Norway Fjords with motorcycle :
Day-18 : 21 July 2016  Thursday
from Geiranger>>>to Bergen :-Total distance : 365  km

I woke up around 06:45 in my little tent. I was in my sleeping bag all the night. I had wearing ear plugs against the waterfall 's sound and  the sleeping mask against the northern nights. Not bad. Good experience after many years in the tent,in the sleeping bag. Thanks to my ear plugs. They helped me a lot because the waterfall in 80 meters distance from my tent was causing lots of noise. When I took them off I felt the difference very well. 
The morning was broken and the day was clear but chilly. I went to the WC of the Vinje Camping. There were no people yet. Most of them were sleeping. I came back to my tent.
Outer surface of the tent was covered with humidity.
I packed my sleeping bag and mat and then all my stuff into the bags. I crawled out the tent and packed everything into the cases of my motorcycle. I packed my tent and put it to the backseat of the bike and fixed.
It was 8 o'clock and I departed with my bike from Vinje Camping. I rode downhill to the pier.
When I was at the port I saw that the ferry to Hellesylt has recently left the harbour. I missed the 08:00 o'clock ferry and the next one is at 11:00. I would go on the ferry and would have nice view and breakfast possibility during this 1 1/2 hour trip to Hellesylt. I missed the ferry with a few minutes.
I decided to ride in the direction to Bergen. I entered Bergen in my GPS navigator and the route took me up.Climbing up to the top of the fjord was with a few hairpins. The view was wild and and the surrounding was like another planet. It was cold and chilly. I saw a little lake like I had met on the way to St. Moritz 5 years ago. There were also snow on both sides of the road. Finally, I took a right turn and a few hundred meters later I rode into a tunnel. After the tunnel which was long and chilly I rode around a lake called Dalsnibba.
I haven't got breakfast and I was hungry. I wanted to stop at some stations and cafés but they were not opened yet. When I reached to the little town Stryn it was 10:15. I recognized 4 motorbikes on the right side of the main street and a nice looking café on the left. I decided to stop here in order to have my breakfast. It was really sunny and warm outside.
I put my riding jacket at a table adjacent to the other four motorbikers' table. I ordered something to eat (sandwhich with ham&cheese) and a cappuccino. While tring to sit at my table one of the guys invited me to their table. I accepted and sat there. We started to chat. These were from Feldkirch from West Austria and all four were riding in order to see the glaciers of Norway. They were old chaps around 60-62. We discussed about the coup d'etate in Turkey. They were very curious about Turkey. We sat together for 3/4 hour and then all decided to leave. They would have the ferry from Oslo to Kiel on Saturday wheras my trip was booked for Sunday. We all departed from Stryn in the same direction to the South.

My route from Geiranger to Bergen and further to Gudvangen.

Everything was fantastic.The road, the weather, the sky and the view in general. At a point, called Flata, I recognized a big cruiser ship in the middle of the fjord bay. She was trying to make a U-turn. The town at the deepest point of the fjord is called Olden. 

I stopped there for a while and took some pictures of the big cruiser "Monarch". 

The ship was operated by PullmanTour. Meanwhile, I saw four Austrian guys riding slowly further.

Watching the cruiser "Monarch" at Olden.

I departed again and rode all along the coastal road of Innvikfjorden. At Utvik the road left the coast and took me up to the hills. There were a few hair pins in the forestry landscape. The view was wonderful and the road quality was good. I rode until I came to Forde. It was approx. 12:40 and I sat at a small restaurant on the side of the street. The buildings were located approx. 50 meter away from street and there was wide parking area between the road and the restaurant. I ordered an omelette with salmon and an apple juice. After having my short lunch I started again to ride in the direction of Bergen. Next stop is the ferry at Lavik. I crossed the Sognefjord via ferry and meet on the ferry a nice German family. The guy, around my age, having the same profession as me (Mech. Eng) was travelling with his family for vacancy. He invited me for having a coffe at their motorcaravan. After landing in Ytre Oppedal (the adjacent pier) we stopped at the parking area. His name is Uve and his wife 's name is Kristin. Kristin prepared coffe for us. For the little boys I took one of my hazelnut packages from my top case and opened it. They liked the hazelnut very much.
Uve is used to work at the company Thyssen in Duisburg. He is responsible for "Instandshaltung" which means "Maintenance".

Nice and friendly chat with the German family. Uve and Kristine.

Coming to the end of our nice talk, the rain started with little drops. We said hello to each other and I took my way in the direction to Bergen. The rain was not heavy. Near to Bergen the streets are wider and busy. I came to Bergen. I found my Hotel Augustin. It is a middle size hotel in the center of the city. Very close to the walking areas in the downtown. There was a narrow street at the end of the hotel and I put my bike there. It was an open-door area but Norway is a secure country. I entered my room around 17:30 and then I left the Hotel around 19:30 for a walk in the city.

