The Hardanger suspension bridge is the longest tunnel to bridge to tunnel in the world. It is the longest suspension bridge in Norway and one of the longest in the world.There is a viewing area so you can see the bridge disappear into a tunnel. This bridge is longer than the Golden Gate Bridge. Impressive.There is a pedestrian/bike tunnel as well to access going across the bridge.Blue sky. A fun bridge to experience. These supports are both on land, not in the fjord.Nicely designed cable supports. That is all that is holding up this roadway?How lucky we were to see this beautiful rainbow cross the bridge as well.This is the Hardanger Tunnel Roundabout. There is a roundabout in the tunnel. Really – there is a roundabout in the tunnel. This looks like a movie set out of Mission Impossible!Heading towards Bergen we stopped in the town of Kinsarvik and saw this double rainbow.Back at Saebo cabin we saw yet another rainbow, now over Eidfjordvatnet. A magical day.
We have no idea what to expect as we head out to visit the Vøringsfossen waterfall along Norwegian Scenic Route Hardangervidda – a few miles from our Saebo cabin.This is the Vøringsfossen!This puts it in perspective to the huge size. And see the bridge over my shoulder?That bridge is this magnificent pedestrian crossing!We are pretty much speechless to see such an engineering feat.Imagine building this. Imagine designing this. A 47 meter span equals 154 feet, which is like a 14 story tall building – and is equally that tall of a waterfall into the canyon below.The underside is equally interesting.2 stairways on each side lead to a center portion.A dizzingly viewpoint.Getting up close to the spray from the upper part of the Vøringsfossen.The Pretzel Tunnel, that the car climbed between the falls and eidfjord, replaced the old switchback road. Why not?
We are tucked into a cozy apartment on Amla Bay near Kaupanger (Sognejorden) for 5 nights.We are the middle small green building, second floor. Nedre Amla are 6 attached homes that resemble the old fishing villages. Our owner has created an apartment above his garage for his visiting family and to share with travelers like us.This is our view across the fjord towards Kaupanger from the dining/living room. Nice – more reflections!Should we do the high dive? Let’s just view the sunset for now……Great end to a rainy day.Kaupanger has a nice Stave Church on a gorgeous site that was a pleasant 1.5 mile walk along Amla Bay from our apartment but there is a more famous one nearby.We took a 15 minute ferry just a bit north across the fjord to Urnes or Orneset on a clear morning.The Urnes Stave Church is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Only Norwegian Stave Churches (28 out of 1,300) have survived so they are a unique contribution to world cultural heritage.We got a tour inside to see the original 1130 construction as well as some of the “drunken” modifications from 1662, which sawed off a main support stave (column) so these diagonals were placed to keep the building from collapsing. Medieval chandelier on left hangs from ceiling.Original carvings at the column capitals. The pulpit was added in 1690 by a wealthy benefactor.The chancel extension and decoration from around 1601. At the foot of Christ on the cross is a skull and crossbones which represent that Adam is dead as Christ is resurrected as the son of god. Mary and St John as the grieving witnesses – the scene of Golgotha.The wood siding and shingles are covered with a tar and coal mixture for waterproofing. It also gives the churches the characteristic black patina as well as makes them highly flammable – that’s why so few stave churches have survived through the ages.Looking out the front door, across the graveyard, and the fjord beyond – all now vivid with moisture.
Wonderful morning reflections from Mindresunde Cabin on Lake Strynevatnet.Our first view of Lovatnet Lake and it’s peaceful valley on this calm morning.The Kjenndalsbreen Glacier and the valley it has carved into Lovatnet Lake. This is a branch of the Jostedalsbreen – the largest glacier in mainland Europe.Lovatnet Lake had a couple major landslides and subsequent tsunamis that filled in this part of the lake.Our return trip down the valley has a bit more sun highlighting the Kjenndalsbreen Glacier above Lovatnet Lake. We pulled into a drive to allow traffic to pass and the owner pulled in behind us. We were invited to visit and learned from Mr. Horgrenning the story of his farm, the family that emmigrated, his trip in 2001 to USA. I found this interesting story about the farm onlineThat is worth a close up shot!About an hour away in Nordfjordeid, we went to the Stagastad Viking Museum.The lovingly recreated 30-meter long Myklebust ship really allows us to experience the craftsmanship and quality of construction as well as the shear size of this Viking Ship.Stagastad Viking Museum is also a great building right next to a community park on the fjord. There is an excellent movie on their website.King of the Fjord!Nordfjord and our final reflections of the day.
