Arctic Circle Ride |
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Daveb500
Falcone Joined: 14 May 2014 Location: Leeds Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Posted: 14 May 2014 at 10:47 |
Well just to say it looks like the ride is on up to the Arctic circle in Norway during August.
will take the ferry to Denmark from Harwich, then the shorter Denmark crossing to Norway. followed by the long ride up the North Sea coast line, taking in the sights and a few more ferry crossings before heading to the North and then back through Sweden.
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Jim Mac
Moderator Group Joined: 14 May 2014 Location: Edinburgh Status: Offline Points: 3202 |
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I priced this up for a group of us about 6 years ago - cost made my eyes water even then and meant most pulled out. Getting from Scotland across the water was a mortgage and trip to Hull as next nearest port added a day on either side. pity, it would have been good. I contacted the Norway MG club for advice and they gave me cheap accommodation addresses etc and also pointed out that speed limits at usually 50 are heavily enforced
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Daveb500
Falcone Joined: 14 May 2014 Location: Leeds Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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The ferry charges from Harwich arnt too bad, problem is its a days ride down for me. But worth it. The ferry from Hull to Rotterdam is expensive and it adds a couple of days ride through Holland and Germany.
At least limiting the speed to 50 helps to keep the fuel costs down, thats also expensive in Norway. I watch a video made by a German woman who did the tour on her own she even took all her own food for 14 days with her on her BMW.
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Gianni
Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2014 Location: Muswell Hill Status: Offline Points: 676 |
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I tried this in 2009. Ferry to Denmark then across to Sweden and headed north aiming to get to the Arctic Circle around midsummer's day for the 24 hour sunlight. I had to abandon the trip halfway up through Sweden because it was so hot. The temperatures were over 30C during the day and it was just tiring me out so I couldn't keep the mileage up. Not helped as I had all my winter riding gear with me so I was basically a mobile sauna. Instead we re-routed into Norway and explored back down to Oslo.
Norway is incredibly beautiful but it can take ages to make progress. Some roads turn and twist doubling the actual distance travelled. It is not unusual to have to wait an hour or two on narrow passes for the traffic in the other direction to come through, especially if roadworks are ongoing. But the speed limits are the big issue. They are mostly ~45mph/~75kph and they are obeyed so it is again hard to make progress as long convoys can form on the roads; its not just a question of blasting past. The many ferries are very efficient and frequent and not expensive. Norwegian hotels, food and beer are very expensive (for beer think up to 7 times UK prices) so if you have access to cheap alternatives go for it. The people are amongst the friendliest in Europe; if you meet a biker at a petrol station, expect to chat for at least half an hour and in bars/cafes they often invite you to join them. All great of course but again if you are trying to make progress... But Norway is a brilliant place to ride and I thoroughly recommend it for a grand tour - enjoy.
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Daveb500
Falcone Joined: 14 May 2014 Location: Leeds Status: Offline Points: 69 |
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Thanks for the words Gianni.
The plan is to get the Ferry in to Kirstansand on the southern tip of Norway and ride up the west coast. That will be slow, so will just have to adjust the route as we go, route plan says 7 days, but going to allow 12 days giving a bit of flex.
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Gianni
Senior Member Joined: 16 May 2014 Location: Muswell Hill Status: Offline Points: 676 |
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I've dug out my records from a previous trip.
The Bergen Travel Hotel (in Bergen) is (or was - it is still advertised) a good cheap hotel/pub in Vestre Torggaten. Find it at the bottom of the steps up to the Johanneskirken (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St_John%27s_Church,_Bergen) Try and cross the Hardangervidda (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hardangervidda) if you can - stunning stuff but a bit out of your way. You can head north on the route 9 but you would have to go east to pick up the road over the top. I know from experience that one can do Bergen to Oslo in a long day but two is better; there are nice hotels in the ski resort on the top (Geilo).
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Brian UK
Moderator Group Joined: 13 May 2014 Location: Surrey Status: Offline Points: 17641 |
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I remember the Hardangervidda from a trip back in the late 60s, 12 ft snow walls either side, and the road up from the Bergen end was atrocious. But stunning, certainly.
