Sauda - 21 July 2018

Geoff

Last night's stop was actually very good (co-ordinates N60.84389 E006.72416). Such stunning surroundings. We drove south west on the E16, heading for Voss. We stopped at the Rema 1000 at Skulestadmoen for wifi. 

From Voss, we took the 13, pleasant enough which improved to run alongside a large lake, Granvinsvatnet. Then a 4.5 tunnel with, towards the end, a roundabout/road junction in the tunnel. We emerged to go over an impressive long suspension bridge. The 13 continued for nearly thirty miles alongside a quite narrow fjord. The road wound its way around rock faces and at times was single track. Along this stretch, Kinsarvik was our stop for lunch next to the fjord. 

South of Odda, we stopped to view the impressive Låtefossen waterfall, in fact a double fall. We managed to park but so many others we there as well. A very popular spot. 

Ten miles past Odda, we joined the E134 and after a longish tunnel and a winding descent, we turned off on to a narrow road, the 520, and this was the exhilarating highlight of the day. It ascended, hugging the mountain side, with a steep drop on Amanda's side, which she wasn't keen on. It continued to climb and wind until we emerged on to a misty, quite eery, landscape, barren and mountainous. It was quite beautiful. 

A long descent brought us unexpectedly past the Allmannajuvet zinc mine, active for only a few years in the late 19th century, but now restored and open to visitors. Unfortunately, time didn't allow more than a brief stop. It was a lovely drive then down into Sauda, a place I'd never heard of but which is home to the largest smelting works in Europe and which dominates the town. 

Apparently, during the winter, the streets are heated so that they remain free of ice and snow. 

We are overnighting at a camperstop overlooking a fjord on the edge of Sauda (co-ordinates N59.64720 E006.34142). 

Amanda

Another one of those days when I look back and can't believe it was only this morning that we left the last overnight stopping place. After a quick stop at a Rema 1000 for shopping and newspaper downloading, we continued on our southwesterly route heading in the general direction of Stavanger. Past Voss we turned south east for a while on the E13, experiencing  our first view of Hardangerfjord, our first roundabouts IN tunnels - two of them - and a massive suspension bridge over the fjord linking two tunnels! Then continuing south on the E13, the pretty fjordside town of Kinsarvik provided a wooded walk past waterfalls, and a waterside lunch spot, as well as an opportunity to chat with a young man from Israel, now living in Prague, who needed a tiny screwdriver to mend his beloved camera. Geoff prides himself on carrying tools for most foreseeable needs, and after much searching was able to find one the right size, which may or may not have done the trick.

Through the large town of Odda without feeling the need to stop, we turned off onto 520, just because it was the way to get to the overnight stop at Sauda which I had identified. Maybe it's a good job that the road atlas doesn't really give away much in the way of clues as to the terrain. This one, which turned out to be part of another Norwegian Scenic Route called Ryfylke, may just be the most interesting and spectacular up-and-over route yet! When I could bear to look, that is. Geoff marvelled that I trusted him - well, I didn't have much choice - and said that he was glad he wasn't in the passenger seat!

We are both now recovering at the quayside Bobil Parking in Sauda, where a local motorist who collects photos of foreign number plates was very excited to capture a GB one. We told him that we had seen a Chinese one earlier today. He said he had seen several, and that they come to Scandinavia via Siberia.

Last night we only needed a sheet, but tonight it will be back to the normal duvet. Much cooler, I'm pleased to say.