E39 south of Volda - 5 July 2018

Geoff 

We had a leisurely start to the day. Parking had been paid for until 4pm and we were in a lovely spot looking across to the island of Valderøya. After breakfast we wandered into town, found the tourist office and downloaded the paper. 

From the centre of the town is a steep path up to Fjellstua, a mountain viewpoint high above. We set off to do it. It starts with some zigzagging paths and then the 418 winding steps take you to the top. 

Amanda stopped for a breather at the foot of the steps and I went on. Part way up is a viewing platform and, at the top, is a cafeteria and a large outside viewing area. The views over the town and sea and islands beyond were amazing. 

I was on my way back down when I met Amanda coming up. Obviously, only a short breather was needed. She did very well. In fact, she said going down was harder. 

We left Ålesund mid afternoon with not too far to drive. We found a stop for the night just past the second tunnel on the Bergen side of Volda. There are great views over a fjord but there isn't much traffic on the road behind and we are on our own tonight, no other vans. 

Amanda

We decided to take full advantage of the 24 hrs parking, with a lie in, late breakfast, and lovely long chat to a young British couple, Sarah and Dave, from Cheshire, who are campervanning around Europe on a year's sabbatical in a camper the same size as ours. Like us two years ago, they have run out of gas two and a half weeks in and had to buy a camping stove. We duly inspected and admired each other's vans before parting company, each to head off in the direction the other had just come from.

The prospect of a climb up 418 steps to a viewpoint above the town was an enticing one for Geoff and a daunting one for me. But I made it, and the view was worth it. Alesund is really a very attractive place.  It left time for coffee, a shower and lunch before leaving at around 3pm. 

No need to do many miles today, (less than 50, including a ferry, several tunnels and fjordside roads). We are parked in a nicely laid out, railed, rest area above a fjord which one of our guides to overnight parking places lists, and have cooked and eaten supper. We are the only ones here, and few vehicles have stopped. Maybe because this is a new re-routing of the E39, through several tunnels, and is not even shown as projected in our 2 year old road atlas. Maybe because it is not easily seen as you emerge from the nearby tunnel. The views are beautiful, though shrouded in mist now, and it is all a bit eerie!