There is a very nice and authentic fish market in the deepest point of fjord. There are lots of fishes and sea products. There are also Restaurants and small places to taste sea food. 

Bergen, Fishmarket

Then I walked to Bryggen. This is the adjacent bank of the fjord. There are old houses and streets in this section. Houses are fixed on wooden timbers. Most probably the foundation is out of wood. The colors are very peculiar. Dark reds, special greens, braunish yellows, oranges are available.

Old house complex in Bryggen.

One of the balconies in the old street behind Bryggen.

 Behind Bryggen I found a very nice restaurant called Rosenkruz. One of the old buildings, called Bibliothek has been renovated as restaurant. There was no free table for me, so I continued to walk in order to find a place to eat. I went to the fish restaurant in the fish market. The weather was cold and rainy. I sat inside at the door. I ordered as a starter 4 pcs of oysters and then legs of King crab (200gr), a glass of white wine. As a main dish I got Hake Fish. 

After the meal I went out and I tried to find some bars to drink beer. Usually at 22:00 the people are closing. I found a bar in the narrow street just behind the main road. I am now in the Stress Bar and having Franziskaner Wheat Beer. There come a Norwegian couple close to me. The boy was drunk and was talking to much and was not easy to understand. The girl was in a better situation. She said that they are good friends and they are not a couple.
The girl was speaking good English. They invited me to hang with them and we visited two different bars almost within 500 meter walking distance. We went first to a second or third floor bar with a very nice view over the fjord. After 15 -20 minutes we moved to another bar
where the guards had not allowed Richard to drink. I offered a beer to the girl.

Later, around 23:30 I left them there and walked to my Hotel. On the way back I took some night pictures of Bergen.

Bryggen by night

Norway Fjords with motorcycle :
Day-17 : 20 July 2016  Wednesday
from Trondheim>>>to Geiranger :-Total distance : 370  km

I had my breakfast at the Hotel. The breakfast was rich and tasty. Various dishes to eat.
I prepared also two sandwiches and took two apples for for the road. I left all my cases at the lobby and walked to the next door building on the other side of the street in order to take my motorbike. I took it and rode back to the front side of the hotel. I started to insert my bags into the side and top cases.

The weather is cloudy but there will be no rain today in the direction where I am going to ride. The weather forecast has stated clearly yesterday night on TV. I was almost ready to ride away. Two french motorbikes came to my close circle. They were travelling on their BMW 1200 GS bikes and were campers with their tents packed neatly at their back seat.
We chat almost 15 minutes. It was 09:40 when I departed from the Hotel Comfort Trondheim. I took the road  E39 in the direction to Heimdal, Orkanger, Halsa. I took the ferry at Hals at 11:40. It is 61.-NOK. 

On the ferry from Halsa

I stopped at the Bunker Oil at Gjemnes. It is a very warm day with sunny sky. It is somewhere around 21 deg C. I sat at the bank and had got my lunch. Two sandwiches and a little bottle of orange juice were nice for the lunch break.

Lunch break at the Bunker Oil Station in Gjemnes

I departed around 14:00 o'clock.The road to Molde is very good with nice view on the left side. The road surface is very fine.Last 15 kms to Molde is having wonderful fjord panorama on the left. I saw an airport/airfield on my left. Just after the airport I had to turn left. It took me to a long underwater tunnel to Andalsnes. The length is approx. 3-4 km.

The view is wonderful with trees and green scene.

After a while I took the ferry to Afarnes. It was 13:45. After landing in Afarnes I rode all along the fjord coast. There were hills on the left side and dark blue and green water on my right hand side. I bought some fuel in the ESSO Station in Andalsnes. For 16 liter I paid 200.-NOK. I took a litle break there and then I started to ride again. The route is running in the valley and gets higher. After an awesome hairpin set someone gets at the top of something 850 meters above sea level. Trollstig Veien is the name of this place. The hairpins are very tight and the caravans are causing trouble most of the time. They are to big for these road and most of the drivers are not capable for taking the curves.

There is a café and rest station. The people can watch the valley and the mountains.

Be careful and have always precautions for the caravan drivers !!!! The people are parking at the sideways of the road and this causes trouble for passing vehicles.

Just after the hairpins view point

Far away in the backround is Andalsnes

After having stop at the top I departed in order to get down on the other side. This time the route is very straight and wide. I came after a fast ride to the town Valldalen. It is a holiday town at the bank of a fjord. Just a few kms after Valldalen I took the ferry to cross over te fjord and the get to Eisdal. First time in Norway I saw a long queue for a ferry connection.
I waited approx. 1 hour to get the ferry to Eisdal. I met two Irish motorbikers and we chat a little bit. I rode approx. 25 kms from Eisdal to Geiranger. The road was with curves and hairpins. The view was wonderful. getting closer to Geiranger someone can have nice view over Geiranger fjord and town.

Approaching to the town geiranger from North.

