Hello from a newbie(ish) from Scotland. Norway here we come!!!!

[Tommo1340]

Hi everyone, after being registered here for a couple of years and only reading lots of posts, buying the original Horizons DVD, doing an organised tour round the East of India and many trips within Scotland and UK myself and my mate are going to cut our travelling teeth on a trip to Norway and hopefully the Arctic Circle.
We're pretty clued up but not arrogant enough not to accept any tips, advice and hep we may of overlooked.
So as there is no direct ferry from the UK to Norway we are

• Going Newcastle to Amsterdam, arriving in Amsterdam at 7.30am
• Riding up to Frederikshavn in Denmark to get a 7.30pm ferry to Oslo on the same day.
• We would of gone to Kiel which is closer but the ferry leaves at 2.30pm and doesn't allow us enough time to get there from the Dam.

Once in Oslo it gives us 14 days to get to the Arctic Circle and back. The first target is Bodo and any further up is a bonus.
We'd like to experience the people, culture and country more than mile munching for the sake of it. Obviously the Fjord region is a must but any advice about places to see and visit on the way up or back (Remembering we only have 14 days in Norway before our ferry back to Denmark from Oslo) would be great.
We know that

• Speeding is very much frowned upon and is a no no (So that's me taking my V-Strom then instead of my B-King ;.)
• Take all documents and an International driving licence helps if there is a language barrier
• When in the mountains and Fjords 100km might take us all day to do
• Smile loads!!!

So any advice on where to go, where to stay, places to visit and any laws or customs we've overlooked would be great.
Initial thoughts are to get up to Bodo quickly then come back down nice and easy taking in the sights and landscapes more.

Thanks loads everyone!!!

[jkrijt]

Hi,

I made a trip to the NorthCape some years ago. Maybe you can get some useful information from my trip report.

http://jkrijt.home.xs4all.nl/trips/n2g/index.shtml

Have a nice trip ;-)

[pixie13]

Oh, I am jealous! Sounds absolutely brilliant. Keep us posted :-)

Pixie.x

[Tommo1340]

jkrijt, thanks for the link. That will be some good reading material to have over the coming weeks.
In your opinion is Oslo to Bodo and back again do-able?
Also if there were a couple of things 'Not to miss' what would advise to do or see?

Pixie, you say you're jealous. Over the past couple of years i've just been reading other riders tales on here and been jealous of them, especially the RTW trips

[CeeGH]

Hi Tommo,

Alternative route is Harwich to Esbjerg in Denmark, Hirtshalls to Kristiansand in South Norway, but maybe going through Holland etc part of the trip.

Regards language barrier, just about everyone speaks great English so no problem. Don't think you need IDP either - I drove for my first year living here with a UK licence and no problem. Make sure you have wet weather gear (apologies if stating the obvious) and if you are a drinker, take advantage of your duty free allowance.

Speeding is expensive if caught and drink driving an absolute no no with mandatory jail time plus massive fines.

Scenery is spectacular from what I've seen but to be brutally honest, living here I have not actually toured that much other than day trips.

Up north, a bit further than Bodø is Lofoten which is spectacular and in the south, I can recommend Preikestolen (Pulpit Rock) just outside Stavanger if you have time for 1.5 hours walk each way.

If you are coming down the west coast PM me and I will give what help I can.

Chris

[McCrankpin]

Welcome to the Hubb!!

You might not have time for this but I'll chuck it in....

Some way before North Cape there's a small car park on the left of the road, signposted 'Knivskjellodden'.
The path starts here to the true northernmost point of mainland Europe, and if the weather forecast is reliable and good, the 6 mile walk there is well worth the time spent.

It's not a difficult walk - in June - but navigation depends on being able to see the red splodges of paint on the rocks along the way.
I thought it was a wonderful place to visit, I departed the carpark at around 9:30pm and arrived at Knivskjellodden about 12:30am.
The Arctic Ocean scenery with the sun due north was stunning.
And I was completely alone, no one else there.

Until I stepped around a large rock close to the water's edge and found a tiny 1-man tunnel tent. About 2:30am.
I walked on quietly.
The scenery, atmosphere and prolific Arctic birdlife kept me there about 3 hours.

