Category Archives: Norway

Motorcycle touring in Norway. Lofoten, Trollstigen, Geiranger, Rokken Guzzi Lag, Ålesund, Spekemat, Hodalen, Dalsnibba

Oh Deer! The Very North of Finland and Norway

Reindeer on the road

The route

What a treat! Touring the Nordic area above the arctic circle is a treat indeed, a world of its own.

Route Oulu – Kuopio

Covid-19 this year dictated the direction (i.e. north). Besides, I really enjoy the vast open areas, free roaming reindeer and friendly people in the Finnish Lapland and the equally friendly Norwegians, and their mountainous coastline with bare fell areas.

White fish at Kukkolankoski

Must also mention the great food, which you have available everywhere. Reindeer stew prepared the traditional way plus reindeer in many forms, salmon and the latest addition, king crab. Nowhere has king crab tasted better than in Honninsvåg at Nordkapp.

River Logger statue at Kukkolankoski

On your way north, a must is the white wish captured from the Kukkolankoski rapids of Tornio river, the largest free flowing river in Europe. This is just north of Tornio. There are several places for this white fish flamed on open fire but if you get off the main road and do not stop at the first tourist trap but continue a few hundred meters, you come to the traditional trap(?) with a statue of a river logger just outside.

How to get there

When heading north, Oulu is a good starting place. A lively university town a long day’s ride from Helsinki. But first you need to get there! My recommended route from Helsinki would be Helsinki – Tampere – Virrat – Kuortane – Vimpeli – Kaustinen – Ylivieska – Oulu. This avoids many of the bigger arteries, crossing the scenic country side and has no fixed speed traps either.

If you have more time to explore, particularly if you come through Turku, the coastal route is also a nice alternative but more heavy with traffic.

When going up on the western route, it is worth exploring the lake district of the eastern Finland as well on your way down. You can choose  between the tranquility of the lake area or party at a harbour market of any town. Lappeenranta, Kuopio, Savonlinna to name a few… Plenty of culture, lake cruises, etc  available as well.

Very North in under Nine Minutes

The video below takes you along our route. You will see what the roads are like and the scenery along the way. It answers many question regarding riding in the very north.

Nordkapp aka North Cape

Continue reading Oh Deer! The Very North of Finland and Norway

Through Finland to Lapland and North Cape, Norway

A few years ago we left home for a short overnight ride (hence the open face helmet and sunglasses in the picture) with my wife and a few friends. Only to end up leaving our friends behind and touring Lapland and visiting Nordkapp in Norway by the Barents see, altogether some 4500km. The picture has a glue of where it was taken😀.

Now that covid-19 has seriously fu**ed up everyone’s riding plans for the summer, it is time to visit Lapland and the north again.

Well, Lapland is no second prize, it is a great destination on its own and well worth visiting even several times.

Continue reading Through Finland to Lapland and North Cape, Norway

Go Norway! (Since NZ is Half the World Away)

Norway, New Zealand of the North!

Norway must be one of the most scenic places on earth to ride a motorcycle. The mountains and fjords are magnificent and the small towns picturesque with typical colorful houses. The closest I can think of, in terms of landscape, would be New Zealand. But NZ is half the world away. Literally! So, go Norway!

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Church in the valley

HOG Roast by Rokken Guzzi Lag!

Our route started from Skarsmoen Gård near Lillehammer and took us first through Romsdalen valley to Trollstigen and eventually to Olden for a fantastic hog-roast. This was a rare treat as the roast was prepared in traditional way by the local Moto Guzzi riders at Rokken Guzzi Lag. This was a proper whole pig roasted on open fire and served with locally made corn beer. What a fantastic evening indeed!! Thank you so much guys, truly appreciated!

HOG Roast by Rokken Guzzi Lag
HOG Roast by Rokken Guzzi Lag

When Life Offers You Lemons, Make lemonade!

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Heavy rain approaching at Oldevatn

During the evening in Olden, thunderstorms started and torrential rain washed away many roads we had planned to ride south on. Combined with some mechanical issues, circumstances forced us to stay in the middle parts of the country.

Our designed route  would have taken us in the middle of a natural disaster. Feel sorry for the people in the area. Check the video in the link.

For a moment, life seemed to be offering some sour lemons. Well, it all turned out to be sweet lemonade as we ended up exploring the Norwegian Hytte-culture and visited some of the prettiest towns in Norway, Ålesund and Kristiansund in glorious sunshine. And we met some truly great people!

Fjord-Land at Geiranger

Trollsteg - 1100m vertical drop
Trollveggen – 1100m vertical drop
Troll
Troll

Trollveggen, Trollstigen and Geiranger are a must. Trollveggen is the highest vertical drop in Europe 1100m straight down (or up?). Favourite among base jumpers! 

