Wed 26th April 2023
As we got up this morning there was a heavy hail storm followed by flurries of snow, thankfully by the time we left it had stopped. However as we drove south it became evident we had been on the edge of a snowstorm that covered the scenery for miles, thankfully the roads were clear just very wet. We were heading for Egersund which we had heard was an attractive town.
There were two routes from Egersund we could take which would lead to tonight stopover. I chose route 44 as it looked more interesting and was closer to the sea. WOW, WOW andWOW again, what an experience , what a drive, it had everything. We went up and through mountain passes descended again to sea level before going back up and over a mountain pass again, this happened more times than I can recall. On all sides were surrounded by stark scenery, imposing mountains, huge lakes, fast flowing rivers every minute the scenery changed, it was difficult to take photographs.
The road was often narrow down to one cars width in places and as to the hair pin bends well we often stared into our own exhaust pipe as we went round them.
Thanks to Michelle for attempting to take photos as we went along, not easy when there wasn’t a straight road.
Of course we had to have the obligatory tunnel, thankfully not many and quite short.
At one point to give my arms a rest we pulled into a picnic area part way down one mountain road on the corner of a hair pin bend. It turned out to be historically interesting.
We were above the hydro electric plant that was famous in WW11 for making “heavy water” a substance used in the development of nuclear fission.In 1942 a number of Norwegian saboteurs were parachuted onto the plateau high above the plant and managed to enter the plant and explode bombs which caused serious damage to the production, through careful planning they all managed to escape with their lives.
When we eventually came to the end of 44, we joined a much larger main road and made good speed, Norway is currently turning the road into a motorway, once on your on and that meant paying tolls.Tonight we are on a campsite in Lillesand at sea level, we are watching the tide going out as I write this, a beautiful view again.
taraabit 