Western Norway Tour 2024
VRCC Italy, USA and Norway
​
An unforgettable journey with good friends.
See the photos from the trip and video of The flying Valkyrie !
After a successful InZane, I (Tommy) took some of the participants on a guided tour. From Italy: Fray, David, Marco and Loredana. From the USA: Connie and Michael. I brought the VRCC Norway mascot; my daughter Mia. Link to the full route can be found here.
In 6 days we drove 1100 km through some of the most beautiful nature and the most spectacular motorcycle roads Southern Norway has to offer.
The first stage of the day went from Vrådal, over the old road on Haukelifjell mountain, along the Hardangerfjord, over the landmark Hardangerbrua bridge to Voss Camping. Along the way we stopped for a delicious lunch at Morgedal Ski Museum. There were photo stops at the old Røldalsfjellet mountain road and along the Hardangerfjord. We tried to stop at the famous Låtefossen waterfall, but it was so full of visitors that we couldn't park. We therefore drove on to Skjervsfossen waterfall for some nice photos and impressions before we made our way to Voss Camping where we stayed overnight in cabins.
Gallery:
Day two we rode a great route that may not even be familiar to most Norwegian motorcyclists. At Evanger we turned off into the lush Teigdalen valley before starting the climb up to Brekkhusfjellet mounttain pass. Just before the summit there is a fantastic viewpoint where we stopped for a photoshoot. Watch the video below, and join us on a ride over this mountain with Tommy's 1999 model Interstate (filmed in 2021). On the other side of the mountain a relaxing ride awaited us through the beautiful agricultural areas of Eksingedalen valley, before we took a break in the small village of Mo.
The trip continued to the village of Matre, where we turned off towards the remote Stordalen valley. After a few kilometers of steep climb, we came to another great lookout point where we took some photos. A little further into the mountains, we came across a beautiful waterfall where we enjoyed the nature and had lunch in the open air. Then the journey went down towards the Sognefjord, and we followed it to the ferry terminal at Oppedal. There we crossed the fjord before driving towards today's destination, the historic mountain farm Flatheim on Gaularfjell. After checking into the beautiful old-style rooms, we used their cozy hut down by the river, where we barbecued and enjoyed ourselves until late in the evening in magical surroundings.
Gallery + video:
The flying Valkyrie
On the third day, our host Sigurd served a lovely breakfast with selected local produce in a beautifully decorated ancient log building. Coming to this place is like traveling back in time, with some of Norway's most beautiful wild nature as a setting. After breakfast, we visited the magnificent Likholefossen waterfall, which is within walking distance of Flatheim, before continuing to the Utsikten lookout pint at Gaularfjell for another magical photo stop. We also had another nice ferry ride across the fjord before driving to Sogndal for some shopping.
Gallery:
After some great experiences on Gaularfjell, we found our way down to the mighty Sognefjord again. We followed the fjord eastward, and in Hafslo we turned off towards Jostedalsbreen and Tungestølen tourist cabin . On the way there, we took a photo stop at a unique place where the glacier is reflected in the water in the background. Shortly after, we stopped in Kvam at my good friend Leif Bjarne's place, who was restoring an old barn. Anita had met us there with food and coffee. Leif Bjarne told us lively stories about the farm there, which was taken by an avalanche almost 50 years ago, and what it was like to grow up deep in a valley where you were isolated for much of the year.
After a nice break, we continued on to the tourist cabin that was located right under the glacier. It has an absolutely fantastic location, and best of all: there is no mobile phone coverage there. You can both stay overnight and eat there, and the food you are served is top class. The road from Hafslo to Tungestølen is an experience in itself as it follows lake Hafslovatnet and lake Veitastrondsvatnet with steep mountains on the opposite side of the road. It is narrow, winding and the landscape is constantly changing. We drove back to Leif Bjarne's beautiful cabin in Hafslo, where Anita served us a fantastic tapas dinner before we spent the night in his little palace.
A special thank you to Leif Bjarne and Anita, both of whom with their contributions made this a very special experience.
Gallery:
On the fourth day, Anita made us another wonderful meal, and we said goodbye to Marco and Loredana. They had planned to drive up to Trollstigen. Our first photo stop was in Skjolden, at the very end of the Sognefjord. Then we climbed up the Sognefjellet mountain. We took a detour to the beautiful lookout point on the Tindevegen panoramic road with a magnificent view of inner Sogn and Jotunheimen mountain areas. We continued east on road 55 over Sognefjell. The entire stretch is an eldorado for motorcyclists with a magical mountain landscape and wonderful bends.
Lunch was to be taken at Juvasshytta . To get there, a special drive awaited on Northern Europe's highest road . It offers gradients of up to 19% and here too an incredible mountain view. After a pleasant meal at altitude, we went to Lom for the next overnight stay. Here the Italians were served Italian style pizza in Norwegian.
Gallery:
On day five we drove over the Valdresflya mountain pass, the last mountain section of the trip. At Randsverk we stopped at the nice souvenir shop and took a break at the café. The next stop was a nice visit to VRCC member Arne Ivar and his family in Valdres. Here we were served waffles with brown goat cheese, to everyone's great delight. Of course there was also time for some Valkyrie talk.
The last leg went over the Tonsåsen hills to the village of Dokka where we took a break at the Pitstop Diner. From there the trip went along lake Randsfjorden and back to our home in Gran at the Hadeland region. Here Anita was waiting with another delicious meal. In the evening Connie and Michael traveled on to Gardermoen airrport as they had an early flight the next day.
Gallery:
On the sixth day, I was supposed to accompany our Italian friends on the last leg from Gran to the ferry terminal in Oslo. We first stopped for a sightseeing tour in the Frognerparken park, before having lunch together. I followed them all the way to check-in to make sure they got off safely. It turned out that the tickets were for the sailing the next day. At the same time, Marco and Loredana had to cancel their trip north and were staying at a hotel near Gardermoen airport. So we went there to meet them and had a last meal together.
​
Gallery:
