Read Part 1 of My Road Trip in Norway
By Verla Olson
Even major roads can be narrow in Norway. It sometimes seemed one could open the window and touch homes and doorsteps – and those sheep! Speed limits are very conservative and monitored by cameras. Buy time now, pay a fine later. And be aware: eat well but there is zero tolerance for driving after drinking any alcohol.
There are numerous pullovers to – pull over! Have a picnic lunch, or more important, have a LOOK!!! Roads we traveled are a 24/7 photo op, even when skies were overcast. We did have wet windows and wet roads, but our spirits were dry – and high! Before any vacation, one can ask the Lord if it is going to rain. If you don’t hear an answer, prepare yourself. Some areas are bound to have rain anytime. Traveling in May, two roads we would have traveled, including the famous Trollstigen, were still closed. Highway routes cross fjords, which means using ferries. It is a simple process: the road ends; drive onto the ferry; give someone money; drive off the ferry; the road begins again.
My husband drove, I navigated and we returned home still happily married! A GPS led us to our lodging, whether the remote ski chalet high outside Lillehammer or into the city of Trondheim. Admittedly with some doubts, but with avowed flexibility and trust, we wandered a few quaint gravel wilderness routes. When we returned to pavement and landmarks we could identify, we relaxed and with hindsight, agreed they were lovely and applauded the good help of our overhead guide. Beside the mechanical help, I like to have a map on my lap. I like to see the big picture and follow the names of small towns along the journey, and to look back on a printed record of wonderful places we have been and seen.
An international driver license is not required, but recommended. It is a simple process, costing $15.00 (plus the cost of two passport photos if needed) through AAA. As it was, my husband forgot his on our kitchen cupboard! It was never requested.
By May 24, we were out of granola bars and red licorice; out of rye crackers, sandwich meat and cheese. We were sensing it was time to go home. We headed back to Sweden, spending a night in a charming B & B outside the city of Arvika, before rejoining and saying good-bye to our friends. On May 26 we were out of time, out of Kronor, out of a car … and out of Scandinavia!