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Brian.
Better 5 minutes late in this world than years early in the next. |
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David Nimrod
Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2015 Location: North Lincs. Status: Offline Points: 732 |
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So glad I did the ride to Nordkapp back in 1984 (and then again in 1990).
I don't think I could stomach the high costs, speed limits, and crowds now. Even then it was very expensive: I wild camped, or used cheap campsites. Carried lots of pasta, rice, tuna. Didn't drink booze, & just scraped by really. Back then there was more dirt roads, less ferries, so more miles around the Fjords. But it was good fun Here in '84 on a '79 BMW R100RT Edited by David Nimrod - 22 Apr 2015 at 09:32 |
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Dave P.
Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 5573 |
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Just started organizing this summers European trip.The old girl has hip issues and can't ride long distances any more.Plus she doesn't enjoy the ride down through eastern France.So,I'll ride the old V7 Special loop job
Down to Sicily and pick her up at the airport.Then a gentle tour of Sicily and she'll fly home. I've noticed that a line on the map from Daventry to Palermo goes so close to the Guzzi factory and museum that it would be criminal not to pay a call. I quite fancy riding down the West coast of Italy.I've only ever ridden up and down the center.Has anyone any comments about that route?I just wonder if the tourist traps in the West make for a frustrating journey. |
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TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.
1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
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Dave P.
Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 5573 |
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Sorry,the above should have been a new thread.
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TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.
1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
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GU221
Senior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2014 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 367 |
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Good to see this thread revived. The ride to Nordkapp is one of the finest rides in the world, and you guys have it on your doorstep.
I did it in 2010. Luckily the Aus dollar was very high, and it was affordable then. Its a different story now, as we are back to banana republic status. I was hoping for another assault on it this year, but can't afford it.
Costs can be cut a lot, mind. Wild camping is easy enough, but "hytte" those huts they have everywhere are not expensive if you have 4 people travelling together. There is only one way to do it, which is up the west coast, fjords and mountains galore. I was astounded how many European bikers do the trip and simply ride up through Sweden. Its a quick trip that way, but completely misses the real beauty of the area.
Edited by GU221 - 23 Apr 2015 at 05:01 |
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David Nimrod
Senior Member Joined: 16 Apr 2015 Location: North Lincs. Status: Offline Points: 732 |
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Agreed... The E6 is the road to use, with a diversion into the Lofoten Islands on the way. Nordkapp itself was a let down, being a car park full of coaches, disgorging witless tourists. At least it was when I was last there... |
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GU221
Senior Member Joined: 29 Nov 2014 Location: Australia Status: Offline Points: 367 |
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The Lofotens are breathtaking too.
Hans Petter has started a new site.
Yes, the Cape was just a car park. Summer is midnight sun time. Cruise ships disgorge passengers into buses to see the sun, if the weather obliges.
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ranton_rambler
Senior Member Joined: 13 Feb 2015 Location: Stafford Status: Offline Points: 1147 |
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I thought I was being brave planning to take my loop down to Mandello, but Sicily is about twice as far. Would be interested to hear how you get on. How long are you planning for the trip? I was thinking 3 days to Mandello (from Stafford), staying off motorways.
Ian
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Dave P.
Senior Member Joined: 12 Jan 2015 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 5573 |
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Once again,sorry for hijacking this thread.(Can this be moved?) Sicily;This is going to be a major trip for us.As we are retired time constraints don't apply like they once did.I've got about ten days to get down there allowing a relaxed pace and time to look around.As I said previously I shall be doing the majority of the mileage on my own hence longer days in the saddle if I so choose. As far as reporting on the trip is concerned you'll have to wait until October for that because I'm leaving in mid September and the trip will last about a month. Good luck with your trip.When do you go and which loop are you riding? And please post your trip report (sounds a bit official that)when you get back.Three days to Mandello? I'd want four. |
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TO LIVE OUTSIDE THE LAW YOU MUST BE HONEST.
1971 V7 Special. 1972 850GT. 1970 T120 Bonnie. 2009 500 Bullet. |
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