The superb road to Roldal.
The forecast had been better for today, so last night I had made up sannies and planned to get the troops up early so we could all walk up to Preikestolen, so, it was a disappointment to here the rain lashing off the van before we got up. It eased a bit, but the cloud was down to a low level on the hills so the plan was scuppered, some things just aren't meant to be. So we had breakfast, sorted things out and got on the road at our usual time of the back of 10. I wish this was an hour earlier as it has a knock on effect at the end of the day. We don't have definite places to park, we just drive a bit each day and see where we end up, but after a few days and not so many miles done it was time to get a bit further up the road, it was raining so might as well push on.
We were following the 13 which is the Norwegian Scenic Route Ryfylke from Oanes to Roldal. Given the weather and the low cloud for the first section at least as far as the ferry from Hjelmelandsvagen over to Nesvik the scenery was very Scottish, very reminiscent of the road between Kyle of Lochalsh and Lochcarron. Just before Tau we passed by the entrance and exit for the new tunnel that is being constructed and due for completion later this year. It will be 26km long and link Stavanger and Tau, I think it will become the worlds longest tunnel. The man in the campsite in Stavanger was worried that tourists might well bypass Stavanger after it is built, hopefully not as it has a lot to offer.
The ferry came and whisked across the Garsundfjord and soon after we driving along very scenic north side of the Josenfjord. There were very few places to stop and take pictures and that is probably just as well, the weather was improving and the mountains were unveiling themselves from the mist and cloud. We found a place to park up and eat the ready made sandwiches and headed to the shore, the boys to throw some stones in and myself armed with fishing rod to see if anything was biting. It was a cracking place to fish, nothing major was caught although I did have a reasonable sized fish on for a moment or 2, unfortunately it was smarter than me and got the hook out its mouth. There were an incredible number of small fish swimming about right in front of me, mainly wrasse of different species and also lots of smaller fry, not sure what they were. The boys had a good time chucking some stones in at a safer bit of shoreline, the bit I was at with deeper water was super slippy with the rain that had fallen.
At 2pm we called it a day and got back on the road, soon after there was a road choice to make, continue on the 13 through Sand, or cut off on the 46 then soon after take the 520, both roads would end pretty much at Roldal so the smaller and hopefully more spectacular 520 was chosen, it didn't disappoint. It the usual steep sided fjord road, rising and falling with big drops to the side, but we came across our first few big waterfalls or Foss as they are known in Norway. Logan was tired and had just about nodded off suddenly sprung to attention when he heard us exclaiming about the waterfalls, he really seems to like them. We stopped at one just south west of Sauda called Svandalsfossen. It was right beside the road and had steel steps leading up along side it. We spent a wee while here and then again on the shore skimming some stones on the calm water. Back on the road we passed through Sauda with its large ore smelter, the main employer in the town. This is in fact the largest Manganese melting plant in Northern Europe.
The road then starts to twist and turn its way up and up, always narrow and with rock faces at the side that require a close eye when driving, they could make a mess of Bessies bulge. The conifers that are everywhere soon give way to trees like birches and other deciduous trees and then further up still only sparse heathers and lichens, this is a harsh environment up here. the road tops out somewhere around 1000 meters, I didn't have my altimeter set but there was plenty snow up here, although much less than normal as it was a poor winter for Norway just like Scotland according to the campsite lady. It wasn't a road to rush, but time was wearing on and Joyce was getting anxious about the time as tea needing cooking. But, there was no where to park up anyway and it would have been a cold night at this altitude with the wind blowing strongly too. We headed down into Roldal and found a campsite for the night where a late but tasty tea was quickly cooked up by Joyce.
The high pass we crossed directly above Bessies bulge.
The ferry came and whisked across the Garsundfjord and soon after we driving along very scenic north side of the Josenfjord. There were very few places to stop and take pictures and that is probably just as well, the weather was improving and the mountains were unveiling themselves from the mist and cloud. We found a place to park up and eat the ready made sandwiches and headed to the shore, the boys to throw some stones in and myself armed with fishing rod to see if anything was biting. It was a cracking place to fish, nothing major was caught although I did have a reasonable sized fish on for a moment or 2, unfortunately it was smarter than me and got the hook out its mouth. There were an incredible number of small fish swimming about right in front of me, mainly wrasse of different species and also lots of smaller fry, not sure what they were. The boys had a good time chucking some stones in at a safer bit of shoreline, the bit I was at with deeper water was super slippy with the rain that had fallen.
At 2pm we called it a day and got back on the road, soon after there was a road choice to make, continue on the 13 through Sand, or cut off on the 46 then soon after take the 520, both roads would end pretty much at Roldal so the smaller and hopefully more spectacular 520 was chosen, it didn't disappoint. It the usual steep sided fjord road, rising and falling with big drops to the side, but we came across our first few big waterfalls or Foss as they are known in Norway. Logan was tired and had just about nodded off suddenly sprung to attention when he heard us exclaiming about the waterfalls, he really seems to like them. We stopped at one just south west of Sauda called Svandalsfossen. It was right beside the road and had steel steps leading up along side it. We spent a wee while here and then again on the shore skimming some stones on the calm water. Back on the road we passed through Sauda with its large ore smelter, the main employer in the town. This is in fact the largest Manganese melting plant in Northern Europe. 
The road then starts to twist and turn its way up and up, always narrow and with rock faces at the side that require a close eye when driving, they could make a mess of Bessies bulge. The conifers that are everywhere soon give way to trees like birches and other deciduous trees and then further up still only sparse heathers and lichens, this is a harsh environment up here. the road tops out somewhere around 1000 meters, I didn't have my altimeter set but there was plenty snow up here, although much less than normal as it was a poor winter for Norway just like Scotland according to the campsite lady. It wasn't a road to rush, but time was wearing on and Joyce was getting anxious about the time as tea needing cooking. But, there was no where to park up anyway and it would have been a cold night at this altitude with the wind blowing strongly too. We headed down into Roldal and found a campsite for the night where a late but tasty tea was quickly cooked up by Joyce.
The high pass we crossed directly above Bessies bulge.
At times i am jealous of the Norwegian roads and infrastructure their roads are way better than Scotland`s and they still continue to improve them, the Scottish roads are getting worse instead of better the Norwegian economy is strong and they look after their peoples interests better, if only the beer was cheaper Braw pics buddy
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