We have done 3 untarred roads in Norway. The first was a beautiful flat path through the woods and spoilt us. The next was gravel and very up and down. In the rain the gravel becomes soggy and starts to wash away. The worst bits over the humps were tarred with a red triangle notice at the end, giving an exclamation mark and the word 'bom'. You had to be very careful coming down for where the gravel had been washed away. I was over the last few yards, when I relaxed on what seemed to be a better path about to join the road. And 'bom'. I was sprawling on the ground having hit a rut. Fortunately I was still wearing waterproof clothes, so arms and legs were protected. But it has made me rather nervous of these roads.
The next was called the King's Highway, built in the early 1800s for 'light' traffic. Obviously lighter than our bikes that got nowhere up those hills. Once again it was very beautiful, through the woods and next to lakes and rivers but there was no way we could cycle. One young lad on a mountain bike went shooting past and presumably did the whole thing with ease, but then he had youth on his side and no luggage to carry. Going down was as bad as going up and in one place I was glad not to have attempted the descent because a 4 wheel drive car suddenly came round the bend and a speed that neither of us could have stopped at. At one point Tom had to help me push my bike up the hill, it was so steep and my feet kept slipping on the wet gravel. At least we weren't doing it actually in the rain, as was someone else we met.
For the next 4 days we have several of these steep unmade up roads.. Well we can't tell how steep, the guide doesn't show that, but we know that some go up to 235 metres, so they must be steep. We may need to find alternative routes.
Sounds beautiful but tough. Hope you meet some easier roads soon.
ReplyDeleteHi, Tom and Katherine.
ReplyDeleteIt’s Humphrey Thompson writing – we met at Lofterod campsite, Sandesfjord, you’ll remember.
I’m glad to read that you’re doing so well, especially against your 3 July deadline for your flight to Aberdeen, but I’m not surprised that you’ve found it hard going – I certainly did!
Here are a couple of thoughts about Shetland for you. There are two useful hostels there, Islesburgh in Lerwick [http://www.shetland.gov.uk/community/IslesburghComplex.asp] and Gardiesfauld at Uyeasound on Unst [http://www.communitydirectory.shetland.gov.uk/gardiesfauld-hostel-unst-youth-centre-trust-i958.html, or tel the warden on 01957 755212]. Secondly, I think that you’ll need six or seven days on Shetland. This is because you will need to cycle back to Lerwick from both of the extreme points, Sumburgh in the south and Norwick on Unst, in the north – no handy Scandinavian type buses to take bikes in the UK! I made it from Gardiesfauld to Lerwick in one day, but I was lucky with the wind. However, you may choose not to do Unst at all, which would take you back to the five days you mentioned; NCN Route 1 is not shown going there at all on the Sustrans map, but it is on the Ordnance map; but don’t miss if at all possible – its another world!
You could do Orkney in three days, I would suggest, but you would not have much time for the truly remarkable archaeological sites.
I got back home on Sunday 26 June, after a thoroughly enjoyable ride through Sweden. I was grateful for your advice about the route south of Skee. On my alternative route, I found almost no traffic on the old E6 and then picked up a delightful dirt road, bringing me back to ‘the green line route’ near Lur.
I really admire what you’re doing and how [and why, too]. So I wish you all the best for the remainder now and good luck be with you. Humphrey