Trollstigen view platform
Trollstigen viewing platform

Trollstigen is a bendy road up the hill in true alpine style. Some great viewing platforms have been built and they are certainly worth the short walk. 

From Trollstigen our road lead towards Geiranger fjord and fantastic views. Later in the summer, after the snow has melted, you can also visit Dalsnibba, Geiranger Skywalk, which is the highest view to the fjords at 1500 meters.

Dalsnibba
Dalsnibba

Picturesque towns

Ålesund is where we made a lucky(!) de-tour after rain having washed away roads.  More importantly though, the de-tour was due to some mechanical issues with my bike. I must mention the good job  Kjetil and the guys at AMS Motorsykkelsenteret made in getting me quickly back on the road.

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Ålesund view rom Fjellstua

Ålesund is a truly picturesque, colorful seaside town. The best views are at Fjellstua viewpoint, which also has a great restaurant with magnificent views of the town. Of course, Norwegian Klippfisk is on the menu! Must try!

Kristiansund
Kristiansund

Kristiansund is another seaside town worth visiting. For what I have seen, probably all Norwegian seaside towns are worth stopping!?!

Alf painted a Finnish Flag on his house
Alf even painted a Finnish Flag on his house!

In Kristiansund Alf was greeting us at his house and made us specially welcome after having painted a Finnish flag on the side of his house! Right next to his favourite football club Arsenal logo!

Atlantic Ocean Road and Spekemat

Atlantic Ocean Road  along the western coast is a road in the outer islands of Norway. This is a popular route and offers again some great views of the ocean. From here we continued to Hodalen for some Hytte-living and a traditional Norwegian Spekemat.

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Atlantic Ocean Road

“Spekemat” is salted and dried meat from pork and sheep. With Spekemat we had Flatbrød, local very thin bread and sour cream porridge called Rommegrot and scrambled eggs.  Washed down with beer. Apparently a traditional Christmas delicates but very good also in the summer!

Riding in Norway

When planning your trip to Norway, it is a good idea to check Ride Norway pages for some top tips for your ride.

Ferries a frequent
Ferries a frequent

The mountain and fjord roads have many long tunnels, all free.  Ferries have a small charge.

Road surface is generally very good, although the roads are narrow and traffic is usually very slow paced due to low speed limits, which people also adhere to.

Valley road
Valley road

Speed limits are often not sign posted and you need to know the general limits yourself. Prepare for some unintentional selfies, speed traps are frequent and only the end of lower speed limit is signed but not what the new speed limit is – Perhaps a Norwegian practical joke?

Mountain view
Mountain view
Thank you!
Thank you H-P! What a great ride!

Lofoten Islands via Lapland

Lapland and Lofoten Islands – Video Diary

Reindeer and Klippfisk tour

To see the Lofoten Islands in Norway has been one of the must-do trips on my bucket list. Besides Lofoten, I really enjoy riding in the very north of Finland in Lapland – the rolling hills (fells, arctic mountains) of the Reindeer country, which makes the trip even more enjoyable.

RouteMost would arrive from the south and for the purpose of this Lofoten blog, we ride straights through the country. My preference is to avoid the main (blocked) arteries (like E4) and to select the route in the middle. From Helsinki this would be first to Tampere, then Virrat (to route 66!) – Kuortane – Vimpeli – Veteli – Kaustinen – Toholampi – Sievi – Ylivieska – Oulu. Varying, enjoyable landscape. After a long ride, Oulu as the northern capital is worth exploring and a lively stop for a night or two. Our northern adventure starts here.

KukkolankoskiKukkolankoski

Tukkilaispatsas River Tornio is the border river between Sweden and Finland. The river is the longest free flowing river in Northern Europe. Kukkolankoski rapids just north of the town Tornio is a good place to stop for some traditionally prepared – on open fire – freshly caught white fish.Siiika

TIP: Arriving from south, continue past the first newer tourist traps further off the main road to the more traditional small village. This place is recognizable by the log floating lumberjack statue right in the middle of the area. There are also some local handicrafts available. If lucky, you may see some traditional lippo-fishig as well. basically a net scoop at the end of a long pole. About lippo and other kind of fishing in Finland click here.

Rovaniemi and Levi

Leaving Kukkolankoski, it is high time to start paying special attention to wild life running to the road. Not just elk/moose but particularly reindeer. This is now reindeer herding area and although each reindeer has an owner, they are free to roam anywhere in Lapland and are relatively wild.

If you want to see the real Santa Claus, now is your chance! Visit Rovaniemi and continue along E75 for the arctic circle Santa Claus Village. Heading north to Levi ski village (or Sirkka), you may want to take the road 79 along River Ounasjoki, which also flows through Rovaniemi.

At Kaukonen in Kittila on road 79, you should make a little detour off a 9km long dirt road (surface easy enough on a touring Harley) to the Reidar Särestöniemi’s atelier and museum. The paintings capture the nature during different seasons in Lapland.

