From Spain to Norway - the long way round

[Debs]

And there was I thinking he was going to be on your trip with you .

7 weeks I don't think they would all make it back, do you Judith???

 

[Anthea M]

@Scout Phil your recipes sound delicious! Eat your heart out Jamie Oliver!!

 

[famdebree]

Looking great there in Norway! Especially the Lofoten, we've been there once on our motorbikes. To short tho, so we want to go back some day with the Van. Enjoy!

 

[jumartoo]

Duplicate so I'll edit and say it's drizzling!!!

 

[jumartoo]

Looking great there in Norway! Especially the Lofoten, we've been there once on our motorbikes. To short tho, so we want to go back some day with the Van. Enjoy!

Did you have a good holiday? Did Wilf do well in his competitions.

This should have gone earlier, hence the strange post above! I've seen your reply in the morning thread now so no need to answer.

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[jumartoo]

Even Paradise has off days, and we're in the Lofotens!!! Its been a misty/light drizzly day today so no spectacular views. We still got on our bikes and did a couple of hours riding. We also strolled around a couple of the villages.

We first drove down to Henningsvaer who welcome motorhomes with a large mixed parking area and a basic cassette emptying facility.

A novel way to block up a doorway!

We then drove further west to Leknes from where we did our cycle ride.

 

[Scout]

Im supprized theres not more viking type stuff about...

 

[jumartoo]

.... From where we did our cycle ride.

The bridge to Gimsoya.

White sandy beach on the ride. Would be stunning in sunny conditions and perfect to sit and eat our lunch (which we carried with us and ate back in the motorhome).

From here we drove down to Ballstad to stay at the marina used by Our Bumble. Unfortunately its now a private parking area so we didn't stay.

Ballstad

We're now parked at the side of a very minor road to a tiny place called Glashyta. This is us for the night. Views are poor as the clag is down again.

Will take the same shot again if the skies clear.

 

[jumartoo]

Im supprized theres not more viking type stuff about...

What sort of Viking stuff do you want and I'll look out for it.

 

[Robert Clark]

Love the ceramic door mosaic - truly unique

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[DBK]

.... From where we did our cycle ride.

View attachment 178650
The bridge to Gimsoya.

View attachment 178649
White sandy beach on the ride. Would be stunning in sunny conditions and perfect to sit and eat our lunch (which we carried with us and ate back in the motorhome).

From here we drove down to Ballstad to stay at the marina used by Our Bumble. Unfortunately its now a private parking area so we didn't stay.

Ballstad
View attachment 178651

We're now parked at the side of a very minor road to a tiny place called Glashyta. This is us for the night. Views are poor as the clag is down again.

View attachment 178652

Will take the same shot again if the skies clear.

If it helps, your views are a lot brighter and more interesting than the views on Dartmoor this afternoon where I was walking the dog. Low cloud and drizzle.

 

[Scout]

What sort of Viking stuff do you want and I'll look out for it.

I just thought they would be using it as a tourist added attraction and have historical stuff about.

 

[moulin 87]

I just thought they would be using it as a tourist added attraction and have historical stuff about.

There is a major Viking museum on Lofoten, somewhere just off the main road in the centre of the islands..

We didn't stop there but there were plenty of coaches in the car park.

In Norway there seemed to be a lot of farm museums dotted about.

 

[jumartoo]

There is a major Viking museum on Lofoten, somewhere just off the main road in the centre of the islands..

We didn't stop there but there were plenty of coaches in the car park.

In Norway there seemed to be a lot of farm museums dotted about.

We passed today. The carpark was full of coaches and motorhomes!

Probably going back so far that way so may call in but museums aren't really our thing.

 

[jumartoo]

Here you are Phil @Scout

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[Hagstrom]

That's Olga! She was supposed to be awaiting collection at Argos....

 

[jumartoo]

That's Olga! She was supposed to be awaiting collection at Argos....

Ooops sent her to Phil and not to you!!!

 

[Scout]

Here you are Phil @Scout

View attachment 178688

funilly enough were watching that now.....

 

[jumar]

That's Olga! She was supposed to be awaiting collection at Argos....

Well how do I try to explain Olga, Click and Collect, Argos, Bradford...better not try.

