Norway 2016/17

[ArcticMatt]

Well worth the extra effort.

http://s316.photobucket.com/user/mattwilde66/Syd goes Nordic/story

 

[Deskman]

Already two weeks back to work but if I close my eyes...

I've been in Sweden and Norway since I was a kid. Never felt tempted to get all the way to the Nordkapp. Too much to see and enjoy in the 3000km to the Lofoten.

 

[Hotel California]

@Olof Fredrikze , know what you mean been exact one year since we went for three weeks , only did the south part.
Keep seeing those simular images also.

But hey we are in Anglesey , Wales at the time beeing so can't complain!

 

[zeratul]

Already two weeks back to work but if I close my eyes...

I've been in Sweden and Norway since I was a kid. Never felt tempted to get all the way to the Nordkapp. Too much to see and enjoy in the 3000km to the Lofoten.

What a wonderful picture and place.It summarizes the 'california' feeling (or at least the reason I bought one) perfectly - lots of space, great nature, no body else... Love it.
Where is this? Lofoten?

 

[Deskman]

Yes - Lofoten, 500m west of Auster Nesland

I try to plan my holidays as far 'off season' as I can so I can put my Cali on places where it's not permitted but nobody is offended by one dark coloured VW. If possible I ask if I dare to... and I'm always welcome.

I've stayed on just one camping in 4 weeks - for laundry and charging the laptop and camera batteries.

Ultimate freedom.

 

[Deskman]

@Olof Fredrikze , know what you mean been exact one year since we went for three weeks , only did the south part.
Keep seeing those simular images also.

But hey we are in Anglesey , Wales at the time beeing so can't complain!

Last 3 years we went to Ireland (crossing Wales) and Devon & Cornwall in my sisters converted transporter T4. Bought a pile of booklets and maps because I certainly will go back there.

Since then I wonder even more why all those people desperately want to go to Bali, Crete, Turkey or Costa Rica - ignoring the beautiful countries nearby. I'm living just 8km from Schiphol, more than 1500 flights a day...

 

[Hotel California]

@Olof Fredrikze ,
Haven't been in a plain for over ten years now , as you say there's a beautiful world out there just a few hours driving from home .

 

[ArcticMatt]

We're just in Lofoten now. It's unreal!

The first pano was just off the ferry from Bodø to Moskenes (991kr for van and 2 passengers) in a village called Å at the end of the world! The place stinks of Tørrfisk which is the racks of dried cod.

The second is our campsite for the night at Fredvang camping. There was loads of wild spots by the road from Reine but the beach here is well worth the 200kr

 

[Deskman]

Busy at Fredvang...

Somewhere on the hillside right above your van (in your photo) there is a parking and the start of a walk for a view you won't forget:

 

[ArcticMatt]

Aye there was the walk to Ryten over Kvalvika beach or the other way which I can see a person from pretty much where your shot was taken from. Beautiful!

 

[SheffieldSteel]

Ive just found this very handy site with some GPX downloads if you have software on that can handle that. Im using ViewRanger with the Norwegian maps installed. Here is the link:

https://sites.google.com/site/odingpsm/mine-poi

Untitled by Matt Wilde, on Flickr[/QUO

Ive just found this very handy site with some GPX downloads if you have software on that can handle that. Im using ViewRanger with the Norwegian maps installed. Here is the link:

https://sites.google.com/site/odingpsm/mine-poi

Untitled by Matt Wilde, on Flickr

thanks alot Matt for all this. I cant help but but get excited reading the blogs. WelshGas made a great blog from his ventures last year.

 

[briwy]

Thank for all the info everyone. Gearing up to go end of next week. Fortunatley got the NOKS last weeks so got a decent exchange rate.

 

[Hotel California]

Thank for all the info everyone. Gearing up to go end of next week. Fortunatley got the NOKS last weeks so got a decent exchange rate.

You'l love it there , enjoy every minute of your trip .
When we get home from our UK trip on wednesday you are probally ready to go, i'll be thinking of you!

