A Duck flies north - to Sweden and Norway

[OZDUCK]

Rounding off these museums was The Norwegian Maritime Museum





For the big kids, you could show your skills as a ships master

 

[OZDUCK]

Next a visit to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Park Vigeland: Humanity In The World's Largest Sculpture Park









Probably the most famous individual sculpture there



The fountain was being restored so no water was running - except from the sky. We spent almost as much time sheltering under the trees as looking at the sculptures.



Some of the gates





There was a lovely display of flowers





Only a portion of the Tour Buses disgorging passengers. Being virtuous, we of course, came by tram.

 

[VPS]

Next a visit to the Vigeland Sculpture Park. Park Vigeland: Humanity In The World's Largest Sculpture Park

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Probably the most famous individual sculpture there

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The fountain was being restored so no water was running - except from the sky. We spent almost as much time sheltering under the trees as looking at the sculptures.

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Some of the gates

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There was a lovely display of flowers

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Only a portion of the Tour Buses disgorging passengers. Being virtuous, we of course, came by tram.

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I have some of those photos from when I was there in 1982

 

[OZDUCK]

I have some of those photos from when I was there in 1982

After we get back to Perth later today I am going to track down my photos from 1976 to see if the 'screaming child' had certain polished appendages in those days

 

[OZDUCK]

A bit more around Oslo

The City Hall - built 1930 - 50. There was a bit of restoration work going on at the front of the building so that was not accessible.









The results of the firing of the midday gun - not just one shot but an absolute fusillade, actually 21 shots, from the Akerhus Fortress, which is in central Oslo.



And speaking of the Akerhus Fortress a few shots from inside









Me in the shadows, where I photograph best

 

[OZDUCK]

A few photos from around Oslo

As it was a ,surprisingly, sunny afternoon we took a ferry trip (covered by the Oslo Pass) out to a couple of islands in the Fjord. As we were on board the ferry waiting to go a tour group was ambling towards it and the Captain, obviously having been troubled this way before, used his loudspeaker to point out that this was a ferry and not a tour boat so would they please hurry up.







An old battery on one of the islands



A few more random photos

Parliament Building



Looking up towards the Palace



Old military building near the fortress



One of the many interesting buildings being completed between the railway lines and the waterfront



Unusual bike racks which light up at night



We spent about 2 1/2 days in Oslo and unless you have unlimited time that is probably adequate

 

[OZDUCK]

Now onto the car trip. Our first day was Oslo to Dovre (Toftemo Turistasjon) a distance of 308Km.

My wife managed to get a photo of an unusual bridge and a plane near Gardermoen Airport, Oslo



Lake Mjosa - about 100km north of Oslo



Something which we became all to0 familiar. We had a transponder in the car and are waiting for the bill to come - as some of the ferry crossings are billed in the same way the bill will be in the thousands of kroner. Driving is not cheap in Norway. Fuel '95' was about $2.65 a litre.



Lillehammer, with the Olympic Ski Jump in the background.



Lovely scenery on the way to Dovre



Toftemo Turistasjon started life as a Hotel in 1820. It has basic but comfortable accommodation and an attached Caravan park



The nearby river. The white tents are 'Glamping Tents'.



The surrounding hills



Something big and brown lurks in the woods

 

[craven morehead]

Now onto the car trip. Our first day was Oslo to Dovre (Toftemo Turistasjon) a distance of 308Km.

My wife managed to get a photo of an unusual bridge and a plane near Gardermoen Airport, Oslo

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Lake Mjosa - about 100km north of Oslo

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Something which we became all to0 familiar. We had a transponder in the car and are waiting for the bill to come - as some of the ferry crossings are billed in the same way the bill will be in the thousands of kroner. Driving is not cheap in Norway. Fuel '95' was about $2.65 a litre.

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Lillehammer, with the Olympic Ski Jump in the background.

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Lovely scenery on the way to Dovre

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Toftemo Turistasjon started life as a Hotel in 1820. It has basic but comfortable accommodation and an attached Caravan park

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The nearby river. The white tents are 'Glamping Tents'.

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The surrounding hills

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Something big and brown lurks in the woods

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Picturesque countryside

 

[OZDUCK]

Picturesque countryside

And lots more to come

 

[OZDUCK]

The next day we continued north and the scenery got even better.



Rivers were often alongside the road



Some interesting houses began to appear



Low clouds and touches of snow also began to appear, some low down





We then got our first views of the The Troll Wall (Trollveggen) which has the tallest vertical rock face in Europe at 1,100 metres

 

[OZDUCK]

Inside the narrowest part of the valley













You feel dwarfed by the scenery



Or perhaps trolled



My wife drove for the first couple of hours on this day and we had many "interesting" discussions about how close the car was to the right side of the road. For some reason the Norwegians love putting "Armco" barriers right on the edge of the road with very little to no verge.