I was lucky with the weather and I think you need that to enjoy it fully.
Highly recommended if you have the time. And I guess you can camp there if you want.
A good report here:
Northernmost Exposure: Norway's Knivskjellodden

The west coast road around the fjords north of Bergen is stunning, I went in June (1999) and stayed mainly in youth hostels. There are a lot up that coast.
It was out of season and mostly I was the only guest there. But many of them are attached to hotels and you can use all the hotel facilities.

Have a great trip!
What time of year are you going?

[jkrijt]

Originally Posted by Tommo1340

In your opinion is Oslo to Bodo and back again do-able?

I went from my home in the Netherlands to the Northcape and back in 12 days so, yes, it is do-able but it depents on how much you want to ride on a day. I was traveling alone so I did not had to stop very often and love riding all day.
To be honest, next time I would take more time for sightseing then I did this time.

Originally Posted by Tommo1340

Also if there were a couple of things 'Not to miss' what would advise to do or see?

The scenery is the most beautifull part of Norway and I enjoyed visiting the Gearranger fjord, Trollstigen, Trontheim and the Lofoten very much as you will see when you read my trip report.
It can be usefull to visit some sites about Norway tourism like http://www.visitnorway.com/

[Tommo1340]

Thanks for all the replies.
Goggle maps and ride reports at the ready then;.)
Now looks like we might try and get as far as Lofoten.
Plenty to think about, thanks again.

[Tommo1340]

Sorry Linzi, I can't reply to your pm as I have less than 5 posts, but thanks for the advice and will be reading over the next couple of weeks.

[indu]

A few tips from my site as well

Budget travel in Norway - Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict

[Tommo1340]

Thanks Indu. Reading your blog this lunchtime and a load of great info in there.
Would you mind if I asked to translate the following for me? It's a couple of rallys that we might be able to do en-route from oslo to Bodo/Lofoten.
Cheers.

Farmer Treffet, Øyer i Oppland MC-Støtta 2012, Storsand i Sør-Trøndelag Næggelsprett'n, Båtsfjord i Finnmark Steinkjer Treffet, Steinkjer i Nord-Trøndelag Westfjord Brit Bike Rally, Øver Eidsfjord i Hordaland 15 - 17 34. Int. Nord-Norge Treffet, Harstad i Troms Fulltreffet, Sandnes i Rogaland Midtsommartreff/Stølstreff, Hemsedal i Buskerud Seljordtreffet, Seljord i Telemark VFR Treffet 2012, Tromøya i Aust-Agder

[indu]

Originally Posted by Tommo1340

Thanks Indu. Reading your blog this lunchtime and a load of great info in there.
Would you mind if I asked to translate the following for me? It's a couple of rallys that we might be able to do en-route from oslo to Bodo/Lofoten.
Cheers.

Farmer Treffet, Øyer i Oppland MC-Støtta 2012, Storsand i Sør-Trøndelag Næggelsprett'n, Båtsfjord i Finnmark Steinkjer Treffet, Steinkjer i Nord-Trøndelag Westfjord Brit Bike Rally, Øver Eidsfjord i Hordaland 15 - 17 34. Int. Nord-Norge Treffet, Harstad i Troms Fulltreffet, Sandnes i Rogaland Midtsommartreff/Stølstreff, Hemsedal i Buskerud Seljordtreffet, Seljord i Telemark VFR Treffet 2012, Tromøya i Aust-Agder

1) The Farmer Rally, Øyer in Oppland county (just north of Lillehammer
2) The MC-Støtta Rally at Storsand, Sør-Trøndelag county (same county as Trondheim)
3) The Chilblains Rally at Båtsfjord, Finnmark county (northernmost county, North Cape is there, thus not in scope for you)
4) The Steinkjer Rally in Steinkjer, Nord-Trøndelag County, 2 hrs north of Trondheim
5) westfjord Brit Bike Rally at Øver Eidsfjord in Hordaland county, same county as Bergen
6) International Northern Norway Rally at Harstad in Troms county, same C as Tromsoe
7) "Fulltreffet" Rally in Sandnes, Rogaland county, same as Stavanger
8) Mid Summer rally at Hemsedal in Buskerud county, some 3 hrs north west of Oslo
9) The Seljord Rally at Seljord in Telemark C, 2,5 hrs ride west of Oslo
10) The Honda VFR Rally at Tromøya Island in Aust-Agder C, not far from Kristiansand in the far south.

Hope this helps - and welcome!

[Tommo1340]

Thanks again indu. We'll see if any of those are on our route.
Will let you know if we do them and maybe catch up if we do.

Thanks again.