1. 6. 2023 - 10 km / 240 hm Kristiansund (Sightseeing) - Trondheim

For once, cycling is not in the foreground today. After the short sightseeing tour and the ascent to the "Varden", a viewpoint, we visit the old ship workshops near the water. These are very reminiscent of our hammer mill in Seengen - with the only difference that completely different products are made.

To get to Trondheim we take the shortcut with the "Hurtigbåt" (fast ship). We cover the nearly 180 km long trip in about 4 hours. We cross several weather fronts with rain and sunshine. We can sit well thereby always in the dry one.

In Trondheim - a city with more than 200'000 inhabitants - we get caught in the rush hour traffic. The hustle and bustle of the traffic almost overwhelms us and we are glad that we will be back out of the city on our bikes tomorrow.

2. 6. 2023 - 124 km Train Trondheim - Steinkjer  &&  43 km / 422 hm Steinkjer - Namdalseid

Once again a leisurely start to the day. On the way to the station short photo stop at the Nidelva, with the colored wooden houses built on the river, then train ride with Stadler-Rail to Steinkjer.

After that is done fun with easy life - from now on is only cycling announced and it remains only the hope now and then short distances by ferry or bus to use. Also pushing passages belong to the today's daily program.

The coastal road leads largely through hilly agricultural land, whereby the view also opens again and again on the inland reaching sea arms. Surprisingly, the vegetation is much greener than in the southern part of Norway. Obviously there was much more precipitation here.

Today's accommodation turns out to be the complete opposite! After yesterday's hotel skyscraper, we settle in this evening at the friendly Lensmannsgården - a small but fine B&B accommodation. Even a dinner with local specialties is served to us by the host lady.

3. 6. 2023 - 45 km / 302 hm Namdalseid - Namsos

Today's stage is quickly told. Gray in gray and rather humid weather - rarely a ray of sunshine. With pleasure someone could send some Swiss warmth to the north, it would be welcome for sure!

4. 6. 2023 -72 km / 819 hm Namsos - Kolvereid

Something is just not right today: My sun position APP claims that the sun rises at 02:59 today at 23:28. But I never saw the sun all day long !

The tour from Namsos to Kolvereid starts in dry conditions. The route is well signed as Eurovelo EV1 and follows the coastal road FV.17 (Norwegian: Kystriksveien). We will follow this route for quite a while.

It leads through an impressive landscape with countless fjords, lined with endless but increasingly sparse coniferous and birch forests. The long, energy-sapping ascents alternate with racy descents. On this section there are also countless bridges to cross (just like the Maffay song "Über sieben Brücken musst du geh'n ...).

After about half the distance, the fat cloud cover opens its floodgates once again and the rain suits comes into play once more. At least (between Lund and Hofes) we get  once again in the pleasure of a good 30-minute ferry crossing. Well recovered we cycle the final kilometers to the day's destination.

On the ferry we meet a large number of cyclists from all over Europe (Germany, Holland, Scotland, ...). Of course, there is also a lively exchange of experiences.

5. 6. 2023 -80 km / 911 hm Kolvereid - Vik

At 5 o'clock in the morning today I am torn from sleep by a glistening sunbeam. I would never have thought that something like that would be possible after the previous days!

At the start of the tour, however, a rather thick layer of clouds has settled over the country again. "Tant pis, c'est la vie". At least the morning remains dry and the ride from Kolvereid can start at cool temperatures. And one meets on the route also soon the known companions of yesterday.

In the following the weather changes regularly. From time to time a short rain shower, then again beautiful sunshine. The cycle track leads also today much up and down, once along the sea water, then by beautiful moor areas with the typical birch woods.

Thus we arrive in the landscape Helgeland, in the province Nordland, which is counted to the northern part of Norway. We have so to speak, crossed the middle of Norway.

During a chat with a local we learn that we are also passing a weather border. He makes us not only hope for a soon improvement of the weather situation but also assures us, that we will profit in the north significantly more often from a tail wind.

6. 6. 2023 - 66 km / 260 hm Vik - Forvik

Raindrops are falling on my head

And just like the guy whose feet are too big for his bed

Nothing seems to fit

Those raindrops are falling on my head, they keep falling

Unfortunately, our hopes for an improvement in the weather are sorely disappointed. Until well into the afternoon it rains practically continuously and the forecast of the local from the previous day is only fulfilled insofar as no headwind blows in our faces.

Fortunately, at least there are almost no meters of altitude, so we complete a flat stage.

On the short ferry connection from Horn to Anddalsvåg we are accompanied by a host of policemen. The reason for this is the visit of the king in the province around Forvik - our final destination today. There we are promptly invited to the planned festivities. Norwegian folk festival atmosphere with music and theater performances await us. Unfortunately, we don't understand a single word - neither of the speeches nor of the performances. But it must have been essentially about love, murder and manslaughter.

We spend the night in the coffee roastery in Forvik, which is run by an enterprising and equally talkative woman. Since she is invited to the King's Dinner, she can't cook for us, but kindly leaves her car to us to get something edible.