6th July 2023 (sunny and warm, cool breeze) 50km

I decided this morning that there are certain birds that really shouldn't be inhabiting the planet.  It seems their sole purpose is just to be annoying. They have no "street appeal" and only recite the same message all the time.

You can't call it "birdsong" because song implies something pleasant to listen to.  Don't get me wrong, there are some lovely bird sounds to wake up to, but unfortunately they tend to get drowned out by the strident and the raucous.  I intend to put in my application to the World Wildlife Fund and suggest that whilst I am already travelling these parts and have experienced the "terrible din" first hand, a decent rifle and some ammunition would soon remedy this problem.

The same would apply to the noisy bastards of any nationality, who at any time after 4am, feel it is their right to wake everyone they can, in whatever campsite they are staying in.  I'm just not sure which organisation to approach for funding on this one.  I would normally do it for nothing, but the numbers are increasing all the time, so I'd hate to miss out on a good business opportunity.

Woke at 6am to the previously mentioned wildlife and prepared for another day on the road.  Little later getting started today with only 50kms to travel to the next spot as tomorrow we are taking in some amazing island bridges and it's supposed to be nice weather.

A lovely windless morning at camp today.

Breakfast was leisurely and since we hadn't posted the blog last night, Julia began that after I'd sent the writing and photographs through. Julia can then add pieces and choose the pics.  Whilst she finished off, I took down the tent and we met in the middle, ready for the road.  Marcus and Christine were around so we said goodbye to them. What a lovely couple.

The first climb of the day was to walk our bikes up to the road on a 10 per cent gradient. I can just imagine how many muscles I would have pulled, if I'd tried cycling that cold.

We began on road 64 which at 10.10am was particularly busy and no fun at all.  We were heading for Trollkyrkja to see a cave that Marcus and Christine had recommended, however, we changed our minds about this with the volume of traffic. Instead we went on road 663 as we had heard it was a beautiful quiet road for cycling, so seeing as the sun was shining and we happened to have two bikes with us, we chose to go on that road.  The trollkyrkja will have to wait until a later date.

The riding today turned out to be just what we needed. Close enough to the ocean (without a swim) on a peaceful country lane all day. The odd climb, but nothing in comparison with previous weeks and the scenery was as good as ever.

In fact, we spent the day just chatting away and the riding was the easiest we've had on tour.  All in all, very pleasant.

Arrived in the village of Bud and went to have a look at some WWII ramparts, mainly because they were right by the free WC which was the most popular place in town.  Bud had been occupied by the Germans, one of many coastal occupations, and they had left ramparts and gun placements. Crazy to think all of that was happening 70 years ago in such a peaceful, quiet place.

 

Further along the coast we sat and ate lunch looking out at the outcrop of rocky islands, which would have been a nightmare to navigate a ship around. The reading on it said many a ship had come to grief over the years, but it didn't mention if any of those ships were German. I think not.

 

By mid afternoon we were thinking of the campsite in Farstad. Travelled down a lane to the coast looking for it.....but it was not to be.  Instead, the campsite we were looking for was now a luxury hotel, which Julia popped into, just to check, although we were fairly sure we knew the answer.

Not looking too much like a campground. 

The view from the dining room of this lovely hotel.

I snapped this while waiting for the receptionist to finish on the phone.

Turns out, no campsite in the town. Nearest one 15kms away.  After a lovely day on the bike and seeing that hotel was just beautiful, I turned to Julia and said, "C'mon then, only 15kms further."

As it was, just out of town, we spied a field with an area set back out of sight from the traffic and there we pitched tent.  We have a view of the mountain towering above us and in the morning we'll be up early and on the road to island hop with interlinking bridges.

"Who needs luxury"?
"There were hundred and fifty of us, living in shoe box in't middle o road..

Now it is 6.30pm and we are just about to begin our meal.  Uncle Ben's flavoured rice and mackerel in tomato sauce.  We have already sampled a can of Carlsberg with chips and cashews, no less.  And some people call me CHEAP....!!!!!

Just a note on that hotel.  As we were cycling away we saw two bikes outside one of the rooms.
It happened to be another bikepacker, from England. He and his wife were touring in Norway when they received a call that her father had died.  Now they are having to catch a ferry from Kristiansund to Bergen, then a flight back to the UK.  They are storing their bikes in Bergen, but he reckons it'll be about a month before they get going again.  That's if she feels up to it.  We counted ourselves lucky that no such tragedy had befallen us and we were able to continue with our plans.

3000NOK vs $0, yes, we did ask. But seeing as we'd be sleeping most of the time, we'd rather use that money for something else....like food!

It's now 7.09pm.  The time always goes really slowly when you're freecamping and you're waiting for dark.  Be waiting a bloody long time here.  Probably til September.  Expecting some light drizzle overnight, with a bit at 7am. Hopefully not.

A couple of interesting things we have noticed. In supermarkets they sell beer and pre mixed drinks, but no wine.  Apparently you have to go to a different shop for that. 

We have also noticed a distinct lack of McDonald's here.  Every country we've been to seems to have those golden arches stamped all over the place.  So I looked it up and there's only about 12 in the whole country.   We haven't actually seen any but we did see a Burger King in Alesund. And some people go birdwatching.