 

[Old Sid]

I've been reading this thread with considerable interest. I know there's bound to be a range of opinions about a whole variety of issues but threads like this are very helpful to me for information and planning.
I have just begun my research for a trip to Norway next year. So far, I've made a list of questions and spent time reading stuff on the web. The first few questions on my list are very general, I expect they'll become more specific later. I have only driven on Mainland Europe once.
- What route for crossing to mainland Europe from southern UK? (Sea sickness sufferer).
- What route up to Norway? Would like to make the journey interesting too.
- What about tolls for bridges, tunnels & roads?
- What about ferries? Costs? Booking?
- What are the 'must see' places to visit?
- How many weeks should I allow for a satisfying first visit?
I have found some bits within the thread but it's difficult to extract them from conversations.
Thanks.

 

[WelshGas]

A

I've been reading this thread with considerable interest. I know there's bound to be a range of opinions about a whole variety of issues but threads like this are very helpful to me for information and planning.
I have just begun my research for a trip to Norway next year. So far, I've made a list of questions and spent time reading stuff on the web. The first few questions on my list are very general, I expect they'll become more specific later. I have only driven on Mainland Europe once.
- What route for crossing to mainland Europe from southern UK? (Sea sickness sufferer).
- What route up to Norway? Would like to make the journey interesting too.
- What about tolls for bridges, tunnels & roads?
- What about ferries? Costs? Booking?
- What are the 'must see' places to visit?
- How many weeks should I allow for a satisfying first visit?
I have found some bits within the thread but it's difficult to extract them from conversations.
Thanks.

As posted by Sp0-0k on Page 2 of this Thread.


More useful info on the tolls. You can register online at https://turistportalen.csautopass.no/english#
Enter your credit card. 1nok is charged on contract creation. Then after the 1st toll gate you get a 300nok charge to the balance and next 300 if it is used up.
When you leave country you get remaining balance back on card during 3-4 months.
Tested the system and it works fine. Though you can avoid majority of toll roads in Norway.

This system is optional and you can get the toll charges by post at your home address automatically. Tough there might be some extra charges involved.

 

[Hotel California]

@Old Sid
Did you read Paul's ( Welshgas) tread or mine , we both went last year doing a diffrent trip giving lots of info.
We did a diffrent route as WG and think giving answers to some of your Q's in our treads.

 

[AlisonF]

I've been reading this thread with considerable interest. I know there's bound to be a range of opinions about a whole variety of issues but threads like this are very helpful to me for information and planning.
I have just begun my research for a trip to Norway next year. So far, I've made a list of questions and spent time reading stuff on the web. The first few questions on my list are very general, I expect they'll become more specific later. I have only driven on Mainland Europe once.
- What route for crossing to mainland Europe from southern UK? (Sea sickness sufferer).
- What route up to Norway? Would like to make the journey interesting too.
- What about tolls for bridges, tunnels & roads?
- What about ferries? Costs? Booking?
- What are the 'must see' places to visit?
- How many weeks should I allow for a satisfying first visit?
I have found some bits within the thread but it's difficult to extract them from conversations.
Thanks.

So having lived in Stavanger for 10 years I still haven't been to Lofoten or seen Nordkapp - and not because we went abroad for our holidays. We found there was so much to see in the south west (I usually drove and was told to stop on every corner by my ex who himself was a Brit who had lived there 20 years already). So don't be too dictated by "I must see this" and just see where the weather takes you. You will not be disappointed.

 

[ArcticMatt]

So having lived in Stavanger for 10 years I still haven't been to Lofoten or seen Nordkapp - and not because we went abroad for our holidays. We found there was so much to see in the south west (I usually drove and was told to stop on every corner by my ex who himself was a Brit who had lived there 20 years already). So don't be too dictated by "I must see this" and just see where the weather takes you. You will not be disappointed.

I couldn't agree more. Id love to get down to the south again and just spend a few days in Lysefjord and Hardanger again.

 

[Deskman]

What is your 'style' of travelling? Do you want to drive every day, make a walk now and then, visit highlights?
I do not plan my trips from day to day. I just enjoy being out there. If you are doing a highlights-trip and put hot-spots like Trollstigen, the church of Lom, Jostedalsbreen and Røros on your list, you will probably end up between busses full of Chinese and Indian tourist.

