Thursday, July, 2nd, is a wonderful day for us. The fog of the night was completely gone in the morning. People said that the captain used the foghorn a lot, but I heard none of it, because, again, I slept like the dead.
And on waking up and looking out of our cabin windows, we see the steep granite walls really close. They are so close you imagine you could touch them standing on the balcony. Of course, you cannot.
At the end of the fjord is Geiranger, the small, gentle place giving this special fjord its name. Few houses, a few paths into the mountain, snow-covered mountain tops. It all looks like in the Alps at a height of 2,000 metres.
At seven o’clock, we eat our breakfast. After ham and eggs and a pickled herring, I am ready to start the day. At 8 a.m., we are shipped out on the tender.
My bike is number 14 and already waiting for me, my “clickies” are adjusted. We already met our three guards: Markus, the boss, Patrick, the youngest, and Harry, the most humorous.
Besides us, another eleven persons from our ship have booked the tour. Four busses take travellers from our ship up to the viewing point, both in the morning and in the afternoon.
And then we start. The 1,500 metres of height difference are on a length of 20 kilometres. The group starts fast, I roll along comfortably in the rear. The street conditions are good, the inclines a maximum of 10 per cent, which means they are quite manageable. As I will notice in the evening, the many stops for taking pictures are well worth it.
We come across many campers, most of which, of course, come from Germany. Some brought their bikes, which look like they have never been used. I am a little proud and glad to be riding up on a bike.
At a height of 1,000 metres above sea level, a high valley with a beautiful lake opens up before us. A small part of the lake is still frozen. Some ice floe is still on it. The colours are spectacular: crystal green, then an azure-like blue. It is all a great miracle of nature.
Now we continue to Dalsnibba. That is: the next 500 height metres, at the end of which there is another spectator’s platform with a panoramic view onto the fjord and the mountains. From here, our big ship looks as small as a pinhead.
All around us we see snow – combined with deep summer temperatures.
After a pause, we go downhill for 24 kilometres. Like in: 24 kilometres without having to turn a single pedal.
And at 4 p.m., we continue with our boat trip. MeinSchiff exits the Geirangerfjord and goes back onto the sea. We enjoy the most beautiful summer weather. The fjord is extremely narrow, changing between steep granite and forests on both sides all the time.
Then we come across the famous waterfalls: on starboard the famous “seven sisters” and on backboard the “drunken suitor”. Due to the warm weather, the waterfall carries its maximum water supply. It is a breathtaking natural spectacle.
Incidentally, the nice weather on this tour is not a foregone conclusion. We are the lucky bastards!
And as our ship moves slowly along the fjord, I remember our friend Dietmar. This is his birthday. Dietmar, Happy Birthday from Norway! I hope the weather at home is as nice as here.
Now, however, we have to say good-bye.! As soon as the fjord is behind us, we will head for Bergen. I will post a report on this in my travel journal of tomorrow.
RMD
(Translated by EG)
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