Friday 30th.

The road north from Rysstad starts off much like the Scottish Trossachs and if we had no sheep eating the trees then would be very similar to heading Calendar to Glencoe. As we gained height towards the Ski area of Hovden at 960m there was still plenty of snow about and many frozen lakes. We nipped off the bikes to enjoy a brew on the shore and was surprised to see a heat haze raising from the lake. It was warm right enough, but odd to be next to the ice.

We then dropped down on to the main Oslo to Bergen road although hardly busy. This gained height until the whole area was snow covered. On our right, heading west was the Hardangervidda National Park an area of high ground mostly over 1000m with round rather than dramatic peaks.




We then dropped down on to the main Oslo to Bergen road although hardly busy. This gained height until the whole area was snow covered. On our right, heading west was the Hardangervidda National Park an area of high ground mostly over 1000m with round rather than dramatic peaks. Next came a very long and cold tunnel, I think it was around 8km. Not much fun on the bike, except for the Messherschmitt sound my engine made under full acceleration, reverberating off the tunnel walls.

Next came a very long and cold tunnel, I think it was around 8km. Not much fun on the bike, except for the Messherschmitt sound my engine made under full acceleration, reverberating off the tunnel walls. Back into the open and a stop at a coop for lunch and a trip around Rodal Church set in a very alpine valley with peaks and yellow flowers its background.

From there through Odda, supposedly the ugliest town in Norway and the centre of its iron smelting business. Situated at the head of a fjord, it was hardly Coventry or Cumbernauld, but still jarred somewhat with what had until now been very scenic. Our final drive was much like the old Loch Lomond road and the Oban to Fort William road mixed in as we picked our way around the Fjordside to Eidfjord and a well earned day off.