What a great trip in a great country. Here’s a bit of a review and some “out-takes”. Rather than a ton of writing I fancied more of a picture blog than the usual itinerary stuff which can be a yawn to do and read. Here’s a bit though.

I flew to Alesund ( can be super cheap if you plan in advance) and went inland to Andalsnes at the head of the fjords and near the mountains. I then hit the hills in the area around Trollstigen and Geiranger staying in “hytter”, the basic cabins most campsites have. I didn’t do massive horizontal distance ,wanting to take it all in and stop for photos, snacks and coffee, or just take in the place, but according to the little wizard thing on my handlebars I did 3750 metres of climbing ( 11,558 feet). Which is a lot of cake.

7 days isn’t really enough as you ride into the trip, and the weather can be variable which is when cabin fever can set in. A word about the ” hytter”, they are a Norwegian institution and just the best thing. Nothing is better than at the end of an exhilarating day and getting into your timber suite. No number of AA stars could rate it. I would start at 10 and move up.

My bike was perfect the whole way, and it carried a fair bit of weight on the pannier rack. I did find a bike shop on the first day to get the right pressure in the tyres which lasted right through.
Heres a few random pics.

The Mountain Savoy, room 2, off suite.

previously censored

Reindeer balls . Yes.

Today is pretty much travel day with a couple of short rides each end. Its going to be; cycle, boat, bus, cycle, taxi, bus, plane. So all in one post today when I can find some wi fi.

The morning ferry takes me down Geiranger fjord, ferries are fairly cheap and much better than the tour boats. A couple of big cruise ships pass on their way to filling up the cafes. Geiranger isn’t much more than a large village and its like trying to get a pie at half time. Incredibly though very few go more than 50 metres and the nice places are beyond that and quiet. All the cruise ship stops have the Troll zone, nothing to do with social networking.

Love the ferries though. Cheese roll, coffee, feet up and unbeatable view.
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Then it’s bus to Alesund and get the bike boxed again . But not before one of my two favourite cafes of the trip. Its called Invit and it’s time for an end of trip feast. Hey I’ve done the cycling so feel obliged to fulfil the other two ( not that I haven’t already ..)

So it’s Sky Cafe Air again for the flight back, no one in the other two seats so it’s feet up here too. On the climb out we go over central Norway and the big ice cap visible through thin clouds. Bet there’s some dodgy little roads round there. Next time.

Enough said. Does what it says on the tin.
Toast deleted 8.43am June 13, 2013.

Not a no nails one, the nearest about 60 miles away so sorry about that. Nice though.

More of it everywhere would be nice. This is a heritage and art centre; crisp, modern, great materials, an exciting building to see and be in . And great coffee, I should mention anyway but check out the tables. Not a trick photo but shiny picture tabletops . I didn’t eat the cake obviously, just for scale.

Norway used to have loads apparently but we sent a few chaps over to blow it up. Luckily plenty of this kind everywhere and this time of year the snow is melting.

This view was free, I just came round the corner and there it was. Like a million dollars fallen off a lorry. Decided I’d better leave it there though for others to find- for a coffee though I’ll draw you a treasure map.

Chez moi last night, it’s high up here so pretty cold once the sun goes.

Started cloudy but gradually burned off for a breathtaking day, both literally and the scenes round every corner. From the Shire to Gondor by bike.
A shorter day but with a killer uphill tunnel thrown in, and lots of stops for photos. Tonight in Geiranger, of cruise ship fjord fame. Sure enough, the Queen Elizabeth is in town. Wonder if I can blag a seven course meal…

Yesterday ended with longest whoosh downhill ever. Not even any flat, all down like a bomb. A good thing as I couldn’t have climbed another inch, the top of that col in the snow was a Tensing-Hillary moment apart from knowing who came first. I did beat an old camper van to the top, it was parked at the time but I was going faster.
So today was more climbing than I thought but worth it for the campsite cafe. I’m trying to keep the three things even but maybe it’s all really about the food. Promise a food picture free day soon. Possibly.

I just love the ferries. Like a cheap mini-cruise. This one goes every 20 mins so the captain must know the route.

Norwegian churches can be really striking. I’ll try to find one of the older, no nails, wooden ones tomorrow.

In the sticks here they have proper garages, no add-on supermarket where the crisps are only large, the own brand sarns are on white, and they never have plain magnums. Real road trip garages. The bench commemorates the last opening.

Wow doesn’t really do it have to say. This is easily one of the most breathtakingly beautiful places in the world. Like Lord of the Rings meets Sound of Music. The Trollstigen road is a big attraction in Norway but nice and quiet today. Gets cold as you go up and you can see your own breath from about half way, lots of melting snow at the top.
So, today was the challenge for ProstateCancerUK, check out

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/chrisdobbs

and thanks to all those who have donated so far!
Almost to tired to type tonight and no boil in bag pics today. In fact almost to tired to eat, which is unknown.
Almost.
Here’s some pics from the day.

This means just 1.5km to ice cream, pop and crisps. Amundsen must have had signs like this exported from home.

Weather has closed in so change of plan and stayed put today. Better forecast tomorrow pm, at the mo it would be cycling straight into the cloud only half way up.
So today was about finding food on a Sunday.. the site shop only does ice cream, pop and crisps. You can only have so much of a good thing.
Chucking it down but found a local mini mkt with well stocked boil in bag chuck it down items. Fine dining follows…

well it did turn into this

not impressed?

this completed the dish nicely. Images of the plate adult rated and not available on this channel.

Not the ritz but miles better. Bike is all fine and set up for tomorrow, sky cafe airlines deliver again. Weather is a bit like Rotherham but the view is a tad better, sunny patches forecast but hey it’s only rain. Rain/bike, Rain/office, discuss.

Off and away now, in the sky over the north sea .. Norwegian Air, it’s a sky cafe with wi-fi. It seems the sea is one big wind farm in these parts. Good for the Cotswolds.

OK it’s not there, probably.
Gatwick tomorrow.

   The cycling, coffee and cake doesn’t always come in that order but usually I suppose it does. Cake is a bit of a metaphor for anything edible, but the other two aren’t negotiable. Never done a blog before but I guess I’ll give it a go starting with this trip to Norway to do all three things and probably a bit more besides.

    At least one part of this trip is the first part of a fundraising challenge which you can see here;

http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/chrisdobbs

    I’ll try to do updates each day and link from twitter so you and my charity Prostate Cancer UK can see how I’m getting on.