From Spain to Norway - the long way round

[jumartoo]

After yesterday's deluge today has turned out to be beautiful. Warm, sunny and only a light breeze.

Last night was spent at another marina bobilparkering. Again NOK100 with leccy but no toilets or WIFI.

We left there this morning to do a walk we found in a handy leaflet we picked up at the marina in Sauda. We found a parking place just off a minor road and directly across from a sign post for the route. We had no other info except it was an easy 2 hour route. We expected an undulating stroll around some lakes and to a viewpoint but in fact it climbed up some 300 metres to the top of Sokkanuten. From the top we had 360 degree views towards Pulpit Rock, Stavanger and the areas north and south. We were also directly above the bridge we'll be crossing on tomorrow.

Crossing the top.

From here we could see the Camper Contact parking area bottom of the picture in the centre.

We're now at the Camper Contact area and will probably spend the night. Martin's guess where???

From here to there. Now looking back onto the hill we were on a few hours ago.

 

[jumartoo]

A few more shots of the CC area. Coordinates are N58°54'38" and E6°4'39" It's near the ferry from Oanes to Lauvvik south east of Stavanger.

 

[Hagstrom]

Won't ask whether he caught anything.....

Could be fish again for dinner? Great views, great walk, looks dry but cool from what you have on.

 

[moulin 87]

No, the weather was wet the day we could have gone there, I think @moulin 87 did get to it and posted a picture from there.

200 NOK for parking, don't think you can stay overnight but there is a campsite not too far down the valley which runs a taxi/bus service...

 

[moulin 87]

A few more shots of the CC area. Coordinates are N58°54'38" and E6°4'39" It's near the ferry from Oanes to Lauvvik south east of Stavanger.

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We've all stopped there....

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[jumartoo]

We've all stopped there....

Nice place!

Martin ran out of line so his fishing for this evening WAS curtailed until a young couple in a car came to ask if the fishing was good. The French guy then asked Martin!!! to thread new line on his rod for him as he'd never done it for himself. In exchange he let Martin fill his reel also. His girlfriend is German and they met in Deansgate, Manchester . He said she was impressed with his French kiss . He's actually half French half Swedish and his family have a house in Denia, Spain.

We've had dinner. Mackerel paté on rosemary crackers. Paella with (guess what?) there's a theme running through here

We're on our last few glasses of red wine (something went wrong with the calculations!) so a photo to remind us

 

[moulin 87]

Nice place!

Martin ran out of line so his fishing for this evening WAS curtailed until a young couple in a car came to ask if the fishing was good. The French guy then asked Martin!!! to thread new line on his rod for him as he'd never done it for himself. In exchange he let Martin fill his reel also. His girlfriend is German and they met in Deansgate, Manchester . He said she was impressed with his French kiss . He's actually half French half Swedish and his family have a house in Denia, Spain.

We've had dinner. Mackerel paté on rosemary crackers. Paella with (guess what?) there's a theme running through here

We're on our last few glasses of red wine (something went wrong with the calculations!) so a photo to remind us

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glad to see the Dutch MH that was there in June has moved away else Martin shouldn't be allowed out of sight...

A Dutch lady of a certain age was there in June and a group of kayackers arrived and she said to me if she was 20 yrs younger she would be looking to chose a partner for the night, but they were too young being in their 30s.. A little she'd changed and was drinking with them singling out her prey!!!

 

[jumartoo]

glad to see the Dutch MH that was there in June has moved away else Martin shouldn't be allowed out of sight...

A Dutch lady of a certain age was there in June and a group of kayackers arrived and she said to me if she was 20 yrs younger she would be looking to chose a partner for the night, but they were too young being in their 30s.. A little she'd changed and was drinking with them singling out her prey!!!

He'd run a mile!

 

[jumartoo]

Last fishing of the day. Martin and Belgian friend.

 

[Baileysbus]

That's an odd outfit to go fishing in! Looks like just got out of bed, in her Jim jams and thrown the blanket over her shoulders.

Handlining too by the looks of it. No rod and reel

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[Scout]

Last fishing of the day. Martin and Belgian friend.

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[jumartoo]

Phil, I can't see what you posted above. It may be our slow internet here at the moment or I've got something disabled!

I'll have another look when we get a good signal.

Edit

Signal improved got it now!

 

[jumartoo]

Another day of steady rain. We've moved to the coast and are at a restplatss just south of Egersund. Fish not biting although Martin did go out in the rain.

I had a stroll and found a tiny old bridge and a small stream water mill. Both built in the 1850s. It seems each farm had a small mill to grind their corn but they sometimes only had sufficient water flow in spring and autumn. The bridge was once on the old road between Egersund and Sokndal and is possibly the oldest in this region.

 

[moulin 87]

He'd run a mile!

He wouldn't have to run that far, she'd only be 20 metres away and I couldn't see her bothering to waste anytime or energy having Martin chase her...

 

[jumartoo]

Peeing down again today but we've decided that we have to get out and "do" something anyway otherwise we'll miss many of the attractions along this coast before we get to Kristiansand. We've already passed the Trolls Penis and today we'll have to miss a via Ferrara but we may be able to walk Brufjell and see the horizontal potholes. Going to give it a try anyway.

We've just driven for about two minutes from the overnight parking and found a wonderful w/p area next to a small jetty. So that's our first stop for today. Martin's on the jetty fishing in the rain.

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[Scout]

Morning Judith, its raining here too, but the scenarys not so good, Mikes really got the fishing bug, did he do any before this trip?

 

[jumartoo]

Morning Judith, its raining here too, but the scenarys not so good, Mikes really got the fishing bug, did he do any before this trip?

Don't know about Mike but Martin didn't

 

[jumartoo]

Coffee stop overlooking the via ferrata. It crosses the waterfall!