After some artistic influence at the museum, head to Levi for the evening’s entertainment. Levi hotels are very biker friendly and should your ride be a cold one, many offer saunas in your room. Ask for a studio at Sirkantähti, which I have used or Hulu Poro. Summer prices are very reasonable and include big breakfasts.

Eat while in Lapland: Reindeer stew with lingonberry. It is a MUST and available virtually everywhere! Also try reindeer prepared in many other different ways, just ask. And men, do not forget the reindeer antler powder! Women may also want to take some home to their guys…

Kilpisjärvi and Crossing to Norway

From Levi it is only some 260 km to Lake Kilpisjärvi near Norwegian border at the very end of the stretched arm of Finland. This is also from where River Muonio eventually starts and later becomes river Tornio.

At the foot of Saana fell at Kilpisjärvi, there are reasonably many accommodations available but you may wish to book in advance. This is a rather popular area for hikers and nature lovers. From here it is a very short drive to Norway. The land borders between Norway, Finland and Sweden are very relaxed and there are no formalities here either.

NokipannukahvitSlowly the fells and rolling hills are getting bigger and eventually more dramatic. You will also ride through many tunnels through the fells. Do stop at a Saami souvenir shop / tents and enjoy a cup of traditionally prepared black pot coffee made on open fire. Here you can sample some more reindeer meat and find even more souvenirs. Reindeer hide on the bike seat or antlers to the front? Both are frequently spotted!

Lofoten Islands

After spending the night in Narvik, a coastal town just before Lofoten, the scenery is even more dramatic and now we are in the mountain country. The sea, islands, bridges, tunnels, dramatic cliffs, magnificent mountains, great road to ride on. We are in biker heaven now.

The closest I can think of to resemble the scenery would be New Zealand. The vegetation is very different but the shape of the land has many similarities. For such northern location above the arctic circle, Lofoten has exceptionally tempered, mild climate.

narvik svolvaer.jpgOur fantastic ride takes us to Svolvær in the south, the main town in the middle section of Lofoten islands. The northern part of Lofted islands is left for our next visit. It is amazing how Norway is so densely populated and lively even in the north and these rather remote locations. Svolvær has several good hotels and restaurants to choose from. Actually there are accommodations for tourists practically everywhere on the islands. 

Å

The best views were still ahead of us. The 130 km ride from Svolvær to Å on E10, the King Olav’s Road. Yes, that is the name of the village – just Å or Å i Lofoten. We were lucky and had the most fantastic weather, sunny around 23c and virtually no wind. The ride was absolutely breathtaking! Majestic mountain formations, valleys, seaside and fjord views, villages. The road was gradually getting narrower and ended on a car park turning point. Apparently a popular tourist location with a Fishing Museum and a good base for some further hiking trips.

2016-08-04 13.53.44For us it was also the time for some lunch and we chose a cosy, weather beaten restaurant  Maren Anna in the Å village. The restaurant was partly built on the sea and also provided some comfortable looking beach accommodations (Hytte) in the vicinity for travellers.

What to eat on the Lofoten: Whale in many forms – most often stew or steaks. Klippfisk, the outside dried and salted cod which is best when also grilled before serving.

The Vikings

Viking shipThere are two roads leading through the main body of the island when leaving south from Svolvær.  The eastern route along the coast and the western route past the Viking Museum. You should plan to ride both on your ride, although the museum may require a separate day. The museum has interesting videos and displays and a very good guiding system on multiple languages.

ViikinkisikaaAgain we were lucky and a Viking festival was on, which allowed us to explore a viking village set outside by the fjord with ”the real vikings” making handicrafts, cooking food and organizing field games.

Heading Back to Flatlands

tiedote lauttaranta

Our ride home started with a two hour ferry sailing from Svolvær to Skutvik, stopping briefly at a small island village of Skrova. The alternative ferry would sail from Moskenes near Å to Bodø. This four hour ferry takes you a bit further south on the mainland. Our sailing was calm but I can imagine that tie-downs are in good use should the sea be any choppier. The ferry is small and the sea is open.

Again, you have several option to choose from, depending on where you want to ride. We were heading through Norway to Mo i Rana and further to Umeå in Sweden, a coastal town by the gulf of Bothnia for a ferry to Vaasa in Finland.

Gradually the majestic mountains turned into fells, then into smaller fells and again into rolling hills before flattening out completely by mid-Sweden. There are some great sceneries on the way though. The higher plain at the arctic circle and some great lake views before you ride through the pine forests to Umeå.

The sailing from Umeå to Vaasa on a rough sea marked the end of our Lofoten adventure and all we had left was the final leg home in the sunshine with some great memories of Lapland and the Lofoten Islands.Laivan keula