 

[DavidG58]

Evening J + M can you offer any first hand guidance on Norwegian shopping, it seems to be well documented that it will be expensive, but then everybody seems to take all they can and not buy anything. How are you doing for fresh basics, milk, bread, fruit and veg the things we cant easily take with us?

have you dabbled with eating out yet?

Hope the sun shines again tomorrow, it must make a massive difference

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[Jenben]

Evening J + M can you offer any first hand guidance on Norwegian shopping, it seems to be well documented that it will be expensive, but then everybody seems to take all they can and not buy anything. How are you doing for fresh basics, milk, bread, fruit and veg the things we cant easily take with us?

have you dabbled with eating out yet?

Hope the sun shines again tomorrow, it must make a massive difference

There are loads of supermarkets to pop into along the way @DavidG58
we never had a problem picking up fresh goods although everything does seem to close on a Sunday.

We found bread to be about £2 to £3 a loaf but it was a big loaf and nice quality, milk about £2 , fruit and veg about the same.

 

[DavidG58]

Just been reading back through @Robert Clark 's thread about his travels to Norway in 2015, found myself liking posts I had missed back then, apologies Robert for the random alerts, even Judgemental RIP got a renewed thanks

Bud looks like our first Norwegian coastal stop, camp site on waters edge, with washing machine, this is now becoming Bevs biggest concern, never been away for 40 nights, going to M+ S in Shrewsbury underwear shopping this weekend to cover some of the risk

 

[Scout]

@DavidG58 I think you need SSHHHH gin

 

[jumartoo]

@DavidG58 fruit and veg is readily available but fairly expensive. Tomatoes are about £4 a kilo and so are potatoes. There is always one cheap bread to look out for today ours was this.

About 69p and it's nice bread! Don't know why they do this. Rema 1000 supermarket. Funnily enough tortilla wraps are cheap here 80p for a pack of 8. We've been using them for lunch filled with salad (cheapest bag of mixed £1.90) and grated cheese.

Haven't shopped many times yet cos we brought fresh over from Sweden but the next few days will see us hunting out bargains.

We haven't eaten out yet, definitely wouldn't on Lofotens, but will see what places we find when we head out of this tourist honeypot.

 

[jumartoo]

Yesterday we went on a walk from a small village away from the tourist traps. We were surprised just how many other people had the same idea. We arrived early and had no problem parking but on our return there were cars everywhere. The local farmer opens up a field for parking at 50 NOK and he had a good turnover.

Looking back down to the parking area

It was pretty nice on the way up but just as we arrived at the summit, this happened!

There is a nice view there, honest.

The mist cleared on the way back down.

Again we carried lunch and again we ate it back at the van.

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[jumartoo]

We were now at striking distance of the villages of Reine and Å. The sun was shining again and we decided to go to Reine and find somewhere nice to stay and the next day take a local ferry to go to do another walk.

The drive to Reine was interesting until we turned a corner and then it seemed like the whole world was there!!! Not our scene but we found a huge, almost empty, parking area. Martin went to look at paying NOK100 up until 3pm (we arrived at 2pm) and then NOK200 until 8am. The area wasn't pretty although the view across the water was pretty nice. We decided to continue to Å to see if it was any quieter. Couldn't even get parked there so headed back to find a more relaxing spot. Most of the photos here are taken from the van as we drove past.

Its a lovely place but it knows it, and so does everyone else!!!

 

[Scout]

nice pic judith.....what were the wooden structures? at a guess something to with fishing?

 

[DBK]

Stunning pictures and blue sky!

 

[Anthea M]

@DavidG58 fruit and veg is readily available but fairly expensive. Tomatoes are about £4 a kilo and so are potatoes. There is always one cheap bread to look out for today ours was this.

View attachment 178986
About 69p and it's nice bread! Don't know why they do this. Rema 1000 supermarket. Funnily enough tortilla wraps are cheap here 80p for a pack of 8. We've been using them for lunch filled with salad (cheapest bag of mixed £1.90) and grated cheese.

Haven't shopped many times yet cos we brought fresh over from Sweden but the next few days will see us hunting out bargains.

We haven't eaten out yet, definitely wouldn't on Lofotens, but will see what places we find when we head out of this tourist honeypot.

We have wrap sandwiches I use pesto grated carrot and grated cheese ! Delicious!

 

[DavidG58]

Looks nice where you parked to walk, could you overnight there?

Are there many options for wild camping on the Lofotens?

Many thanks for the food tips

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