Scandanavia
 

I'm thinking of heading over to Scandanavia this coming summer (2003) for a two week blast up to the Nordkapp during midsummer. Probably get the ferry from Newcastle to Bergen, then cross over into Sweden and head north.

So, here's the questions...

What sort of road conditions can I expect up north? Lots of gravel, or silky smooth tarmac? Are there any toll roads?

Is there good fuel availability for unleaded? What's the cost per litre of unleaded?

Where can I find out about Midsummer Festivals? Is it just a case of turning up in any northern town, and joining in the merriment?

Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me out.

Iain

'02 XRV750
'86 XLR250
'68 A.H. Sprite

Paved all the way - varying quality but mostly very good.

See http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/johnson/Norway.shtml for the exact same trip and our experiences. Don't remember about fuel - my R80G/S is happy with just about anything.

have fun!

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
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One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hello
Motorcycls do not pay toll on roads in Norway, except in Bergen. You can of course get both leaded and unleaded on ewery gas station in Norway and Sweden. The cost of 1l of petrol is at the moment 1.3 euro in Norway. One tip dont go up north through Sweden, boring straight roads in quite boring scenery, You miss the some of the best roads and scenery in Norway :-)

Don't know how it is with motorcyclists, but my parents just recently returned from a 3 month trip to Scandinacia...

NORTHERN Norway was by far the absolute best landscape, but as soon as people saw their number plate anywhere in Norway (not being from Norway) they turned away, looked snobbishly at them and were altogether VERY unfriendly - it even came too often to disturbances at night with knocks on the door, lights in the campervan and so on...
If it was just them it wouldn't be all that disturbing, but they talked to Italians, Dutch, English and people from Eastern Europe and they all had the same - very xenobhobic behaviour...

It was even that bad, that while in queue for the ferry (and they DO HAVE A LOT) EVERY lane was stopped, when a foreign number plate popped up - whatever nonsense it made (like letting inland campervans before cars/motorcycles on the ship and just starting the lane again, when there was no other option/inland number plate).
Or a Norwegian dropping the fishing line in and in, ripping fish out and thereby chasing the fish away - with a very high toll on dead fish which was thoughtlessly thrown back in the water.
If the person hadn't moved with ALL the other fishers (not Norwegian at a campground for sure) to another spot starting all over again you would've thought he was just cruel an killing fishes...

I'm not talking 'bout the odd single person, but when they came back they sad THEY NEVER EVER HAD EXPERIENCED such a hatred against foreigners...

May be different with motorcyclists, but among the people in campervans most if not all said it was absolute intentionally!
The only nice people my parents met in Norway where some old women (old enough to have seen WW II) - very confusing to me as you might imagine THESE would be unfriendly...

Anyhow - my parents also found out, that it hasn't been that bad a couple of years agon and it seemd the "younger" people like 15 up to 30 or something develop this behaviour - even when the older generations aren't really happy about Germany they should at least let the Dutch, Italian or Danish get away...

Well - Norway has absolutely stunning landscape they said and it won't get any better if noone shows them that foreigners DON'T bite!

So head up there, try getting a chat or two to show how NICE people from other countries can be...

Finland was OK with that - AND BEAUTIFUL, too, but not quite like Norway landscapewise...
Sweden was absolutely no problem - beautiful, nice people and a friendly welcome everywhere...

Anyhow - have fun and carry a light of your smile all the way up - maybe it's just what they need!

Greetings Mel..

P.S. Try avoiding the tunnels - as I heard the air is almost unbearable in a car...

Interesting experiences ....

Personally (and FWIW which may be 5/8ths ) I highly rate Norway as one of Europe's few good motorbike playgrounds . Lots of corners , little traffic , great scenery , and abundance of camping spots etc etc .

I never had any problems with the people who were all great , but hey , I was not in a camper ;-P

Chris

Sorry aboat your parents, not having a nice tour in Norway. Here's the explanation: every summer thousands of (german:-)) campervans head north. They fill up the campervan with all the canned food and beer they need for the whole tour, before entering Norway (missing all the marvelous food and the higly rekommended beer we have), they do not use the campgrounds but park their campervan next to the roads and emty their chemical campervan-toilets into the nature, dropping their garabage anywhere. Just to save their money (already spent on a new campervan and 3 months holiday..)Crawling up and down the tiny mountainroads with their huge campervan, doing 40-60 km/h, NOT letting the 20 cars behind them pass! Why should we welcome them?

Belive me, this is just as much the thruth as the description of all Norwegians as non-friendly bastards:-))

I think that if people (even the campervan-people) travel with a smile on their face, treat people they meet in a friendly manner, then they will be met by the same!

Back to the topic; motorbiketraveling in Scandinavia.
Norway is a beautiful country for motorbiketravelling. Along the route there's a lot to see, especially the nature. You might have 30+ and sunshine, and 2- and snow, but most likely a mix of sunshine & 20+ and rain & 5+
You can camp almost anywhere in the wilderness, but have to bee in a distance of 250 meter from peoples houses. You can fish in the sea for free, but have to pay toll for fishing in lakes and rivers. Petrol is no problem, but the distances up north are higher than in south.
Norway is expensive, but on a motorbike and with a tent, you'll afford it without problem. For food, stick to the shops like: Rema 1000, Mega, Rimi, Spar and others. Do not do your shopping at the petrolstations, some of them are quite expensive. Remember that in more "remote" areas, the lokal shop also have petrol.

Ferrys: motorbikes are normally taken onboard first. Remember always to pass the cars and park the bike in front of the lane. The bikes are easy to put in the tight places on the ferry.

Tunnels: we've got plenty of them. Nothing to see in there, but most of them will have a "old" road nearby, used before they got the tunnel. Thats where you'll get the curves and the sceenery. (get a good map).

And again, keep smiling, and you'll meet friendly locals!

Regards
Mads

Haven't been there yet, but I do have this site bookmarked.

http://www.camping.no/index_eng.html



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Alex

Alex's BMW Motorcycle & Global Touring Page http://www.ott.igs.net/~ace