Too wet for the Trolls en route to Alesund.
We slept well in out free parking spot on the shores of the Tafjord, we are a wee bit closer to the road than would have liked, but only one hilarious driver felt the need to peep his horn as he passed by us. This is something that happens in Scotland a lot, they seem to think its funny to have a peep at someone who is maybe sleeping or just enjoying a bit of the scenery, Oh well, if it makes their day.......
Anyway, the weather looked a bit ominous, last evening we had heard thunder rumbling away in the distance but not in our valley. The boys managed to throw a few stones in after breakfast before the rain came on. And then we were on our way. Today was the day we would drive the Trollstegin, reputedly the most spectacular of the fjord roads in Norway and one we had elected not to miss.
We set off and climbed away from the fjord and soon realised that today was not the to fully appreciate the Trollstigen, the cloud was right down and it was lashing with rain. The rivers however were in full spate mode, the thunder storm was maybe up in this area last night, and yesterdays heat had also got a big snow melt started. We stopped at a river viewpoint briefly and then continued to the top of the pass, I had got the Trolls ladder wrong, I thought we ascended it from the south, but its actually a decent down the north side of the pass. There was a large visitor centre at the pass, but there was nothing to see and it was just a big shop selling trolls and other tat, so we just skipped by it and enjoyed the steep decent. 10% for 14km with 11 hairpin bends. It was actually no worse or better, depending how you view these things than other stuff we had driven but it probably did just edge it in terms of "who on earth though about building a road up here" factor. It follows the top of vertical rock faces, and a huge waterfall plunges down the corner of the gully so at every 2nd bend you are staring at this white maelstrom of water, the spray hosing off the side of the van. It was just about dry enough and quiet enough to nip out and take a couple of pictures. There weren't so many buses out today, probably due to the weather. We stopped at another tat shop to take a couple of pictures and then headed north towards Aldalsnes, AND, a new page on our map, the same one as Alesund-finally.
We stopped a few miles along the E136 for a leisurely lunch and then got going again. We would be in Alesund mid afternoon and parked up nice and early for a change. Great!! There was no rush, we were heading for a motorhome parking area that was on our map, it said you needed to be there quite early, particularly in high season, but this is not high season so all would be fine we hoped. The weather by now was lovely, the sun was beating down, people were sunbathing on top of their yachts in the harbour area, who a difference. We took a wrong turning in a tunnel, this one had slip roads in it again and this cost us a few minutes, we need not have worried, we were not getting in the motorhome parking area anyway, Alesund was absolutely hoochin with cars, motorhomes, buses and people. Its Friday, it was rush hour and the roads were all snarled up. After some hilarity in the narrow streets and jams, we along with about another 5 motorhomes found the Bobil parking area, and it was rammed full, we were not getting in there. So, a quick google search and wee found the only campsite in Alesund and headed there, vans were being turned around at the entrance, Hmmm!! So much for being parked up early. I went in to ask the campsite man if he could take us without electricity, and hummed and hawed but eventually said no, we were not getting in here either, not good at all. He explained there was a concert on and that's why its so busy. So, it was plan C, either drive back half an hour to a site on the road in, or head back through the melee of traffic to a carpark next to the aquarium, somewhere we hoped to take the boys, we would give it a try-and-that is where we ended up. Along with quite a few other vans who we saw struggling in the traffic. We managed to eat outside in gorgeous sunshine, that's 3 nights in a row and then went for a nice wee stroll checking out the old wartime gun emplacements that are around this area.
Its not quite what we had hoped for, Trollstigen needs another visit on a better day,
Alesund is lovely, we'll visit the aquarium in the morning and then try and get into the Bobil parking or site again tomorrow, fingers crossed.
Post note, I think we have found the boys racers carpark form the evening, fingers crossed for a little sleep.
Anyway, the weather looked a bit ominous, last evening we had heard thunder rumbling away in the distance but not in our valley. The boys managed to throw a few stones in after breakfast before the rain came on. And then we were on our way. Today was the day we would drive the Trollstegin, reputedly the most spectacular of the fjord roads in Norway and one we had elected not to miss.
We set off and climbed away from the fjord and soon realised that today was not the to fully appreciate the Trollstigen, the cloud was right down and it was lashing with rain. The rivers however were in full spate mode, the thunder storm was maybe up in this area last night, and yesterdays heat had also got a big snow melt started. We stopped at a river viewpoint briefly and then continued to the top of the pass, I had got the Trolls ladder wrong, I thought we ascended it from the south, but its actually a decent down the north side of the pass. There was a large visitor centre at the pass, but there was nothing to see and it was just a big shop selling trolls and other tat, so we just skipped by it and enjoyed the steep decent. 10% for 14km with 11 hairpin bends. It was actually no worse or better, depending how you view these things than other stuff we had driven but it probably did just edge it in terms of "who on earth though about building a road up here" factor. It follows the top of vertical rock faces, and a huge waterfall plunges down the corner of the gully so at every 2nd bend you are staring at this white maelstrom of water, the spray hosing off the side of the van. It was just about dry enough and quiet enough to nip out and take a couple of pictures. There weren't so many buses out today, probably due to the weather. We stopped at another tat shop to take a couple of pictures and then headed north towards Aldalsnes, AND, a new page on our map, the same one as Alesund-finally.
We stopped a few miles along the E136 for a leisurely lunch and then got going again. We would be in Alesund mid afternoon and parked up nice and early for a change. Great!! There was no rush, we were heading for a motorhome parking area that was on our map, it said you needed to be there quite early, particularly in high season, but this is not high season so all would be fine we hoped. The weather by now was lovely, the sun was beating down, people were sunbathing on top of their yachts in the harbour area, who a difference. We took a wrong turning in a tunnel, this one had slip roads in it again and this cost us a few minutes, we need not have worried, we were not getting in the motorhome parking area anyway, Alesund was absolutely hoochin with cars, motorhomes, buses and people. Its Friday, it was rush hour and the roads were all snarled up. After some hilarity in the narrow streets and jams, we along with about another 5 motorhomes found the Bobil parking area, and it was rammed full, we were not getting in there. So, a quick google search and wee found the only campsite in Alesund and headed there, vans were being turned around at the entrance, Hmmm!! So much for being parked up early. I went in to ask the campsite man if he could take us without electricity, and hummed and hawed but eventually said no, we were not getting in here either, not good at all. He explained there was a concert on and that's why its so busy. So, it was plan C, either drive back half an hour to a site on the road in, or head back through the melee of traffic to a carpark next to the aquarium, somewhere we hoped to take the boys, we would give it a try-and-that is where we ended up. Along with quite a few other vans who we saw struggling in the traffic. We managed to eat outside in gorgeous sunshine, that's 3 nights in a row and then went for a nice wee stroll checking out the old wartime gun emplacements that are around this area.
Its not quite what we had hoped for, Trollstigen needs another visit on a better day,
Alesund is lovely, we'll visit the aquarium in the morning and then try and get into the Bobil parking or site again tomorrow, fingers crossed.
Post note, I think we have found the boys racers carpark form the evening, fingers crossed for a little sleep.
I've just realised I am commenting on your blog as you due to you using my iPad on the Heb blog 😂 I shall sign you oot of this iPad and sign back in tomorrow with my own name also me and gary P are planning a visit to Neil tomorrow
ReplyDeleteKenny, i thought you were takin the p*ss posting as Bobee! I was minded tae start posting as Sheena Easton😉
ReplyDelete