south of bergen

Was ready and packed for the early 5am start. Wanted to get out of Bergen before the rush hour traffic. The route takes you for quite sometime on the side of the E39.

This is a purposely built bicycle track that runs alongside the main road form Bergen to Stavanger. That’s one thing that is great about this country – there is a well paved and well accessible to cycle wherever you want in Norway – it feels like they respect the cyclists and give them what they need to get on – that doesn’t happen in the UK.

Took around 1 hour to leave Bergen before the smell of the countryside wafted into my nostrils (cow poop). Approaching into the Osoyro area is the first big climb. It was considerable to say the least and took a lot of calm breathing exercises and a hell of a lot of sweating. I forgot what it felt like to push yourself so hard….and then…the downhill – oh my god I was going so fast – was a little scared to begin with as the weight on the bike makes you go faster and faster and faster but then smiles and lots of woo-hoooing crept forward.

The first ferry crossing is from Haljem and cost 53 NOK (that’s around 25GBP – i think?). When it comes to having the bike you are classed as a foot passenger and there is no need to book onto the ferries beforehand – just simply cycle on.

A Norwegian cyclist whipped up fast next to me before we boarded and he was cycling to meet his family in Leirvik (as you do…) We chatted for the ferry ride, it was nice and then he whizzzzed off ‘up-hill’ I cranked up slowly behind in low gear huffing and puffing. The campsite that I had arranged to stay at was off the cycle route so I came down east of Stord. Arrived early in the afternoon, pitched and showered and then met some German folk who invited me for dinner to practice their English.

I was informed about the wolves, bears and black pumas – they wondered if I was not scared. To be honest I hadn’t even thought about it or that they even existed where I was – however as I lay in my tent trying to drift off to sleep I thought about what objects and weapons I had that would kick the ass of a wolf.