So we've had to adapt how we do things a little bit.
It's a lot more enjoyable to drive when there is a lot less traffic on the road, so we try to do our driving as soon as we get up in the morning. As in 6:30am or so. And we try to get parked up at a possible overnight spot by noon because we figure that most people will have departed by then, and there is the highest likelihood that a prime spot might be available... which is much less likely as the day goes on.
But, we also have to time the weather around that, so it's not a perfect system!
Friday morning, we wanted to do the hiking trail at the base of the Voring Waterfalls. First, we had one more look at them from the top...
They've built this huge viewing area and bridge, and it's hard to believe that it's all totally free.
Even the parking is free.
The viewing bridge.
Waterfalls everywhere.
Can you see the viewing bridge?
I took another video for you...
Did you see the bridge in the video? That's where we hiked down to later on.
A cabin field.
Remember that I mentioned the other day that they say there are more cabins (cottages) in Norway than there are people? There are also many Norwegians who believe this is a big problem. You see these groups of cabins everywhere. They call these groups of cabins a "cabin field".
We drove a little further down the mountain and found a side of the road parking spot to do the hike to the base of the falls.
This bird was singing like crazy!
It's a marked trail, but you have to clamber over a lot of rocks.
Ruth.
Looking downstream.
Old vehicle wreckage.
I tried doing some research about vehicles that had gone over the edge, but couldn't find anything that explained this truck wreckage or how long ago it happened. The only thing I could find was a bus accident in 1988 that killed a group of grade five students as well as the driver. And that bus hadn't actually gone over the edge.
We got to the bridge, and it was closed!
This is as close as we could get.
Me, at Voring Falls.
We timed our hike perfectly because by the time we made it back to Max it was starting to rain. And it rained steadily all afternoon.
Another cruise ship at Eidfjord.
Fjords and mountains.
We drove back to the area of Hardanger Bridge and there was a rest stop where I had read that motorhomes can spend the night. It was already busy, but we pulled in to have lunch. We weren't really planning on spending the night, but we wanted to walk to the bridge for a better view of it.
While we were sitting there, this 1957(?) Desoto pulled in.
Not something you expect to see in Norway!
We ended up staying the night. Ruth made a delicious roast pork dinner. We love Max's oven!
Dinner!
After dinner it stopped raining just long enough to walk the bike path down to the bridge.
Hardanger Bridge opened in 2013.
It is 1.4 kms (almost a mile) across.
It has one traffic lane in each direction, and a separate cycling/walking lane.
It is the longest bridge in the world that both starts and ends at a tunnel.
Entrance to the cyclin/walking tunnel.
Out on the cycling/walking lane.
It is pretty cloudy out there.
Entrance/exit to the bridge tunnel.
It will cost Max 117 krone ($15.25 CAD, $11.70 USD) to cross the bridge, which we will do this morning.
There were between 8 and 10 motorhomes and campervans that crowded into this little rest area. But everyone was very quiet, and once again we are grateful that most European rigs don't have generators. I forgot to get a photo!
This morning, we are up early to cross the bridge and head into the town of Voss (Vossavangen).
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And in Canada...
That Axle looked like something pre WWII.
ReplyDeleteGreat pictures even with the Cloud/Rain cover.
Be Safe and Enjoy exploring Vossavangen.
It's about time.
We don't think so because we also saw some PVC tarpaulin type of material that you find on the box of some trucks and it was white, I don't think they had that type of material back then but who knows.
DeleteI've read a lot over the years about Norwegians and their way of thinking and attitudes toward social situations, newcomers and tourists. It will be interesting to get your insights when you've done some more exploring.
ReplyDeleteWe haven't been in a situation yet with any of the local people, to be able to ask what their thoughts are on this. While the people we have met have been friendly they also haven't tried to engage us or us them in a lengthy conversation.
DeleteWe have noticed though that not all the RV's are foreigners, there are also a lot of Norwegian plated vehicles, of course some of those are rentals but the others would be Norwegians themselves.
We've toured Norway twice by motorcycle using the camping huts . Next time will be in the mohi, looking forward to it :-)
ReplyDeleteWe see a lot of motorcycles here that is for sure. I am sure that you loved riding some of these roads on your bike, they are perfect for that. We personally think the best way of traveling around Norway is in a motorhome, it has just a little more comfort but not as much room on the roads as a motorcycle. :-)
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