G’day Matt/Cycle Norway crowd

I have been very slack in getting back after completing my ride – getting back home July 30th. I had a terrific time! In the end my plan changed as it is often prone to do! But a good plan is a changeable one. In brief I started my ride in Kolding Denmark. I rode through the centre of Denmark via Viborg – Skagen etc. The Shelter network in Denmark was fantastic. I then jumped on a ferry at Hirtshals to Kristiansand Norway. From there I rode the NCR 1 all the way to Bergen. Grabbed a ferry back to Hirtshals Denmark. Road south via a different route I made up as I went along back to Kolding. Grabbed a pre booked Flix Bus to Essen then road from there back to Den Hague making it up as I went via Arnhem etc. I was on the road for 67 days and of those 41 days in Norway. I suppose my ride ended up being a dual Denmark/Norway Sojourn. Denmark is pleasant – the shelter network makes it easy – great historic sites and museums. But Norway is outstanding. Great scenery at every turn. Great historic sites. Best of all is the free camping across the country… that is a gem!! A gift. In Australia you camp on the sly but in a mighty big country its not hard to do, especially with a bike and tent. In Norway its your right! How good is that. And as far as I could tell no one abuses it. I can’t say that about Australia. The Danish and the Norwegians very much value there patch of dirt. Not so for too many in Australia I sadly say. We can learn from them. So I loved the wild camping on lakes, streams, on the coast; The many chilly skinny dips on the sly; the light houses; cathedrals; all things Vikings ( I have ancestry – My grandmother’s maiden name was Orr – the originals came out from York in the 1850’s Victorian goldrush); prehistory museums; cafe’s; Great Norwegian fish soup!; Not to forget excellent Norwegian beer; The ‘Norwegian Model’ – Oil and Gas success story; WWII history – time of occupation and resistance – bravery beyond measure; the fellow riders I ambushed for a good chat and last but not least the fiords, the scenery, the peacefulness and… the locals!

Finally in closing I won’t forget how on a high point overlooking Egersund the Norwegians had a placed a memorial plaque and erected an information board honouring two Australian airmen who died there on a mission to destroy German shipping in the port – only 2 months before the war’s end. For Norway to remember and honour our fallen and to acknowledge Australia’s part….. I felt that deeply and thank them for it.

Many thanks Matt for your great Cyclenorway,com site it was all I needed…. I tell everyone about it. Hope to be back in 2027… ride inland in the high country next time. (In all over my whole time away I rode 2,909km – Norway, Denmark and The Netherlands)

Here are some ride tips that I hope are helpful:

Camp site 5km north out from Egersund – old disused train station now a park – well it has hot water in the toilet block at the basin tap! Praise the cycle gods! Before you could yell “Cycle Norway.com!” I was back in there with change of clothes for the night. Locked the door. Stood over the large floor drain in the corner and bathed myself with endless bowls of hot water. Beyond counting. Hot water in a public toilet cubicle – Buckley’s chance and none in Australia!

Fly vail / head net came in mighty handy for those biting little mongrel midgies! Glad I bought two with me – gave one to a young German rider who was in need of one… going a little midgey crazy!!!

Great coastal camp site at a closed down Vagan caravan/camping Park near Sognalstand.

Stavanger B&B Hostel good value – clean – really helpful – and close to town/restaurants/bars etc

Skeisvang Gjestgiveri good accommodation in Huegesund – good value – clean – really helpful – easy 5 min ride into the town centre.

Jorpeland – Very good camping spots on the “Jorpelandsholmen” island. Nice cafe in town too. And good “Sea to Sauna!” Enjoyed that!

Heugesund – very much an untidy large town. Needs a lot of TLC. However good Viking Village centre a short ride out of town worth visiting. Good accomodation – see above.

Flam Valley – well worth the day out. Really good. I walked the whole valley top to bottom. Next time I’ll hire a bike as you can in the valley at the top end. NOTE: No bikes allowed on any return ferries to Stavanger! Recommend the ferry return journey – very scenic – to Stavanger.

Himakana Peak Lookout – well worth the walk to the lookout. Start point right on NCR1. Between Nedstrand and Hindaravag. it was a good tip given to me by locals on Ombo. Steep but straight forward walk trail – 45min one way.

Ferry rides around Hjelmeland – Ombo – Hindaravag – got a little confusing (times etc). Locals helped me out. Making a few phone calls to ferry operators. In the end got on a FAST ferry at midnight but they needed to know a passenger was waiting at a port stop otherwise that would just keep going!

Get hold of a Helinox Ground Chair – its my bush ‘Chesterfield!

My Hillerberg – Staika tent – cost a bomb – but a winner! Big Agnes Rapide matress and Flextail battery mattress inflater!… excellent.

My trusty chariot – which I took over was: A Surly Ogre (2020 model) – gravel touring bike. Rock solid and perfect for Australian conditions too.