7th August 2023 (cloudy and cool, drizzle this arvo) 43km

The annoying little dog from next door's tent continued with his yapping until 10.15pm when finally the owner managed to shut him up.  Don't know how he managed to shut him up, but I was surprised to see it still running round in the morning,  so he obviously dealt with it in a different way than I would have.  I hope they have learned to never ever take that horrible, yapping, snarling, mutt to another campground. It is just not fair to all the other campers.

Layered up for bed last night as it turned quite cool and had a great sleep.  Woke this morning at 7.28am to a cloudy morning, but we were hopeful it would improve.  Ate breakfast, packed up and headed off on the 9kms to Laukvik where they had a shop.  Nice enough ride and we turned up there at 9.40am, where we waited for twenty minutes for the shop to open at 10am.  Very nice couple running it and we walked out of there after some nice banter and with lunch sorted.

On down the road and met an older lady walking towards us.
I gave her a big smile after our nice encounter in the shop and she smiled back.
However she wasn't smiling long, as when I passed her, I whipped her handbag from off her shoulder and sped on down the road........oh come on, not even I would do that....!!!


There was quite a strong rotten egg stench coming in waves as we left Laukvik.  Not sure what that was about but it was around for about half an hour as we cycled.

Not far out of Laukvik on a slight downhill, we came across a camper van which had maybe been attempting a three point turn on a single lane road.  It had a long wheel base and one of the rear wheels had got stuck in the ditch along the roadside. After first checking that Dot and Den weren't involved (no, it was six Germans), we thought briefly if we could help.  No chance, that was a tractor job.  Besides, that was one less oversized camper on a narrow cycling road.  Fortunately, we could go around.

Bonus was for us, no other oversized, (or any size for that matter), campervans could get past.  There was nowhere for people to turn so they were doomed to just sit there until that van was shifted.  And God knows how the tractor would get past the line of campervans.

By the time we had ridden to the other side of the bay and looked across, there were cars and campers lined up, not able to go forward or back. What a bloody shame we thought, cackling as we freewheeled down the now empty road, grinning widely at another twist of fortune in our favour.

Pete in the distance grabbing a photo of three livestock on the road,  while I did exactly the same thing behind him.

Scenery once again was worth a lot of stopping on our quiet 30km ride to Fiskebol and was one of those magic rides where the road was reasonably flat, the temperature just right and with a slight tailwind to have us zooming along.

Had something to eat in the waiting room at the ferry because there were no benches outside.
A guy came in, we think German, who was finishing just up the road and still trying to figure out how he was getting home.

Our weather from tomorrow, my birthday, is supposed to be great for a week.  However, severe warnings are in place for central Norway over the next couple of days as they are in line for the worst weather for twenty five years.  They've told people to stay home, the railways may not be running and there is a danger of landslides with all the rain.

Took the ferry over to Melbu at 1.15pm on what was our worst ride yet as the vessel was rolling all over the place. Light drops of rain had begun as we cycled to the Shell station to post the blog from yesterday.  As always, the wifi was excellent and this gave us a chance to assess the weather.  It was drizzling slightly when we got off the ferry and the two other bikepackers were pushing on.  Our dilemma was whether or not to risk getting soaked on a 26km ride to the nearest campground, or take a hotel?

Well, as the drizzle was constant and we knew that before reaching the town limits, we would be soaked, Julia shouted me a hotel for the night, for my birthday.  Again, we didn't want to rush this section as the weather is supposed to be spectacular tomorrow.

Checked into the Melbu Hotel by a very nice Italian girl, working over here for six months.  Very proficient.  Popped across to the supermarket to pick up some things for tomorrow, as well as a Carlsberg and Crabbies for a pre dinner drink and cashews.

At  6.15pm, we were in the restaurant.  Julia had the salmon and I had the chicken.  Both were delicious and we finished with carrot cake and ice cream.  Had a lovely corner booth by the window which looked out to the ferry loading and unloading with the mist covered mountains in the background.   The same mountains we had ridden round this morning with a beautiful clear view.  We have really enjoyed some good fortune on this trip.

By 7pm the drizzle had stopped and as we wandered upstairs after our dinner, we hoped the forecast for tomorrow would be correct.....sunny skies and 27C!

Well Toffa,  you had to go and mention Paul McCartney in one of your comments,  and as we all know, it's Pete's birthday tomorrow....and he turns 64.  So you know what's coming don't ya.

To the tune of the Beatles (When I'm 64)

As I got older
Lost all my hair
Body in decline
Will you come a cycling with me Julia
Pack those bikes up
Ride down the Rhine
Sorry wrong country
Dementia is rife
Norway's where we're at
Put on your helmet
Ride down those fjords and

Up that mountain pass


When this trip's completed
Mountains are climbed
Photos have been took
Race back home to Taranaki toute de suite
Time to start the first Norway book
So many photos
Cramming them in
Memories til we die
Pack up those panniers
Time for another
When I'm 65