Travelled: 96 kilometres from Andalsnes to Elnsvรฅgen in the western fjordlands
Visited: Travelled the Raumabanen (Rauma Railway) NOK300pp return.
Stayed: Elnsvรฅgen, free parking area above the service point. N62.85539, E07.17321
We were lucky regarding the brakes on the Hymer. Firstly there was a Ford/Fiat dealer in Andalsnes, which is not a large town by any standard. Secondly they were able to put it up on the hoist later that day, identify the problem and have the brake pads on a truck from Oslo for delivery the next day. Lastly that I managed to drive down the Trollstigen and a further 20 kilometres in Andalsnes without using the brakes or having a near miss, hence no damage to the discs.
The disappointing aspect of the event was the Hymer was only serviced with an MOT inspection 5,000klm (two months) ago. In my email to the mechanic in June, I specifically asked to have the Hymer’s wheels removed and the brakes inspected. The pads and fitting invoice totalled NOK2,300 or about A$370. Not bad considering it was on the road within 24 hours and they have 25% gst in Norway.
Anyway no point wasting a day, so we make our way to the tourist office to see what we can do. We find the Raumabanen or Rauma Railway runs from Andalsens to Dombรฅs. The Lonely Planet places this train as one of the top ten scenic railway journeys in Europe. If not for the Hymer’s brakes we would have missed it. Its a laid back affair, you just rock up, grab a seat and the Conductor takes your fare.
Norway
General Comments on Norway So Far.
Time for a comment on Norway after 2 weeks of travel. Generally speaking its an expensive place to travel. Diesel, the cheapest of fuels on offer, averages NOK14 per litre or A2.24. Generally speaking outside the cities there are no restuarants, just cafe’s. The meals are expensive NOK200 or A28 for a hamburger on a plate seem about average. Food in a supermarket is reasonable but still expensive compared to our other experience in Europe. The supermarket food is very Norwegian in its origin, for example no Lurpack Butter or Dalfour Jam. Lots of salmon and fish-cakes. The fresh fruit is good, particularly the berries etc which are local and in season. The Costa Rica bananas are everywhere. Many supermarkets have BBQ chicken and seven types of rissoles hot and ready to eat. The breads are a little heavy and probably good for you, no Baker’s Delight white flour loaf or French baguettes here.
Don’t come to Norway with any expectation of the weather, other than you will experience it. Don’t worry about tomorrow’s forcast, look out the motorhome window to the west. What you see is what your going to get in 30 minutes. The adage of 4 season in a day, becomes 4 season in the morning and another 4 in the afternoon. Mind you it’s easier to get warm than cool down. Just put on your Gortex and go and do what you planned. We were amazed by how tranquil and mild it could be on a fjord in the valley to find it cold and windy on the mountain above 20 minutes later.
Back to travelling expenses the ferries are fun but expensive at NOK80 to NOK200 or A12 to A$32 per passage. These add up when you are doing 1 or 2 per day. There are toll roads and bridges here and there. No predicting where, just a blue sign saying this will cost you NOK(whatever). The roads are slow, since turning off the E18 at Drammen, 12 days ago we have not travelled on a dual carriageway of more than 500 metres. The speed limit is 80kph at most. More often than not it’s 70kph, 50kph in the smallest of villages. The straightest pieces of road are often the tunnels, which are technical marvels and everywhere. Tunnels are 70kph as well and about the only place you see a speed camera. Tunnels range from less than a hundred metres to 20+ kilometres. We have travelled through several at 10+kilometres.
Norway is a very motorhome friendly country. Unlike France with it’s Aires or Germany it’s Stellplatz there are not dedicated overnight motorhome parking places in every small village. However ‘no overnight parking’ signs are rare, so park for the night wherever, preferably next to another motorhome. We like to wildcamp, so service facilities to empty the black and grey water from the motorhome and fill up with fresh water are what we look for. They are easy to find, often without even a sign, just keep an eye out for a steel cupboard or concrete structure in a carpark or service station as you pass and there generally free. Sometimes the servos charges NOK50, we just go up the road a bit further and find a free facility.
Credit cards or at least your foreign currency card are the go for everything. We find little use for the cash we have. But be warned the fuel station are generally unattended so you pay at the pump. You insert your card and authorise a purchase of a nominal amount, you fill your tank, then re-insert your card and receive a docket for the total purchase showing on the pump. However you card has been debited a hold on the nominal amount, this stays on your card for 3-5 days as a pending transaction. So if your doing a lot of driving you can exhaust several hundred dollars in pending on top of your actual purchase, so monitor your account.
It seems everyone in Norway speaks English. In fact they are appear happy to speak English and be more than helpful if you have a question or problem. This holds true from the couple in the motorhome next to you or the girl in the supermarket. There are tourist offices in most larger towns or where there is some touristy place nearby. They are very helpful with free open wifi, which will normally be faster than our mobile cellular network. However the season is short and we are now finding some close mid-August.
Michael and Pam
One thought on “The Raumabanen, Norway 2017 ๐ณ๐ด”
Some great photos. Glad you had your brakes fixed. Travel well.