Geiranger is very famous. It is a very small town at the deepness of the fjord and has wonderful view under the shade of the mountains surrounding it. There are a few high star hotels but they are full. The camping areas are also fully booked and there is no free space even for my little tent. It was approx. 19:30 when I arrived Geiranger. I checked almost all the camping places and I was deciding to ride away to the next town. At the exit of Geiranger approx. 1,5 km away from the centre I saw on my left the Vinje camping.

I rode in and asked the girl at the reception for a tent place. She said tat it is available.

I was very happy. I parked my bike and set up my tent carefully. It is 145.-NOK for one night.

My tent and motorbike in the Vinje Camping place.

Vinje Camping Area approx. 1,5 km at the exit of Geiranger town.

After finishing my settlement in the tent and changing my clothing I took my camera and I walked down to Geiranger. There is a nice and short side way for pedestrians. It is with stairs sometimes with inclined paths. This route took me down to the heart of the town.
There is a supermarket which is open until 22:00. I bought some water and chocolate.

The route took me down to Geiranger.

Local house on the way down to Geiranger

Getting closer to the town Geiranger.

Geiranger from the pier of the ferries.

I sat in a bistro-bar at the jetty. I sat at the sea side and had got some food and vine. It was a nice and calm evening. After the dinner I walked to the Vinje Camping place. I spent some time there outside of my tent. Because of the noisy waterfall in the near vicinity I put my earplugs on and my sleeping mask and set myself for sleep. Good night !!!

Map of the Geiranger Fjord

Norway Fjords with motorcycle :
Day-16 : 19 July 2016  Tuesday
from Namskogan>>>to Trondheim :-Total distance : 275 km

Even my IPhone was set up for 07:30 wake-up, I woke up early in the morning at 07:00. 
I slept very well the whole night. Because of the cold night outside the hut I had also smoothly solved my need for WC.
I packed all my stuff and departed at 08:20 in the South direction. I stopped after 5-6 kms on the left hand side of the road. I had recently passed the town Namskogan. It is a big rest station and there are various food alternatives for breakfast. There was an old lady who was poor in English but the younger lady assisted us for the communication. I took a warm baguette sandwich and 2 cappuccino. After the short breakfast I departed. The road is fantastic and the sky is blue. It was good to get out early in the morning. The temperature was somewhere around 13-14 deg C. Riding more to South it became 18-19 deg C. Getting closer to Trondheim the weather became sunny and warmer. I think this is the second best day for me in Norway. It is usually rainy and dark in the North of Norway.
15 km to Trondheim I stopped at a Shell fuel station and bought some fuel. It was 12:25 when I arrived at my "Comfort otel" in Trondheim. I rode today only 3 hours and reached to another stop. I took the room in the corner on the third floor. 30 is the room number.
I parked my bike in a covered park house which is only 200 meter away from the hotel on the other side of the street. There is no need to pay for motorbikes. 

After resting a little bit in my room I left the hotel in order to see the city Trondheim. Just at the opposite corner to my hotel there is Trondheim Museum of Art. I walked through the yard of the Museum. It was something around 15:00 o'clock. I saw some sculptures in the garden of the Museum. 

Just at the side of the park there is a cathedral. I crossed the small street and came to the Nidaros Cathedral.I walked in the front yard of the building and enjoyed the sunny weather. The sky is open and the temperature is well enough to wear only a shirt.

Walking through the garden of the cathedral I saw another ancient building. It is Archbishop 's palace. There are also some other old time buildings which were renovated.

Then I came to a very big park at the bank of the river (?) Nidelva. There were people on the green fields of Marinen who were enjoying the nice weather and sun.

Old Town Bridge

East bank of the river Nidelva and Old Town Bridge

The Wharves

The Wharves

I am on the West bank of the river Nidelva & in the backround The Wharves

I walked up to the Kristiansen Fortress which is on a hill looking down to the city. After having some time on the green meadows and enjoying the sun I walked down to the Nidelva.

At the Kristiansen Fortress

Kristiansen Fortress

Krambuveita

Reflection on the Krambuveita

Gamle Bybro - Old Town Bridge

After the long walk in the city I came back to the Havfruen restaurant for a good dining.

Havfruen ($$$) is located on the west bank of Nivelda on the Kjopmannsgata. It is the second or third building close to the Old Town Bridge. The food is very fine and the ambiance is very nice. There is a nice panorama to the Nivelda and the Wharves.

I ate mussels and Cod Fish. They were very tasty.

Havfruen Restaurant

After finishing my dinner I started to walk on the east bank of the Nivelda. There is a nice walking route called Nvgata. The town name is Mollenberg. There are small breweries and

nice shops at the sides of the Nedre Bakklandet Street.

As usual the sun was still shining even it was 21:30. The houses on the east bank of Nivelda adjacent to the Marinen Park are looking to the sun set. I walked up to the Elgeseter Bru (bridge) and then I headed to my Hotel Comfort. My Hotel is located on the Prinsens gate. 

My Hotel