The sign directing us to my biggest driving challenge of the trip



Our first view of the Trollstigen - a fine white knuckle ride to come

 

[OZDUCK]

The Trollstigen.

Going up









Plenty of room







About halfway up



Through the clouds



Near the top - you wouldn't catch me riding a bike up this road

 

[OZDUCK]

I made it to the top with only a couple of bad moments. One German car that didn't seem to know that vehicles ascending have priority over those descending and a bus at the wrong point. The bus driver did co-operate and signal to me where to go so that wasn't too bad. Apparently there have been few, if any, fatalities on the climb itself but recently a tourist died after falling into the stream at the crest - while taking a photo.

Now for some views, a lot I am afraid, from the top.

Firstly me blocking out much of the landscape. I only put this in because I bought this jacket especially for this trip and carted it around for 30 days. I then only wore it for 30 minutes on this ridgeline. It was never used again - luckily it was only $40 at a disposals shop.



The hilltop cafe etc



One of the viewing platforms





There is a glass panel here



Still some fun and games going on below. You will note that some of the cars have to use the wrong side of the road to get past the bus.





It was very good viewing weather. That is the town of Andalsnes in the distance about 12 km away in a straight line with a cruise ship in port. I am proud that I got the reflection as well.





A bit of the surrounding scenery

 

[OZDUCK]

A few more





And a couple at a higher resolution as they seem to be the typical poster shot from here.

 

[craven morehead]

I made it to the top with only a couple of bad moments. One German car that didn't seem to know that vehicles ascending have priority over those descending and a bus at the wrong point. The bus driver did co-operate and signal to me where to go so that wasn't too bad. Apparently there have been few, if any, fatalities on the climb itself but recently a tourist died after falling into the stream at the crest - while taking a photo.

Now for some views, a lot I am afraid, from the top.

Firstly me blocking out much of the landscape. I only put this in because I bought this jacket especially for this trip and carted it around for 30 days. I then only wore it for 30 minutes on this ridgeline. It was never used again - luckily it was only $40 at a disposals shop.

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The hilltop cafe etc

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One of the viewing platforms

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There is a glass panel here

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Still some fun and games going on below. You will note that some of the cars have to use the wrong side of the road to get past the bus.

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It was very good viewing weather. That is the town of Andalsnes in the distance about 12 km away in a straight line with a cruise ship in port. I am proud that I got the reflection as well.

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A bit of the surrounding scenery

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Outstanding choice that jacket that's some drive, well done

 

[OZDUCK]

After recovering we then headed off towards Alesund.

Initially it was pretty barren but stunning scenery





A bit of greenery began to appear





Their signs didn't lie



We stopped by this pretty stream for lunch. But all is not perfect in paradise. There were signs by the river warning that the trout in this area were infected with a disease which was not dangerous to humans but could kill trout. It was prohibited to put trout from here in other rivers etc.



We then descended into one of those beautiful green Norwegian valleys.



Eventually we got our first sightings of the fjords in this area

 

[OZDUCK]

Now for Alesund

We stayed at the Sunde Fjord Solvagen, unsurprisingly on the Sunde Fjord, about 20Km south of Alesund near the ferry terminal for the main north/south coastal highway

Our hotel



Our room



View straight out the window



100 metres around the corner



At night a few vessels went past



Then we went to see Alesund - which also coincided with 4 days of rain and low cloud.

From the lookout







The old harbour



A bit of the Viking industry

 

[RooFlyer]

Just caught up. Something else for me to do, now!!

 

[OZDUCK]

Continuing Alesund

Alesund was devastated in a huge fire in 1904 when most of the old wooden buildings were destroyed. It was rebuilt in the Jugendstil (Art Nouveau) style. This was part of our reason for visiting - after having previously seen the Jugendstil artists colony at Mathildenhöhe in Darmstadt.(This rebuilding was along the same lines as the rebuilding of Napier in NZ as an 'Art Deco City').

Incidentally 'Kaiser Bill' - Wilhelm II - is fondly rememberedhere. To quote he "had been a frequent visitor to the area and expressed a personal concern for the plight of the population. As a result, much of the international help was from Germany, sent in Kaiser Wilhelm’s name. His first telegram was received while the fire was still being extinguished. He dispatched four ships loaded with personnel, food, medicine, materials for shelters, and equipment." We ran across a few streets etc still commemorating him. One of the main streets in Alesund is Kaiser Willhelms Gate.

Anyway, here are some of those buildings

 

[OZDUCK]

Just caught up. Something else for me to do, now!!

Only fair - your "Stans" reports are keeping me busy and very impressed.