Touring Denmark / Norway / Sweden summer 2012, hints and tips appreciated!

[andershz]

Originally Posted by Funkster

That would be excellent, thank you. We have pencilled in 3 days' riding to get from Stockholm to Copenhagen. I saw a recommendation for Vildmarks Camping ( http://www.vildmarkscamping.se/ ) on the sticky here, thought we might give that a go if the route makes sense. It's a bit of a detour from the route shown above though.

If you want to go from Stockholm to Hätteboda Vildmarkscamping you can start by going south on road 73 towards Nynäshamn. Then take the exit for Västerhaninge and follow the linked Google map route.
I don't know what the road is like after Eksjö, (point K on the map), but up until that point it's almost all decent biking roads. The route includes two small ferries, (C and just before F), both free of charge.

Google map: http://goo.gl/maps/iHAR

[Funkster]

Originally Posted by andershz

Google map: http://goo.gl/maps/iHAR

That is excellent, many thanks! We'll probably do that in two sections, are we likely to come across any campsites in the area near-ish Linkoping?

Cheers :o)
--
Olly

[andershz]

You can go to http://www.ostergotland.info/Clients.aspx?m=27921
Select the "Guide" tab under "Accommodation".
Since I live near-ish Linköping I might be able to show you some gravel roads if the timing is right.

[Naccache]

Hey! I see you've marked the E4 from Stockholm to Helsingborg, that's probably the most boring route in Sweden, dont drive it. Highway all the way with almost no turns. Västerås is 100km west of Stockholm, if you come by I'll gladly ride with you for a while and show you some local food and drink.

Good luck!

[sfwo79]

I looked at your route through the Norway leg and I think it will be beautiful. But be forewarned, at that time of year you will be sharing the road with a lot of tourists. You can expect the roads to be quite crowded as there are no real "Autobahns" in Norway. The speed controls are also quite strict.
I don't mean to discourage you, but be prepared to exercise patience if you want to enjoy the ride in Norway. And factor in that you may be averaging 60-80 kph during the day.
Best wishes,
DF

[Funkster]

Originally Posted by sfwo79

I looked at your route through the Norway leg and I think it will be beautiful. But be forewarned, at that time of year you will be sharing the road with a lot of tourists.

Thanks for the heads-up. As it happens, all of our sums on riding times for each day have been based on an average speed of 70km/h! We're definitely ready to be patient, after all what's the point of rushing past all that beautiful scenery? We have allocated 4 days to get from Kristiansand to Kristiansund, with an easy day before and a rest day after. I'm sure we'll be stopping to take photos every other hairpin bend :oD

Definitely going to avoid the E4 where practical, I think we've got a more interesting route sorted now - will have to prod she-who-is-in-charge-of-maps and upload another screenshot...

Thanks for the offers of local guidance - will PM with dates of when we're passing to see if the timing is any good, hopefully get to meet some other ADVers on our way round!

Cheers,
--
Olly

[Funkster]

Hokay, new route overview based on suggestions (I realise you can't really see what roads are marked at this scale, but hopefully it'll give an idea!)

I suspect we'll end up freestyling somewhat as we go along, but it's nice to have at least a bit of a plan eh? :o)



Cheers,
--
Olly

[Gravel Seeker]

Originally Posted by Funkster

I think even if they don't impound your vehicle, I'll be doing my best to keep within the speed limits - I don't fancy getting stung with a €480 fine! Are there any special rules/laws for overtaking? (in the UK there is said to be no speed limit while you are on the outside of a car that you are passing, although obviously you still have to be driving/riding safely).

I'm, and many with me are lane splitting daily on 4 lane and above motorways in and around Oslo. As long as you do it "safely" it's ok. Riding on the shoulder is always forbidden and overtaking on the right is forbidden. "Passing" in the right lane on multilane (in the same direction) roads are allowed, if you are within the speed limit (when the "fast" left lane is actually slower than the right lane). The real kicker is that you are actually not allowed to break the speed limit while ovetaking on the left (the normal way to overtake). Everyone always does of course, but if you're real unlucky the cops have their laser control just where you're getting back in your own lane doing 140km/h in a 80 zone and they take your license, present you with a nice fine and tell you to expect a court date in the mail shortly.