Just take your time, talk to local people and use a proper map to find the roads left and right of the E6 to the Nordkapp instead of the tom-tom style. Norway is an enormous country and there is so much more than the top-ten.

I had 4 weeks to drive almost 7000km and I feel that is about the minimum. If I only had 6 weeks...

I didn't sign up for the toll - they will track your licence and send you a bill afterwards.

 

[Hotel California]

What is your 'style' of travelling? Do you want to drive every day, make a walk now and then, visit highlights?
I do not plan my trips from day to day. I just enjoy being out there. If you are doing a highlights-trip and put hot-spots like Trollstigen, the church of Lom, Jostedalsbreen and Røros on your list, you will probably end up between busses full of Chinese and Indian tourist.

Just take your time, talk to local people and use a proper map to find the roads left and right of the E6 to the Nordkapp instead of the tom-tom style. Norway is an enormous country and there is so much more than the top-ten.

I had 4 weeks to drive almost 7000km and I feel that is about the minimum. If I only had 6 weeks...

I didn't sign up for the toll - they will track your licence and send yo a bill afterwards.

We did 3000 in Norway in three weeks and 2000up/down Denmark taking the ferry from home .
Did not sign up for the toll , payed where it had tollgate , still waiting more than one year on the bill from camera registred tollroads.....heard from others who went to Norway the also got no bill aftherwarts. Worth a shot , saving some money....

 

[Sp0_0k]

Anybody can clarify on freshwater fishing licenses?
I know there are local licenses that can be bought on site or via the webpage/phone.
But read some unclear info that a separate national annual license should be obtained.
So just local ones won't suffice? Last time I was fishing in rivers, the guy who sold the license locally didn't mention anything about extra license.

 

[Sp0_0k]

Did not sign up for the toll , payed where it had tollgate , still waiting more than one year on the bill from camera registred tollroads.....heard from others who went to Norway the also got no bill aftherwarts. Worth a shot , saving some money....

1) there are almost no manual payment gates now. They are changing fast.
2) Though it is kind of their obligation to get you the bill, I would be worried that it doesn't rich me due to some "miscommunication" postal problem etc. And having an unpaid bill that is marked in their system as posted can result in worrying results. Got experience with Italy
You can track all the toll passages through that web analyzing if it is worth to go through same roads again.
Like a stupid 150nok bridge near the Bergen And can get in contact with support on each transaction if you feel there was a mistake or something wrong.
This online system is ran by some UK company btw, if I remember right

 

[Deskman]

Heard from others who went to Norway the also got no bill aftherwarts. Worth a shot , saving some money....

They certainly track down Dutch licence plates...

 

[SheffieldSteel]

Anybody can clarify on freshwater fishing licenses?
I know there are local licenses that can be bought on site or via the webpage/phone.
But read some unclear info that a separate national annual license should be obtained.
So just local ones won't suffice? Last time I was fishing in rivers, the guy who sold the license locally didn't mention anything about extra license.

hi Sp0_0k
can you recommend any freshwater fishing places? how much did you pay for licences?

 

[Sp0_0k]

hi Sp0_0k
can you recommend any freshwater fishing places? how much did you pay for licences?

To tell for truth was fishing just in 2 rivers. Definitely can recommend this camping and river https://www.google.cz/maps/place/Ki...x7daead4748c26ff2!8m2!3d58.4666979!4d7.795819
Small trouts but tons of them. They don't grow big there. Even got a dwarf salmon a tasty one. Cost just 50nok a day. Or like 100-150 a week. (can buy at camping reception) Can fish right from the camping shore.
Got like 15 trouts in half a day.
I'm mostly fjords fishing. Pilkering on 50-300meters depth from my inflatable canoe or rented boat.
Did you know there are some fjords with 1,3 kilometer depth? Insane feeling sitting in a small canoe with that abyss underneath Or dragging a fish from 500 meters below.
Sea fishing in Norway is insanely easy. Literally anybody can do that.
A small girl was playing in one camping on the fjord's shore with pole and got a big fish
More than that you can get all the decent fishing equipement in Norway at fair price. Got a ready for fishing Abu Garcia rod in supermarket there for 250Nok. Still using it