Old ADV.....Scotland - Nordkapp 2005(fail)

[macrae85]

Since i'm stuff back at home in Scotland after getting my jaw broken at a Dentist,
thought i'd post my failed attempt to go to the Nordkapp,Norway in September 2005.
To start with,September is probably pushing it,back as Scotland were playing Norway
in a World Cup Qualifying match i'd thought i'd do the two together!
I set of slightly late from Glasgow,and if it wasn't for the excellent ferry staff at Newcastle,
i'd have missed the boat-found out a Honda Transalp will go over 100mph,on the clock at
least!!!!

[macrae85]

So arrive at Bergen,Norway.Set off for Oslo early morning,weather not great,but bearable.
Uneventful day,arrived at my friend Erinas house in Oslo late afternoon.

I'll skip forward a bit.
Set off for Trongheim,which is on the west coast for those who dont know,Olso in in the east.
I've always wanted to see a wild moose,no big deal for you Nth Americans,but something we
dont have at home.So a bit of offroad later,down through a forest to a riverbank i pitched my tent.
Norway in September,is now going on full bike gear on INSIDE a sleepingbag-i heard the moose
around 6am,but couldn't drag myself out of bed to see it,below freezing point!
Eventually got out,got the stove fired up and a brew on,more hugging the tea for warmth,realising
i wasnt going to camp much,but be renting hytters(huts) enroute.
Packed up,set off and as i eventually got near Trondheim,i met these guys below at the Nordic
Motorcycle Throwing Championships...... :p




Sometimes like a good woman,you just have to learn to let go!

A tasty Yamaha R1 "hill climber"!

[macrae85]

This where things take a very serious turn.
It was a nice sunny day when i arrived,with no idea what was coming next.......
Hurricane Katrina!!!
You may wonder what that had to do with Norway.The second hurricane after Katrina,
seemingly,as i was told,u-turned,went up the Eastern Seaboard of the US,then slammed
down in Western Norway.Houses,mountainsides,bridges etc washed away,and because
the World Media was concentrating on the US and it was only 'little' Norway and they
couldn't find an angle to blame it on George Bush,it didn't even get reported-i forget how
many were killed!
So luckily i was in a good hostel before it hit,i soon sold out,and i was stuck there for
best part of a week.
So it wasn't even worth a thought to head north during a break in the weather,all i can say
is i was glad i was on the 'trail style' bike as outwith 360 degree excavators,i was the only
thing on the road.I made it down to Hellesylt on the Geiranger Fjorda after a trip over the
Trollstigen,on of the most amazing roads i've ever be on!


The road up isn't as impressive......



.....as looking down! :)

Arrival in Hellesylt;


I have never seen such a 'wall of water' get under a road bridge without destroying it!
Was stuck there then for a couple of days on my own,looking out the windows with nothing
to do as the hostel ONLY occupant,kept thinking of The Shining for some reason,ha ha!

[macrae85]

Sorry,i should have put this photo up from Oppdal.......the new winter snow has arrived!