On the last night in Sweden there was a big thunderstorm with flash lightening.   I wasn’t too impressed.  I waited until it looked as though the storm had passed before Alf and I got into the roof tent.  But it had only paused, it soon came back with avengance.   Huge claps of thunder right over our heads, that would make me and Alf jump and bark (Alf did the barking – I may have let out the odd little squeal!).   My friend Elaine called me in response to a text I’d sent and bless her, stayed on the phone whilst the worst of the storm was overhead.  What a good friend she is.

 

 

Whilst I was jumpy, I did stay in the tent and eventually slept.   The next morning I did feel better when a lady from nearby caravan commented on how bad it had been and that she too had been scared and particularly worried about how Alf and I had coped.  She assumed we had got wet – but we had stayed dry all night – and  I felt a bit better in the knowledge that whilst I hadn’t enjoyed it, I’d stuck it out and I wasn’t alone in thinking the storm had been a bit scary!

 

 

After a final shop in the very pretty town of Stomstad in Sweden, to stock up before we have to hit Norway, I got into the queue to board the ferry.    I was really quite excited – in a few hours I would have reached the first main destination of the trip…. then a bird pooped right on the front of Beryl.  It hit with a great big old splosh, all over the window.  I decided to interpret it as good luck,  I’d just got back in the van so it didn’t hit me and because I was there I was able to clean it off before it set in.  It was a good omen – or at least that was the way I was going to take it.

 

The ferry over was easy – I even managed to sneak Alf into the bar – until he barked and gave the game away.  It wasn’t an issue, we were able to sit in a sheltered area just for dogs and their owners.  There were cages which you could put your dog in if you wanted to leave them.  Of course I had no intention of doing that, Alf sat on the chair next to me!

 

 

 I was also able to get Norwegian Kroner out at the info desk – so the problem of getting local currency was solved.

 

 

Each time I have arrived in a new country I’ve had a few nerves and that was definitely the case here.  Whilst I’d been really excited getting on the ferry that excitement turned into a bit of nerves when I got off the ferry – this was Noway and there were mountains.  The good news was that there was no one to stop and check how much wine I had secreted away in Beryl.   Just a few extra bottles of course.

 

The drive from Sanjefyord, where the ferry docked in Norway, to Kongsberg – my first chosen direction wasn’t, to start with, too different from the drive in Sweden.   But increasingly the roads became more windy as the road followed the flow of a river.   Kongsberg was only an hour and half away – which was enough for the day after a two and half hour ferry ride.   As we came into Kongsberg there was a huge cascade of water right in the centre of the town – with an incredible amount of water gushing through.  I’d googled Kongsberg briefly a few days before but hadn’t seen any mention of it.   In any other country I’m sure  it would have been a bit thing – but in Norway I guess there are so many waterfalls this was nothing particularly notable  I later learnt that it was quite famous with kayakers and rafters – I’m not surprised.   After my one white water rafting experience, at the source of the Nile in Uganda, I will not be trying it again.

 

There had been plenty of campsites on the way into town – but I’d set myself the target of getting to Kongsberg so I continued on.   I did think though that I was in this place of incredibly beautiful country and here  I was heading to a campsite in the town .   As it happened there were road works in town and I couldn’t quite find my way into the campsite.  By this time I was getting tired (after a restless night sleep) and hungry so I gave up trying to get through the roadworks and found another campsite on the Tom Tom and headed to it.   It’s times like this that the database of campsites I’d downloaded onto the Tom Tom came in extremely handy.  

 

I drove about 15 minutes away from the town and  into the wilderness – at least that is how it felt.  On arrival at the site – there was no one – and I mean no one around.  There were a few cars but no people.  There was however a sign out front that said take a key for the cabins and someone would come round later for money – I guessed they’d do the same for camping, so I found a spot and set up camp.   

 

It was a bit strange to be there on my own.  The setting was beautiful, right by a river, with the sound of water water rushing over the rocks of a small rapid just upstream.  But it was also a bit strange.  There was a fairly big marquee set up, with nothing in it, a small army type vehicle and a trampoline.  As well as some typical cabins dotted around.  

 

 

Eventually a few people arrived – rather than campers – they looked more like they were all guys who were working away from home and staying in the huts during the week – that’s what I assumed at least.  They said hi or nodded their heads but that was it.   Eventually a man drove up and took my money – but he wasn’t particularly chatty – he did seem surprised though that I’d driven from London (its easier than saying Egham)!   So it was  strange mix of an incredible peaceful setting – which I enjoyed – mixed with a slight feeling of uneasiness.

