5 days 2-up: Norway

[Hovmod_imp]

We had a plan, and it was to go north. Northern Norway offers spectacular nature and friendly people, and during the summer months the sun never sets. It's also very far north on the planet, so weather is a factor. On the evening before departure, we started getting reports from up where we were heading. A camper had been flipped by the winds on a bridge. Ferries were being cancelled. Tourists were advised not to go hiking in the mountains. We took the hint, and decided to head south-southwest. Forecasts were much better.

So we packed and suited up Friday morning and took off on our first proper tour together. The CB1100 felt like I dunno some old American car or something, so I had to use the highest notch on the spring preload, but that did the trick. With me and the wife (we're not quite married yet, but we're just waiting for the pandemic to end so we can have guests) plus every bag at or above capacity plus a tank bag, the Honda fought back gracefully. Since I'm not a liar, I'm not going to claim that I didn't notice the almost 100kg extra weight, but hey... It's a proper touring device, and I just keep getting more impressed.



Plan #1 was to get to Smøla, but Smøla is flat and the winds were picking up so we changed our minds, took the gorgeous Atlanterhavsveien and found a spot to put up the tent. It was windy.

Day 1:




Day 2:



I had called my cousin who lives in a small village by a fjord, so day 2 was a short ride to Sæbø, where we took a hike up a hill to get this view:



After a pleasant evening with my cousin and his wife, we got on a ferry and started the most spectacular leg of the trip. I wish I had more pictures for you, but I just couldn't be bothered to stop every time we saw something pretty, and although I remembered to *charge* the battery for my proper camera, I left the fully charged battery at home.



We drove through a super narrow valley called Nordangdalen, which is probably one of my favourite spots in the world, but no pics. Then we took the old road up the Strynefjell mountain, a narrow affair built by hand in the 1800s. It was cold, wet, and foggy, and the unpaved road was muddy and slippery. A proper challenge. By now I had noticed the tire wear I talk about in another thread, and I'm sure that didn't help. Once safely back on asphalt, this was what the Honda looked like:



Further along we drove down to the UN Heritage site Geiranger, with its switchback roads providing absolutely spectacular views as we first descended and then climbed up the other side.



Next was Trollstigen, more switchbacks, this time in the most imposing looking black, jagged, rocky landscape. Go see Tom Cruise's next installment of Mission Impossible for some shots from this area, they were given special permission to come film during lockdown. If you're famous, you're not contagious, or something. Anyway, I took this up there a few years ago, on a different kind of ride:



Spent the night in a youth hostel in Åndalsnes.
By now the tire situation was getting serious. I really didn't want to go all the way back home on those Pirellis, so I spent some time googling and found a guy who could sell me a pair of T31, about 40km away, in the wrong direction.
We headed for the tires, got the upgrade, and thought we'd go to Smøla now, but again the weather seemed a bit rough, so we found a different spot, a guest house on a tiny island where they had a room and some awesome food and drink. The winds were punishing, we were so happy to not have to spend the night in a tent on Smøla.



Day 5 - the way home:


The last morning, wind had died down, so we finally made it to Smøla, where we spent a couple of hours. Last time I was there I took this (that's from the peak of a bridge - nothing on Smøla is this high up, it's flat as a pancake):



So pretty, and the roads are amazing. Just heaven.

Fifteen ferries.

By now we are tired and aches and pains start popping up all over, so we took the straightest way home, where we were treated to an excellent meal and lots of bubbly.

Two lessons:
My wife loved it, and the two of us had a great time! Yay!
Check and if necessary replace tires BEFORE a long tour, not during.

That's it. Next time I'll put the battery in the Leica and show some more of the stuff I can get to within a day or two from home.

[pdedse]

We had a plan, and it was to go north. Northern Norway offers spectacular nature and friendly people, and during the summer months the sun never sets. It's also very far north on the planet, so weather is a factor. On the evening before departure, we started getting reports from up where we were heading. A camper had been flipped by the winds on a bridge. Ferries were being cancelled. Tourists were advised not to go hiking in the mountains. We took the hint, and decided to head south-southwest. Forecasts were much better.

So we packed and suited up Friday morning and took off on our first proper tour together. The CB1100 felt like I dunno some old American car or something, so I had to use the highest notch on the spring preload, but that did the trick. With me and the wife (we're not quite married yet, but we're just waiting for the pandemic to end so we can have guests) plus every bag at or above capacity plus a tank bag, the Honda fought back gracefully. Since I'm not a liar, I'm not going to claim that I didn't notice the almost 100kg extra weight, but hey... It's a proper touring device, and I just keep getting more impressed.



Plan #1 was to get to Smøla, but Smøla is flat and the winds were picking up so we changed our minds, took the gorgeous Atlanterhavsveien and found a spot to put up the tent. It was windy.