That said - just use the inside of your head and ride normally and you'll be fine. I've never had a speeding ticket in 19 years of driving/ riding.

Originally Posted by eejespersen

There is no such thing as "free" in Norway. I payed road tax upon entry to the country, multiple tunnel fees and once I got to pay for crossing a bridge I never crossed.

I'm not sure if you're pulling my chain or not, but surely you didn't pay road tax when entering Norway ?! On a motorcycle with Swedish plates on regular roads through one of the regular border crossings ? I have to pay an annual "road" tax of about NOK 2.000 for my bike (which they've now changed the name of to "yearly" tax instead og road tax...), but, like I said, all the toll roads (that includes bridges and tunnels) I've ever driven in Norway, except fot the one mentioned previously in Trondheim, are free for bikes.

Originally Posted by eejespersen

I'm sure there are Norwegian banks, and that they issue creditcards.

The same happened in Finland, most of the self serve gas pumps wouldn't accept any of my three different creditcards, VISA, Masters and Diners - but if I just waited for a friendly Fin, I payed him in cash - and he used his creditcard.

Just sounds weird. My Norwegian issued VISA and Mastercards work in Norway, Sweden, Finland, Spain, USA, Australia, UK and Denmark (the places I've tried them lately. Unless the proprietor of the terminal has any sort of gambling on their property since the Norwegian government is trying to shield us fragile norwegians from gambling addiction - so you might have a hard time paying for anything in a hotel in Las Vegas which also has a casino floor, but I digress...).

Originally Posted by eejespersen

Wether or not it's bullshit that the police tok his bike, then this guy and the police must have bullshitted me all the way into Oslo - where he payed up and got his bike - and a friendly advice to leave the country. He'd managed to get nicked 4(!) times within a fortnight. I guess it's a side effect of riding a Suzuki B-King.

I'll tell you what Constable Martin ''''''' of the '''''''''' police dept in QLD, Australia told me:
I don't believe you for a second, but I can't prove it so you can go

If he'd been caught 4 times in 2 weeks by the same police officers I'd call that special circumstances and will accept that they took his bike.

Originally Posted by Funkster

While I'm here, can anyone tell me whether I'm allowed to bring (disposable) canisters of butane gas for the camping stove? I can't find any mention of it on VisitNorway's customs page, but it seems like the sort of thing border security would get twitchy about.

We were also thinking about bringing some of the more costly food items (meat mainly) to get us through the first few days' camping, but the customs page says it needs to have a health certificate! Not sure my butcher would be able to provide one of those :o/

Cheers,
--
Olly

You are referring to imports from outside the EEA... as far as I know UK is part of the EU and EEC. (see below)

We have open borders and there are few controls. Border security is something I only experience when travelling by plane, but rarely when coming back. I'd say 99% of the time when I cross the border between Norway and Sweden there are no controls, but they tend to have controls on the busiest times of year. The limits to what a Norwegian can bring in to the country are very strict when it comes to meat, tobacco and alcohol (legal amount per person being . I'd think they are the dame for foreigners. Don't bring meat with you all the way from Britain, buy it in Sweden, close to border like we do The largest and busiest crossing is down at Svinesund bridge (E6), Ørje (E18) and near Charlottenberg (R2) I reckon so that's where you'll find the large malls, but most items are close to half price in Sweden. I wouldn't worry about butane cannisters, knives, axes or any other type of camping gear.

You can bring more with you and pay the import tax at the border station (they are manned, even is there are rarely anyone outside stopping cars or bikes)

http://www.toll.no/templates_TAD/Art...epslanguage=EN

Duty free quota

Within the limit of NOK 6,000/3,000, you can bring the following goods with you duty free (see the limitations that apply to absences of less than 24 hours as mentioned above):

One litre of an alcoholic beverage containing more than 22% and up to 60% alcohol by volume and one and a half litres containing more than 2.5% up to 22% alcohol by volume, or three litres of beverages containing more than 2.5% and up to 22% alcohol by volume
Two litres of beer containing more than 2.5% alcohol by volume, or other beverage containing more than 2.5% and up to 4.7% alcohol by volume. This means, for example, that you can import five litres of beer if you do not have other alcoholic beverages with you
200 cigarettes or 250 grams of other tobacco products, and
200 sheets of cigarette papers

You must be over 18 years old to import alcoholic beverages. To import alcoholic beverages containing more than 22% alcohol by volume, you must be over 20 years old.

