After crossing the border from Sweden into Norway, it was then another 100kms drive on to Oslo through heavy traffic on a hilly forest road. We sneaked in and helped ourselves to a free shower and a tidy up at the Youth Hostel (a pricey 25Kr per night) but decided against staying overnight. We then had a night out on the town at ‘Club Remember, where we had for the evening with local gals Else and Greta. We got away by around 2am, still in near daylight, to camp by the side of the road near Ekeberg Camping Ground.
I was up early next morning after a most unsatisfactory 4 hours sleep in the Kombi. There were no travel starters nominated at the Youth Hostel, so we made it straight down to Larvik. We took some time off for lunch and relaxing at Sandefjord and then on the water at Viksfjord. We took off again around 2pm as the sky darkened and rain began to fall. We passed through some fantastic fjord country where most of the road was bordered by water on one side and high mountains on the other, with many sheltered bays appearing from time
There was plenty of next day for the boys – first two somewhat dour Norwegian girls who we tipped off at lunchtime, and then much more for the afternoon when we picked up Lise and Thorhild, who us all the way to the camp at Kristiansand, demolishing four bottles of beer and multi fags between them on the way. They then took us to the Hotel Caledonian cabaret for the night (entrance 10Kr), which really swung with a great band from Syria. That night provided us with our first real taste of ‘midnight sun with it being impossible to darken the inside of the Kombi, making sleep incredibly difficult.
I was pulled out of bed by Bob at 8am for an early morning ‘surf in the fjord just behind the campsite. It was a beautiful clear sky, and we just lazed in the sun, apart from a 10 second swim in the freezing water. However, it seemed it was a ‘normal European day, and by the middle of the day it was overcast then raining. We were joined again in the afternoon by Lise and Thorhild, who had by this stage
lost their tent. We passed the afternoon chatting, getting a haircut from the former, and having a magnificent late lunch of smorrebrod (shrimp, ham, pork, salad etc), washed down with a local red wine, all prepared by the girls. The sun reappeared late afternoon, so we just lazed in the cove until dinner, then drove the girls into the cabaret. Our onward travel offer was rejected by the girls after we picked them up, but we did receive a very persuasive invitation from Lise to pay them a visit in Drammen the following weekend.
Stupidly, we decided to drive on a bit further that evening, given there was still a fascinating half light. We travelled along a very windy narrow road through mountainous forests, which provided quite a different background than previously. It was fantastically still at night, with the full moon shining over the water producing very sharp silhouettes. What with the very sharp bends, passing semis and unlit tunnels, it needed all your concentration to avoid mishap. Unfortunately, we were unable to do so, with my sideswiping a on overtaking, and later the roof being ripped off during Bobs drive.
midday, and despite the sun, it was very cold, especially near the water. The balance of the day was spent chasing roof repairs, servicing the van, an unimpressive bus trip around the city, shop wandering, and a drive out to Tananger to look at the oil rigs and see were operating them. We set up camp off the road not far away, repaired the roof somewhat crudely, and had an early night.
We had a remarkably good sleep, given we were almost sleeping out with the elements due to the roof repairs. We changed into our ‘business gear early and travelled out for interviews in Stavanger with the various – Norsco, Shell, Barroid and Magcobar.
