On the map above I have moved the scale out to give you an idea of Flam in relation to Norway ๐ณ๐ด.
Before we say goodbye to Hereiane, I should note the Hereiane district is famous in Norway for it’s cherries and berries. One of the best things about Christmas in Australia is the cherries are in season. Well apparently the Morello cherries are now in season in the Hereiane.
The morello cherries ๐ are fat and delicious. At NOK40 (A$6) for a pack from one of the road-side stalls.
Lastly on the Hereiane. There is a walking track opposite our overnight stop. It climbs the deeply scoured remains of some ancient glacier up the hill. It was a hard ascent taking us more then 40 minutes but the view from the top was worth it. This panorama should open to show you the fjord below.
Norway
We stop in Voss to visit the tourist office. I want to get a local tourist map of the Aurlands and use their free wifi to complete and publish a blog. Pam has a chat with the tourist office guy and checks the availablity of a seats on the Flam Railway for tomorrow. There are seats for the 7.30 departure from Flam, its also cheaper because the cruise ships don’t get in that early. So where are booked in and NOK800 poorer. There is also LPG station in town according to the database. We haven’t filled with LPG since the day we crossed into France about 3 weeks ago so off we go to top up.
Not a particularly interesting photo but this is the LPG station in Voss. We thought it would be part of a service station as normal in Southern Europe, but here gas is treated differently.
So its 7am and we walk down to catch the train ๐. A small cruise ship is just coming in the berth as we do. Here’s hoping we are in front of all the Americans.
So this is it. Looks very nice. The Flam line runs for 20 kilometres to Mydal, where it connects with the main Oslo to Bergen line.
The carriages are very nice, comfortable seats and its all spotless. The Flam line is supposed to be the steepest conventional rail line in Europe according to the blurb.
The train smoothly and steadily winds its way up the valley. Providing some great scenery as it does. There are lots of spare seats in our carriage so we can move around to take a picture as required.
The Flam line took 20 years to build, being finally completed in 1941.
One of the highlights of the journey is a stop at Mydalfossen (falls). Where a selfie festival took place. I didn’t mention that the front two carriages were filled with Chinese tourist who arrived by coach a few minutes before the train departed.
As we head up to the last series of turns to Mydal. On the right the old service road, which is now supposedly a cycle path. On the left there are two tunnels one above the other as the line circles up the mountain. The main line and station can be seen on top of the ridge.
Norway
We arrive in Mydal an hour after we departed Flam. A few people had bags and went on to Bergen or Oslo, others got off with bicycles obviously looking to ride back. The Chinese and Pam and I had a 15 minute look about, then boarded the train for the return journey.
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