couples, Patricia gets up the hills quickly but then she is riding an electric bike! After the 20 min. Ferry trip it was time to head for the nearest camp site, hence the short distance. 

Yesterday cycled 30 miles, most of it from Lerwick down to Sumburgh Airport.,. No problems with the wind, so I was very early and the bike got whisked away without a wait. All I had to do was take the pedals off turn, in the handlebars and let the air out of the tyres. If only all flights could be as easy as Loganair and its 35 seater plane.   Spent the night with another amazing warmshowers host- chicken and couscous waiting for me. Thank you. Today 58 miles out of Bergen, route well signed, but a lot of roundabouts and just when you need it most the brown signs evade me. I used my Mio cycle navigation system which worked well except at roundabouts. Like Sustrans cycle routes, the Route1 North meanders about, so after 25 miles I stayed on the direct road which  was not busy. However, Mio did not like this it- bleebs and tells me to turn round. It got switched off.  Camping on an inlet with 4 other cyclists, all French. 1 ferry today. As it was about to dock, an ott...

I spent 2 nights at Uyeasound at the lovely hostel. The first night camping outside, the second inside. On Monday heavy gales and winds were forecast, so I thought it prudent to take down my tent and leave the stuff inside before I cycled North to Hermaness, the point on Unst where the road ends. Then a 3 mile walk to the lookout point for Muckle Flugga and the most northerly point in the U.K.There was nothing but the lighthouse between  me and the North Pole. The cycle/walk back was not easy, with wind speeds of 35 miles per hour - it was hard to stay upright on the bike. When I got back to the hostel I spoke to a shell-shocked cyclist who had just arrived. She had been sitting for half an hour with her jacket on, de-stressing and her boyfriend had the bus schedule timetable out! I felt quite proud of my 25 miles. Today  I have returned to Lerwick because tomorrow I cycle to Sumburgh for the plane to Bergen. The 3 miles to the first ferry took me 40 mins as ...

Keith and I had 2 great days in Orkney. We cycled around visiting places we knew 35 years ago when we lived in Stromness. There is a big new primary school, a very good cafe by the pier and whilst some shops have closed, others have opened. Stromness is looking good. Sarah and the boys at Wharebeth Beach, West Mainland, Orkney, early 80's We had a picnic near the beach where we used to walk with the boys when they were young. It must have been quite a walk for them when they were little. I was struggling with my bike on the way back up the steep hill!. Later Keith took the ferry home and I cycled into Kirkwall to wait for my overnight ferry to Shetland. 36 miles on Saturday. Sunday It was nice to have a cabin on the ship. I did not wake up until the tannoy announcement giving a time check on arrival . Then it was a quick spin around Lerwick (Street cleaners out) but nothing open at 07.45 am,so headed up North. Ferry over to Yell then ferry to Unst. 50 miles cy...

The ferry sailed this morning- the first bit was choppy, so the ferry took the longer route through Scapa Flow and everything was sunshine and calm. Keith and I cycled past the Stenness Standing Stones and the Ring of Brodgar, had a picnic on the beach near Skara Brae, went to Birsay then cycled back to Stromness. Camping tonight. 35 miles

I did cycle from home, that felt right. Not the sunshine we have got used to, but a strong tailwind sped me to Betty Hill 95 miles and further than expected. Camped along with 3 other cyclists in the Lee of the toilet block as storm Hector forecast. Today I was buffeted 30 miles to Scrabster the terminal for the ferry to Orkney, where Keith met me (he drove up this morning with his bike). Due to the weather conditions, however, the ferry has been cancelled so we are staying in Castletown. My wet washing is draped over the radiator. This is the home of Caithness flagstone, we have walked the heritage trail in the wind, but the museum was closed.