 

It wasn’t just the situation that was making me feel uneasy – it was the next few days drive as well.  I wasn’t sure what route to take the next day.   I must have looked at the different option in the Tom Tom about 10 times – to the point of annoying myself.    And there were only about three different options to take – not 10!

 

The next morning I went to have a shower – but they were a bit grubby and the lock wasn’t secure – I decided to with an extra squirt of deodorant instead.    It wasn’t until I started the engine that I finally decided to go with the shortest route – a 6 hour drive from where I was to Bergen.  I had no intention of doing it all in the day – probably only about 2 and half hours – I’d see where I was at that point.

 

To start with the drive was great.  I kept telling myself I’d over reacted if this was it, no worries, I could handle it, easy.  This is a Stave Church (medieval wooden churches)  that I just had to stop at.  Unfortunately I couldn’t get inside – which has been the case with pretty much every church I’ve stopped at.

 

After that point, the road started getting steeper and steeper heading continuously up.  Once I reached, what I thought was the top, the landscape wasn’t pretty any more, in fact it was pretty desolate.    Dark bracken, with pools of water, dirty patches of snow  and with weird hobbit looking huts with moss growing on the roofs.  It was cold and I could feel the adrenalin pumping through me.   I kept driving and came up behind a big lorry.  I wasn’t going to try and overtake – its a bit difficult at the best of times with left hand drive to overtake.   But he was going slower than even I was – eventually a few vehicles came up behind me – they overtook both of us.   So eventually I followed.  OH MY GOD another car coming – on the brakes went and I quickly got back behind the lorry.  At that point the adrenaline wasn’t just pumping through my veins it was coming out of my bloody ears!   After going down hill a bit we went back up hill – the inclines and declines were getting steeper each time.  I did eventually get past the lorry – I had no choice – he wanted me to pass – but this time I stuck close to the arse of another car and got through – phew.

 

Eventually we got to a place called Gheilo – this was the point that I had thought I might stop  for the day.  But it wasn’t petty, it was cold, and I just wanted to get down off the bloody mountain.   I was hungry and poor Alf had been very quiet in the back for ages.  So I stopped for a very quick bite to eat in the back.    Alf didn’t want to get out – he just gave me lots  of  kisses – he must have sensed my nerves.  

 

We got going again.  I thought at that stage I must be over the worst – wrong!   I didn’t realise I hadn’t actually started on the mountain pass at this stage – I’d just got up the bloody mountain.   I then had to drive for about 40km across the top of the bloody mountain and each step of the way the snow increased until there was nothing but a growing wall of snow and frozen lakes on either side of me   The landscape was pure white and the air was getting white too and thick.  Before long it was pretty much a  white out – I couldn’t see very far in front of me at all.  I kept going – I didn’t have any choice.  Talking to myself all the way.

 

I didn’t take many photos on the drive.  There were places to stop but I just kept going.  I have since found out that I drove past the second biggest waterfall in Europe – Ops!

 

I kept thinking at some point we will be going down – and then the worst will be over.  I would have done it.  Eventually there was a sign to show we were going to go down hill – by a hotel and tourist shop – having seen nothing for ages that was bit peculair.    But the sign also had  flashing lights on it.  I decided best to stop and check it was OK to proceed.  I asked in the shop – she said it was nothing to worry about – just to indicate it was a steep decline.  Oh Ok.

 

In fact it was a steep decline inside a spiralling tunnel.   I had wanted to go down – but not like this.   Bloody hells bells.  Eventually I was down – and within a few minutes there was a campsite – I pulled in.   I’d had enough – I was shaking.  I had to talk to someone – so I called Elaine again and ranted.    After the rant and  a beer I felt a little better.  And once I’d calmed down – I called Mum and Dad too – yes Mum that was me calm!

 

I was at Eidefjyord, surrounded by the gigantic walls of the mountain I’d just driven across,  with waterfalls cascading down them.  On another day it might have seemed beautiful, but at that point, against the dark grey sky, it all felt a bit intimidating.   

 

 

 

But after a while I realised there was an exhibition building over the road with a tourist office.   After chatting to a very friendly lady there (and saying hello to the goat) I felt a bit better.  She’d recommend a place to go to the next day which had beautiful blossom trees in it – good to do on a nice day.