Little Rouge Explores Norway. The Arctic Highway

Where you've been and what you done
david
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Re: Chasing trolls................with pictures

Post by david »

Day 5 (Continued) B)

Having ridden the 1st half of the Troll Highway and been totally blown out with endless sceenery, roads that are engineered to the highest standard. I crossed on a ferry to Linge and the fantessy continued aboard my trusty Transalp. To quote Alun "travelling at Ted pace" or bimbling. The road got better and better, climbing up a valley to another plateau between a giant cleavage of wonderment (All Cleavage's are wonderful I know). My Camera cannot do justice to what lay before me, a montage of page 3 girls would look disheveled in comparison to the valley before me. Peaks rising left and right forward and aft the Adventure had started.The air was dry in a icy cold way, the rays of the sun were gratefully absorbed to keep me warm.
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After a peaceful hour i arrived at a visitor center, not really being in the mood for the coach tour stop I passed on to be greeted by more views and roads that twisted rapidly to the valley floor passing giant waterfalls that sprayed me as I passed.
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david
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by david »

Day 5........got another 200 miles before tent time :S

Sadley leaving the Troll Highway i had to get some miles under my wheels as I was loosing so much time stoping to take pictires or just to look. Reaching Andalsnes I joined the rt 64 then right onto rt 660 following Langfjorden and right on rts 62, 70 to Oppadal.
Coffee and fuel then E6 to Trondheim crossing a bleak empty wind swept moor of rocks and nothingness, my only company a massive Train and a few Trucks. As everyone was sticking to the 80kph speed limit so did I. Along bum numming ride, it being early still I fueled up again at Trondheim and did 100miles to camp at Levanger.
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Just to add, once camped and feed I walked up to the Petrol Staition to buy a beer. Also avalible was a 24hr sun bed shop, so thats why do all look so brown.
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Breakfast Day 6
boatman
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by boatman »

keep them coming Dave !!!!!!
david
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Re: Chasing trolls................with pictures

Post by david »

Day 6
I got a good nights sleep by this lakeside camp site, hit the road or rather the Alp did I just sat on her. Did a good 70 miles and stopped in this little place for fuel and coffee.
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It was still early about 08.00hrs and the sun was beginning to warm the day, the lady behind the counter didn't even put down her porno mag as I poured coffee and helped myself to a bun.
I went and sat outside on a bench to admire my beloved Alp and people watch. The Town was waking up, shops were opening and people were moving around. Lots of pick up trucks pulled in for fuel and i could of been any where in North America.
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Just north was the junction of E6 and 776 which would cut me across to pick up the Rt 17 and a days island hoping.
The 17 is a beautiful road through the most rural and green countryside Norway could offer. Lakes of course filled the horizon as the tarmac curled a route for my Conti tyres to follow. The bike was running like a dream, tilting into long open bends happily sitting at 50+. Carrying me and my ton of kit forever northwards to the next Ferry. Shame the sun went in, the wind picked up and turned cold soon turning to bloody cold! :ohmy:
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david
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by david »

Day 6 continued with lots of this........

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david
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by david »

Day 6 continued.

The day turned very cold and damp, the sceenery was always fabulous and the miles drifted pass with ease.........well I'm riding a Transalp so it would :whistle:
I left rt 17 at the junction with rt 12 and headed into Mo I Rana fueled up did 10 miles up the E6 and found a lovely spot to camp. Nestled off the highway with perfect views and that all important East to west Valley I camped.

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Dinner and reading to 1am before a deep sleep as trains rattled along the rails the other side of the valley.
Wow wild camping in the wild by the Arctic Highway, felt like Hemingway.
boatman
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by boatman »

Enjoying the ride with you !!
BIG DON
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by BIG DON »

B)

Thanks Dave some gems there great stuff.

BIG D
david
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by david »

Day7.
Packed up while water boiled for T and porridge, then stupidly tripped over my feet and knocked the Transalp over :evil:
Broke one hand guard and added some scratches, not a happy bunny. Got it upright and got going on another day of wonderment in a country that ticks every box in so many ways. Great roads and so empty of heavy traffic, the E6 is the main Highway and empty except for animals. The morning Sun warmed me a little but not enough so I flicked on my heated grips............nothing warm happened. I pressed on but I have a problem with my fingers and my hands where cold and it was not going well. After a while I stopped as it was very painfull (My hands were ran over by a bus many years ago). I tried to fault find but all the wires were connected and I could do little. At that point I saw the sign next to me and for some reason the cold feeling of doom lifted.
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Wow Im in the Arctic Circle, up the road I saw a Transalp pull in to the parking area so I went and joined him. We took pictures for each other and the German Transalp owner told me that in 76000km of Global Al ping he had no problems with his bike. He also had loads of gear and was on the way home after leaving in 2006. He was going RTW with his wife in a Motor-home but sadly (I think he'd got over it after his tales of life ion the road :dry: ) She'd been killed in a car crash before they left, so he sold the RV and bought a Transalp. Finding a blown fuse and he had a spare, making me feel badly equipped.........but I had Tea Bags :)
Not wishing to start a row but as I got further north I saw hardly any of the Squadrons of Gs's and saw loads of 650 Bandits, transalps, Xt600e or 660's but mostly Harley Davidsons
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david
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Re: Chacing trolls................with pictures

Post by david »

Day 7 continued.
Now defrosted I left my German hero and head up the E6 and after a really cold wet ride reached Narvik the largest city in the Arctic. I also found the Grave of Private Bath who gave his life in WW11. It was a poignant moment standing by a grave of a man I didn't know but felt a kinship too, its in a pretty church grave yard and kept to the highest standards. Ironic that it had been a German who had help fix my bike 4 hours previously.
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"They Gave Their Todays So That We Could Have Our Tomorrows"
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