Well not be doing this one, not today anyway .

Fast internet here, don't know why as we're in the middle of nowhere. The route we're on is known as the North Sea Highway and even in these conditions there is stunning scenery all around.

A few from earlier from the fishing spot.

Martin's again a dot! This time camouflaged

A purple flower for @Anthea M

And one last shot, just because I can!

There's so much for us to see and do here but we need better weather for most of it. Will have to have a trip back sometime and just do this southern part of Norway.

 

[Scout]

Don't know about Mike but Martin didn't

Ive not been well you know

 

[jumar]

Catch of the day......1 Pollock....makes a change from Big Mac(kerel)....overnighting on small village harbour, the site of my victory....decided not to put tackle away just yet, I could be in with a chance of a pre-breakfast quickie..

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[jumartoo]

After saying we were definitely going out whatever .... we didn't! The rain got worse, and worse ... Some plucky youngsters got togged out in heavy wet weather gear and went to see the pot holes.

I had a short stroll round and found a renovation project for Martin.

Should keep him busy for a while!

A bit of brightness in the dull day was this German campervan which arrived just after these poor German cyclists.
We offered them a hot drink but they declined.

We drove through some stunning terrain even in the murky conditions and stopped for the night at a Camper Contact marina parking at Feda. The rain continued, Martin caught the Pollock that were having tonight and we sat inside looking out at the rain

 

[jumartoo]

Pitter patter of rain at 5am. Thought ... Oh no not again and went back to sleep. At 7am all was quiet. Going outside we saw some blue patches and mist.

Martin went ...........

Our van, Billy no Mates, last night in a lovely spot.

This part of Norway has many places to park, more than on Camper Contact. Even most of the pay ones are reasonable prices.

Due to two days without sun, little driving and a lot of TV watching, this morning for the first time ever we had a flat leisure battery. A place with leccy was searched for and we headed for a marina parking at Mandal. Last night we booked a ferry from Kristiansand to Hertshals in Denmark for Monday afternoon so we're slowly heading that way. We're already planning to come back to this southern part of Norway next year and see everything we've missed.

Mandal marina.

 

[jumartoo]

From Mandal there is a cycle route to the most southern inhabited island of Norway, Skjernoy, so we got out the bikes and headed off with a scribbled route description tucked into my glove!

There was one great grey cloud overhead and we rode straight toward and under it. We got wet, once again, but then rode out of it.

We crossed a bridge then took a track along an inlet through a wood.

And arrived at a small hamlet.

We saw a signpost for a walk so we locked up the bikes and crossed a bridge following the signposts.

The route went through private land and then opened out onto public terrain from where you could then wander at will.

There were some nice properties.

And nice secluded (except for spies like us) bays!

We retraced our steps back to the bikes and headed back to the van for a shower and lunch.

 

[jumartoo]

After lunch we headed into Mandal for a mooch around. It's so quiet here, even for a Saturday. I expect the weather has had something to do with people staying at home this weekend although this afternoon has been lovely.

We crossed the bridge from the parking to the main part of the town.

Some of the traditional white houses on our side of the water.

And the town side.

We were heading for the viewpoint on the hill!

Spot the motorhome!

 

[DavidG58]

so pleased your weather has improved, embarrassed to say we have seen no real rain since Germany on 22nd Aug, we haven't done the southern bit of Norway and will book that in for the future, but worry it might be very crowded, we have rarely even shared a site up here this month

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[jumartoo]

so pleased your weather has improved, embarrassed to say we have seen no real rain since Germany on 22nd Aug, we haven't done the southern bit of Norway and will book that in for the future, but worry it might be very crowded, we have rarely even shared a site up here this month

There are very few people around here also now. We were alone last night and there are three motorhomes here tonight.

I'm happy for you that you've had good weather. We seem to have done the trip the wrong way round. That's what happens when you listen to the Norwegians .

We've still enjoyed it, enough to be thinking of coming back next year as part of a longer trip again.

 

[jumartoo]

We walked up to the viewpoint on a path and returned down some wooden steps passing a wartime bunker/gun emplacement.

We've had dinner. We made fishcakes with mashed potatoes and the mackerel.

The potatoes we got from Jan's garden at the Cabin are rotting. They're turning to liquid. We dried them and put them in a breathable bag but we found a puddle on the garage floor and it was dripping from the bag. We've salvaged a few. Any ideas on what's happened to them, anyone?

Now settled in the van for the night. Our view directly through the window.

And slightly to the right.

What a difference a day makes!

May have another day here tomorrow, apparently there's a nice 800 metre beach here and a bike ride along the river.

All depends on the w.......

 

[jumartoo]

Our last full day in Norway and a mixed weather day. April showers in September.

We walked to the beach and through a forest to another beach, to a viewpoint, another beach, more forest, more views. A lovely bit of Norway in a very scenic country.

I'll post some photos from today and then I'm wondering whether to put this thread to bed. It's done what it said in the title!!!

(Of course we still have Denmark, Germany, Holland to do to get us back to the UK and then northern Spain )

The 800 metre beach

Seen from the viewpoint

Yesterday's island.

Martin with virtual beer in hand!

Angry sky that poured water in us just before we got back!

 

[Anthea M]

Well we're back to typical Norwegian rainy weather. We've stopped for coffee at a perfect free overnighter at the old ferry port to Sand. Unfortunately it's too early to stop but the addict has gone out in pouring rain for a fix!!!

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Looking across to Sand on the Rv13.

The photos are in colour .

50 shades of grey!!!
But stunning!!

 

[Anthea M]

Judith love lived your travels Thankyou for sharing( even Martins dodgy fishing ones!!!)
I would love you to carry on but understand it's difficult and often impossible. !!
This is my veiw!! Can we swap I've decided I even love rain!!

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