You must be over 18 years old to import tobacco products.

Meat, meat products, milk and dairy products

Ten kilos in total of meat and meat products, cheese and feedstuffs. Dog and cat food is not included in the limit of 10 kilos.

It is prohibited to bring in meat, meat products, milk and dairy products in your luggage from countries outside the EEA area.

Such products must be imported via a veterinary border control point and the goods must be accompanied by a health certificate.

[ThorH]

On credit cards: In Denmark it is a problem that many shops only accept the local DanCard. VISA and MasterCard is taken everywhere here, Diners and Amex in most places. If you have encountered a problem, I guess your issuer in the UK has put regional limitations on your card to protect you from fraud. Give them a call before you leave, and you´ll be ok.

On the route: My advice would be to just skip the whole Swedish part of your trip. Flat and boring, spend the time riding in SW Norway. (I.e. South of Aalesund. The Atlantic Road looks spectacular on photos, but that bridge is really it IMO). If you want to see Stockholm, Ryanair will take you there for a weekend almost for free.

On information: Every question you may have on where to go in Norway has been discussed in detail over at UKGSer. Here is another observation from a Brit living in Oslo that you might find useful.

Welcome to Norway, hope you´ll have a blast and return safely with your bike and license intact!

[rasmush]

Hi.
On your trip through Denmark,you will get the most scenic routes,by following "Marguerite ruten" or "Daisy route" in english.
Its a marked route on almost 3600 km around entire Denmark taking you by appr 200 attractions
You can plan your trip here http://kort.netkvik.dk/marguerit.html
The danish highways arent much fun...

Regards from Rasmus

[Gravel Seeker]

Since I've been so stubborn about most toll roads being free to bikes here I should mention that that normally does not apply to private roads. Most gravel roads are indeed private and thus the owner (usually a group of land owners) charge people to use their roads, including motorbikes. These roads are normally maintained ever year so I'm assuming the money is spent where it's payed. A motorbike is normally charged NOK 5-30, so it won't ruin anyone.

[Laromonster]

^^Hey, i've been there !^^

[Funkster]

Thanks again for all the info; I think we now have as much of a plan as we're ever going to.

While I'm here, does anyone have any top tips for a hotel in Stockholm? We'll need parking, and to be within walking distance of wherever it's all happening. Going to be there two nights.

Cheers!
--
Olly

[andershz]

Walking distance = expensive, and that goes for parking as well.
You might want to consider something a bit outside of the city center.
Stockholm has excellent public transport, even late at night, so there's no real need to stay in the center.

[K0m4]

Originally Posted by Naccache

Hey! I see you've marked the E4 from Stockholm to Helsingborg, that's probably the most boring route in Sweden, dont drive it. Highway all the way with almost no turns. Västerås is 100km west of Stockholm, if you come by I'll gladly ride with you for a while and show you some local food and drink.

Good luck!

+1, except for the portion northbound from Jönköping to about Ödeshög. The view over Vättern is spectacular (ok, I'm biased because now I'm getting homesick ), and next to the highway there's a "scenic route" marked with brown signs on the regular road signs.

Also disagree with those saying that the Swedish part is boring, it can be very nice albeit somewhat flat. Do stay off the E4, and once you're in the pine forest plateau of Småland you can have some real fun roads. No mountains, but twisty nonetheless (I much prefer lowland twisty roads to hairpin serpentine roads that are just a pain in the @ss after a while.. been living in an alpine country for too long perhaps).

No need to stay centrally in Stockholm. Even though I would disagree that the public transport is good - the subway runs at walking speed with week-long intervals, and seems purpously made to confuse outsiders. But it does get you where you're going once you figure it out.. i usually stay at a hotel in Alvik, you get a whole lot more for your money, and it's right next to the subway station. They've got regular parking, and a garage as well.