A FEW FINAL PHOTOS

Handsome Boy (says me!)

The complete group

'The Emerald Express' as we were affectionately called

...AND A FINAL WORD

Ferry docked in Harwich Sunday afternoon and we're on the road for Carlisle.
Ed had booked a room for us here and then the plan is to push on for home on Monday morning.
I feel great and decide that I could make a late ferry Sunday night.
Ferry time was changed to midnight and it's a fair run up to Cairnryan

but I am looking forward to getting home.

519 miles from Harwich - and the ferry has me back in Belfast for 2.15am Monday
morning and I'm in my door by 3.30am.

Total distance travelled (excluding ferries) is  3763 miles. 

The GSA averaged 58mpg during the trip.
Truly has been a wonderful trip.

 Thanks to Edd for his friendship and company, to my wife Barbara for all her
support with my obsession of bikes, and my sister in law Linda for setting up
this blog and loading and editing all the information sent home.

Thinking ahead ........ Maybe Morocco next year!!!!  

MEMORY SNAPSHOTS OF A FABULOUS TRIP

DAY 13 - LEAVING KRISTIANSAND - HEADING HOME

Nigel had asked for us all to be ready and on our bikes for 6.25am this morning.
We wanted to be checked in by 7am for our ferry to Denmark.

Had a great night at the clarion hotel Kristiansand, great meal, great craic and
also a surprise cake and gift for Frances as it was her birthday.
Nigel said a few words about the trip home while also being very gracious of his
experience with the group and made a comment on each of us.
Top man!
Looking forward to getting home -  but what a great time.
It's the people who make the trip, and we were blessed with a whole squad of
them.

Vincent and Ed discussing tyres - or the lack of!

 Leaving Norway

 First ferry of the day



 Fabulous ferry!

 All present and accounted for





DAY 12 - BYKLE TO KRISTIANSAND

Stayed at the Bykle Hotel last night   -   Out in the wilds but a great spot.

A young girl called Sylvia was looking after us and she did a great job.

This is  rather an easy going morning as it's just a short run to Kristiansand 

and this will of course be our last full day in Norway.

Tomorrow we catch the 8am ferry to Denmark and we are on a tight schedule to get our connecting ferry to Harwich.

Weather today started out cloudy and grey but has brightened up to a beautiful day.

Clarion Hotel Kristiansand - taking up one side of the street

 

Kristiansand

Clarion Hotel

Have just had a walk around Kristiansand with Eddie and it is a beautiful city.

Kristiansand Main Street

Kristiansand port

Our table set for dinner tonight

All having tea as a group tonight so looking forward to the chat and catchup.

And for my last night in Norway I had these two bad boys.....ate the lot!!

Mmmmm...mmmm!!

DAY 11 - BERGEN TO BYKLE

Early start today as Nigel was sorting car park at 8am.
Ed not feeling great the last few days, and  got worse last night.
Trip to the hospital to get checked over and we're back on the road for 9.30am.
Today's planned trip is for 200 miles and we arrive at Harvik ferry for 10.10am

Weather poor this morning. Been raining overnight and still raining this
morning.  Some change from the start of our trip!
Rest of group well ahead, so bit of catch up to do today. No problem though to the big
"Girlz"
Off ferry and it's a brisk ride to our next crossing. Once again raining, but we
chase on and arrive in good time for the ferry, which we see coming towards the
terminal from further up the road.

Got a text from Nigel to skip out third ferry and head for Odda, where there is a
"massive waterfall" as Nigel would say. Rain is bouncing off the bikes upstairs, we'll soon
be back on the road.

Off ferry and it clears up again. Head off to Odda and the road is
excellent - plenty of twists and turns and it's dry.
During the trip we have gone though a number of tunnels - yesterday we encountered the most

as we came into Bergen, but today we came through a tunnel ELEVEN
kilometres long!
Strange also that you can come into tunnel and it's raining and come out the
other side and it's dry.
Arrived at hotel for 4pm and the Ed boy's still not feeling great, so it's a hot
shower for him and tea at 7pm.

DAY 10 - ALESUND TO BERGEN

First sign of the day

Left hotel at 7.30am and headed for our first ferry of the day. Been raining
overnight but drying out as we leave.
We join Frances this morning and arrive at the ferry crossing for just after
8am.

First port of the day

Ed reckons we missed the first ferry as I spent too much time in the WC.......whatever can he mean??

 Anyhow, 8.10 and she's on her way back.

Leaving  Solavagen and heading  across the pond to Festoya.  Arrived 9.22 at
Volda and heading to Folkestad.
Weather still dry but cloudy.

Arrived next ferry at Lote for 10.23am. Heading over to Anda. Good run down E39
and weather holding up well.
11.25 first fuel stop as Frances's bike doesn't have the range  of the GS's.
Rain just started.

Dragsvik ferry terminal

  Ferry view

A wee trip across this awaits

Water, water everywhere......

....and even more water!!

Arrived Dragsvik after a spirited ride over the mountain pass.......CLASS. What a

great ride!......  Loads of twists and turns, hairpins.  Just what we came for.

Next ferry is to Vangsnes and due to leave at 2.10pm. Sun is back out but temp was
down to 12 degrees on the mountain.

There's a road hiding behind all that mist.......

.......there really is!

Arrived hotel Bergen after 2hours of lashing rain. Bikes parked up, quick shower
and out for a bite to eat.

Eddie and Frances

Ed setting off into the mist

Keeping us informed

Fab viewEven better view!