The first snow on the mountains for the season or so we learned from the locals from this top at Eidsvatnet Lake.Eidsvatnet Lake was a pleasant stop before winding our way up that valley.We stopped at the Ornevegen Viewpoint to get our first view of Geiranger fjord.It is at the top of these switchbacks!One of the most beautiful fjords, a UNESCO world heritage site!There were 2 cruise ships and many tour buses in town so lots of people. A couple from New Zealand chatted with us and offered to take a photo.This adorable cabin is where we are going to spend the next few nights – the very tranquil Hole Hytter.Henry enjoying the view from our cabin at Hole HytterIt is an amazing view from the dining table as well.Norway’s first National Tourist Trail is a dramatic walk/stairway from town to the Norwegian Fjord Centre following this waterfall.Geiranger fjord is part of a UNESCO world heritage site to protect the Western Fjords of Norway. It is a very special area of the world with this interesting museum to learn more.The fresh cinnamon buns were delicious!!!!This model of the Seven Sisters Waterfall, which is 1,350′ tall, shows how deep the fjords are – about 800′ under water.We took the 20km ferry round trip to Hellesyit to experience being on the water and seeing the entire fjord.The Seven Sisters Falls were impressive.As were the falls on the other side of the fjord.We even saw some kayakers – they might have been warmer than us.But we got a bit of sunshine and enjoyed seeing the entire Geiranger fjord!The Queens Chair at the Flydalsjuvet Viewpoint was put in by Queen Sonja so we could all experience the majestic beauty of her country.
Alesund – view of this beautiful town from Mount Aksla.Reflection of the Art Nouveau buildings of Alesund. The town was rebuilt following a devastating fire in 1904.We enjoyed a walk along the waterfront/inland canal in Alesund.We saw this crest several times showing the strong connection this town has to the North Atlantic or Norwegian Sea.We traveled the time machine and toured the The Art Nouveau and KOBE museums.Detail of the well preserved building with slate tile roofs. The town reconstruction employed a lot of different trades throughout Norway.This is a bold claim! For our lunch: the cod was thick, succulent, fresh, with a light fried battered just right – it is a contender. Definitely the best in the world we had today!All wine/alcohol must be purchased at this government run entity: Vinmonopolet (located in many towns)Wine O’Clock around the world: Spain, Italy, France, Australia! Wynn’s was rated the best buy in Norway under 200kr (under $20) so worth a try.Many of the islands are connected to Alesund by tunnels under the sea and through the mountains. Our destination was the island of Godoy to see the Alnes Lighthouse.Speaking of tunnels: A future project is in the works for Norway: Stad Ship Tunnel. It will accommodate 4 ships/ferry an hour for a safe passage through Stadhavet Sea.Catch a wave: Hang Ten on the North Atlantic!
As Norse legend tells it, the first rays of sunlight can turn the mythical trolls into stone (if they don’t hide in time!) so we will explore where trolls have been in the mountains.Our first stop was at the Gudbrandsjuvet Gorge.The Valldøla River has cut large potholes and intricate formations into the rock.Another interesting viewing area with fun art/architecture to experience the Gudbrandsjuvet Gorge.Sign outside the Gudbrandsjuvet: the cinnamon buns were awesome! Still warm from the oven they fortified us for the troll search.From the Trollstigen plateau, rising above the Isterdalen Valley are the three peaks: Bishop, King, Queen (Bispen, Kongen, Dronninga). which led us to debate if the bishop or queen had the most power…We passed over the glacial moraines with some snow still left in the upper valleys (where the trolls live?). We arrived at the Trollstigen Visitor Center.The Trollstigen cafe is undergoing repairs from an avalanche this winter but we could still appreciate the design and the location.We followed the water cascading to the first Viewpoint.We detoured from the paved path to follow these Sherpa stairs 1km for a private view point.What a stairmaster!Great view of the valley!And we were able to see the next cantilevered Trollstigen Viewpoint.And a take my picture balcony with The Bishop and The Queen.The Trolls Ladder (mostly one-lane) was completed in 1936 after 8 years – an engineering marvel. Imagine working in this valley carved out by the glacier, roaring rivers and multiple waterfalls!A better view of the waterfall through the vertigo inducing glass railing.An offer to take our picture resulted in this fun shot pointing to the future!Our GPS pretty much shows the same curves we have just photographed on this one-lane road. We are here in the morning so have missed dodging the tour buses.Ready or Not. We will probably regenerate many kilometers on the battery of our EV.At the end of the valley is another Troll spot: Trollveggen Visitor Center. We recharged the car while we ate a picnic lunch in this beautiful setting (cafe closed for the season).Europe’s highest vertical mountain wall has several climbing routes.We could browse for a book in this converted telephone booth lending library.Ramsdalen Valley: the route following the River Rauma has been named Europe’s most beautiful railway line. Filmed around here is the latest Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning – Part One
What is this? A robot Mowing the lawn? No noise! No sweat – lawn is mowed while you do something else – like prep the BBQ.This Robot Mower is making such perfect straight lines up the hill.This Robot Mower has his own garage… Very sporty looking!Captcha: I am not a RobotFish Farm in the fjord around Avory Island- this a permanent operation.Another Fish Farm in this beautiful fjord.This ship appears to be stocking fish going down that slide in the center into an enclosed circle.An interesting flower or jelly fish in the kelp beds along the Atlantic Ocean Road.The deer we have seen seem smaller.Kvernes Stave Church, circa 1633, is the only one in Norway built after the Middle Ages and Reformation – the nave end is built in stave technique.This says the supporting posts are called staves and are in each corner. Larger churches also have supporting posts in the wall line as shown by the circles in the plan.The shutters to protect the windows from the sea slide up and down with a chain.The thick wood boards on the siding are overlapped.Simple cottage on the coast.
