Losing track of time and planning in Norway
It can be a strange sensation when you're traveling. You sometimes lose track of time. Somehow, I was convinced it was already Thursday, until I finally packed up my tent and took a good look at the time and date. It was only Wednesday!
New route and preparations for a beautiful destination
Based on the weather forecast, I decided to ride back west. It looked like it would be another beautiful day, and I decided to follow up on a tip from a contact the next day. This meant renting a cabin so I could recharge all my power banks and cameras. The second reason was that I wanted to be able to leave extra early.
The unforgettable Nordic landscapes
It wasn't a particularly interesting day, except that I kept going from amazement to amazement during the 300 kilometers that day. Norway is so beautiful. It was therefore difficult not to stop at every turn.
At the campsite in Tjørhom, I could calmly charge everything, shower, and prepare myself for the next day.
An annoying fly offensive while packing
I had slept reasonably well. All electronics were fully charged, and I could get up nice and early for my destination. Packing, however, was a challenge. I'd heard the stories, but in all my time in Scandinavia, I'd never experienced it. Until this morning. While putting on all the gear, Lazuli and I were literally attacked by hundreds, maybe even thousands of tiny flies. Even the DEET spray didn't work. The place was literally black with tiny flies.
I finally managed to tie everything down to Lazuli and get into my Klim suit. I couldn't wait to hand over the cabin key to escape the flies. Luckily, I had a good goal in mind.
Heading out to a beautiful destination: Lysefjord
The destination was Lysefjord. There's only one road to the town of Lysebotn. The road is truly fantastic, and I was so glad to have set off so early with Lazuli. I spent the entire morning on this fantastic road and in Lysebotn. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and the Norwegian weather gods were kind to me at that moment. I couldn't have asked for better weather conditions.
Eventually, I had to move on. I was so happy to have spent so much time in the Lysefjord and the mountains. Slowly, the dark clouds rolled into Norway. They were unavoidable.
Following my feelings and instincts
Despite the threatening clouds, Norway surprised me again. There are times when I truly trust my feelings and instincts completely. At one point, I rode past a residential/shop-like building. I hadn't really paid attention to it, but out of the corner of my eye, a sign outside caught my eye. There was no other traffic, so I quickly stopped with Lazuli, turned around, parked in front of the door, and quietly crept inside to wander around in admiration. The little shop had a lot of art, crafts, excellent coffee, but also a kind of museum in the attic. It wasn't big, but it was a sight to behold. I'm glad I listened to my instincts and decided to spend some time here before continuing my journey.
Wild camping wasn't going to work out.
Initially, I wanted to wild camp at a beautiful spot along a gravel road, but the road was partially sand and a very thin layer of slippery mud. Because of the rain, I didn't dare take the risk. I was afraid I wouldn't get away unscathed with Lazuli if it rained all night. So, I decided to keep going. Even with the light rain that was falling at that moment, it was a bit of a challenge with Lazuli's full-tire road tires. In some places, it had almost become like black ice because of that thin layer of mud.
Safety first.
Soon it started raining heavily. Despite the rain, Norway remained beautiful. I continued enjoying myself. Only, I hadn't realized I'd already traveled so far south. At the gas station, I realized I'd already ridden quite far south and, once again, abandoned my plan. I booked an apartment through Airbnb about 50 kilometers from Kristiansand in Lyngdal for two nights. This offered me the perfect opportunity to explore the area and culture more during my last days in Norway.
Unplanned, but very happy with my choice. That evening and night, those dark clouds decided to dump all the water out at once. I think my decision to prioritize my safety and that of Lazuli was the right one in this case. It didn't take long after unloading at the apartment before I was off to dreamland again.
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