Day 2: Norway: The road between Bergen and Stavanger

Many buildings are made of wood and painted white, including the churches

The first route sign of the North Sea Cycle Route, which at 6000 kms boasts of being the longest signed route in the world 

I met Jurgen on one of the ferries which cross the fjordens on the way south from Bergen to Stavanger.

Me and my fully laden bike. I later found a much better way to pack it.

It wasn't long before Jurgen got his first puncture. He has been cycling since March and has already cycled through England and Scotland.

 Nice
















First wild camping of the trip and some inquisitive neighbours

On the way to Haugesund, over some impressive bridges

The land of Fjords, high prices & at least one thief

DAY1.5
Frank picked me, my bike box & 2 seed bags full of panniers, tent, sleeping bag and lots of stuff neede to keep me going during 10 weeks of cycling. I left Harvey in the wonderful hands of the Balfour clan & my house with house sitter extrodinaire Ann Andrews - a 69 year old from Darwin

Getting ready to go was probably as difficult as the ride is going to be. After the traffic jams on the bypass, the flight could not have been better. For some reason I didnt get charged for my bike I met a guy called Damian ftom Wolverhampton who had lived in Norway for 7 years, so I got a lot of gen on Bergen from him As we flew west we left soaking Haddy behind & into sunshine I watched the sun go down  on the roof terrace of the YMCA

Bergan is a lot like Oban but posher Loads of expensive boats with a backdrop of big wooden buildings & mountains Around the fish market it buzzes Up to now I have had enough ups & downs to  last the whole
worst lows were trying to sleep in a bunk above a woman whose snoring ranked as 10 on the rickter scale The worst was forgetting to take my tool bag off the bike when I went to the library - it got nicked with all my priceless & essential tools in it The best was meeting a Canadian guy called Eric Bohm who gave me some of his set I didnt know wether to laugh or cry

Tomorrow is the first big day on the bike & the weather is suppoded to b ok Bergen is well worth a visit