28th and 29th August 2023

Woke to our last full day in Tromso to clear skies.

The temperature outside was supposedly a cool 8 C.
By 10am it was 11 C and expected to reach 18 C by 4pm.
Very cruisy today, nothing to do other than tape the boxes shut.
We would have liked to have weighed them, but it's going to be so close, it's just not worth thinking about...even though I did.
Going to check on any available cover around by the bus stop, as from 7am tomorrow, it's supposed to rain.
Also got to have correct change to pay on the bus....really... no card payment...??
Will look for dinner out tonight to keep things hassle free and that will be the end of our tour.
Just the travel home after that and nobody wants to read about that.

Got a call from brother Dave, just to chat and organise some stuff for our arrival home on Friday.
A walk through town followed that to pick up a few things.
Whilst we were out we looked at some property/ real estate advertised in the windows.
I'd been reading that Tromso house prices are only second to Oslo and we've got to say that the amount of building going on here is phenomenal.
Average price is NZ $800 000.
They are building a huge amount of apartments and I feel that someone should be doing that in New Plymouth, to cater for our age group.
Walk in, walk out.
No massive gardens or lawn to take care of, with cafes , bars and other amenities.

Back for a 2pm lunch with time flying by.

The afternoon went very slowly.
It's definitely time to head home.
Couple of walks around the block.
Ended up watching Erin Brockovich, which was good....again and finally bed at midnight with alarm set for 5.30am.

Here are some photos from last night.












29.8.23

Up at 5.20am.
I took the phone into the bathroom and turned the alarm off, which I'd set for 5.30am before I jumped in the shower.
Ate breakfast, grabbed the gear and boxes and next minute we were at the bus stop around the corner, waiting for the airport shuttle.
Bang on 6.32am it arrived and by 6.40am we were pulling up at the airport.
A lovely young girl checked us in.
Julia's bike box was 21kg and mine was 23kg. Tool kit made up the extra.
Through security, no hassles.
Found out though that we do have to change planes in Oslo,with only a 35 minute allowance.
That will be tight.
Coffee shop before boarding gates.
As we sat in the airport sipping our awfully expensive  (both awful and expensive), coffees, we looked out the window at the mountains standing starkly against the heavy clouds.  There was not a breath of wind and we looked at each other and agreed "great day for cycling!"
As we pondered the possibility of jumping back on our bikes to pedal south again, we realised that it didn't seem daunting and a part of us relished the thought.  But then it started drizzling and we thought no, we'll take our three months of good luck and head home to a NZ spring thanks.







"Leaving on a jet plane"


Well the bikes are boxed, we're ready to go
Customs check, we're coming home
It's time to board at last and say goodbye
The day is cloudy, the rain will fall
The plane is boarding, we're getting the call
It seems so strange, to bid Norway goodbye

So kiss me and ride with me
From the mountains to the sea
Capturing our memories on the way

We're leaving on a jet plane
Don't know if we'll be back again
Norway it's so hard to let you gooooo

We've cycled up and glided down
So many times, we've said wow
Experienced so many special times
Waterfalls and mountain highs
Fjord reflections made us sigh
Memories to last us all our lives

So kiss me and ride with me
From the mountains to the sea
Capturing sweet memories on the way

We're leaving on a jet plane
Don't know if we'll be back again
Norway it's so hard to let you gooooo

Comments

  1. Toffa,August 31, 2023 at 8:02 PM

    Wow I bet it’s a bit sad to be leaving but I think Norway showed you it’s best . If you were cycling back south again chances are it would be wet(you couldn’t be that fortunate again … could you?)
    By the time I’m writing this you would be through that tight 35 min connection . Hope it all went ok for you,there must have been others on your flight doing the same thing.
    In fact I’m picking you have reached Auck by now as it’s Friday afternoon . See you soon!

    ReplyDelete

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