Day 1:




Day 2:



I had called my cousin who lives in a small village by a fjord, so day 2 was a short ride to Sæbø, where we took a hike up a hill to get this view:



After a pleasant evening with my cousin and his wife, we got on a ferry and started the most spectacular leg of the trip. I wish I had more pictures for you, but I just couldn't be bothered to stop every time we saw something pretty, and although I remembered to *charge* the battery for my proper camera, I left the fully charged battery at home.



We drove through a super narrow valley called Nordangdalen, which is probably one of my favourite spots in the world, but no pics. Then we took the old road up the Strynefjell mountain, a narrow affair built by hand in the 1800s. It was cold, wet, and foggy, and the unpaved road was muddy and slippery. A proper challenge. By now I had noticed the tire wear I talk about in another thread, and I'm sure that didn't help. Once safely back on asphalt, this was what the Honda looked like:



Further along we drove down to the UN Heritage site Geiranger, with its switchback roads providing absolutely spectacular views as we first descended and then climbed up the other side.



Next was Trollstigen, more switchbacks, this time in the most imposing looking black, jagged, rocky landscape. Go see Tom Cruise's next installment of Mission Impossible for some shots from this area, they were given special permission to come film during lockdown. If you're famous, you're not contagious, or something. Anyway, I took this up there a few years ago, on a different kind of ride:



Spent the night in a youth hostel in Åndalsnes.
By now the tire situation was getting serious. I really didn't want to go all the way back home on those Pirellis, so I spent some time googling and found a guy who could sell me a pair of T31, about 40km away, in the wrong direction.
We headed for the tires, got the upgrade, and thought we'd go to Smøla now, but again the weather seemed a bit rough, so we found a different spot, a guest house on a tiny island where they had a room and some awesome food and drink. The winds were punishing, we were so happy to not have to spend the night in a tent on Smøla.



Day 5 - the way home:


The last morning, wind had died down, so we finally made it to Smøla, where we spent a couple of hours. Last time I was there I took this (that's from the peak of a bridge - nothing on Smøla is this high up, it's flat as a pancake):



So pretty, and the roads are amazing. Just heaven.

Fifteen ferries.

By now we are tired and aches and pains start popping up all over, so we took the straightest way home, where we were treated to an excellent meal and lots of bubbly.

Two lessons:
My wife loved it, and the two of us had a great time! Yay!
Check and if necessary replace tires BEFORE a long tour, not during.

That's it. Next time I'll put the battery in the Leica and show some more of the stuff I can get to within a day or two from home.

Hovmod, get back out there, right now, and take about a 100 more photos!!

What a wonderful way to spend 5 days! I really enjoy seeing your country and looking at the maps. Because of family and work, my focus is always directed towards Central America and all lengthy travel time and resources support that, but I sure wish I could visit your country.

But please, next time don't forget the charger, and TAKE MORE PHOTOS!

I googled images for Nordangdalen...Spectacular!! Thanks for sharing your ride with us.

(more photos, do the trip again, more photos, take more breaks, more photos, when you see that beautiful view, think of us!, more photos, I may never get there, more photos, don't hurry, more photos...more photos...don't forget the charger...more photos... ... ... more ... ... ...photos... please)

[tod.branko_imp]

Absolutely stunning views, really nice tour, gives us a lot to wish for. I have never gone that far north but I'd really like to, furthest north I've been on a motorcycle was to Utrecht, I have a friend in Sweden in a place called Storuman, and I've been planning to go for a visit and ride with him for a few days, he's got this amazing Yamaha MT-01 I totally lust for, but in the past 3 years something always comes up to spoil the plans. Anyhow, thank you for this, it's a beautiful story

And about tires, I think with how much you loaded the bike - they didn't stand a chance, even if they were brand new lol

'14 CB1100 STD 5 speed

[GoldOxide_imp]

Excellent tour snaps Hovmod.

It almost looks like you should be posting at some sort of "CB1100 ADV Forum"

[Tev62]

Wonderful Trip. Your going to have to get a bar mounted camera to take some pictures while you ride if your not going to stop for them!

[Hovmod_imp]

Thanks!
Tod, if you go to Sweden, you're pretty close, you know. Give me a heads up!

Here's a GoPro video I made last year, going the other way in the Nordang valley. The sound is all noise, so turn it down, and a few rain drops make it a bit psychedelic, but you do get a feeling of the majesty of it.






Edit: Forgot to say that the total distance covered was about 1300 km. Not too bad, for a 'proof-of-concept' trip.

[Cormanus]

Great report, Hovmod. What pdedse said about more pictures.

I like the look of of a muddy CB. It takes someone prepared to work on having fun to get them looking like that.

[Stichill_imp]

Loved the report and photos! This one is so moody and sublime...breathtaking!

[Cormanus]

CB sentinel.

[peterbaron]

Hovmod, great pic...but be aware, a lone wolf may get you...