01.07.20 Stryn-Ørsta

107 km, cycling 7 hours an 5 minutes, average speed 15.1 km/h, total ascent 1664 m, net ascent 0.

Exhausted. There are two possibilities from Stryn to Nordfjordeid: E39 along Hornindalsvatnet (or even E39 all the way up to Volda, which is the fastest option)  or local road 613 to Hennabygda. The latter is slightly longer, but I did not realize it also involved an enormous amount of climbing. Bad research. But Google Maps did not show it. Worst, you don't know what's coming. You think, can't be more than 200m. The ascent continues. Can't be more than 300m. Etc. Ended up at 535 - and this is only a few 100m from the fjord!

Admitted, fantastic views. But the CBA was still negative 🤔. Never going from Stryn to Hennabygda again - at least not on a bicycle with luggage. 

But still, a wonderful day, enjoying West Norwegian nature. But getting colder, and a pretty strong cold headwind. 

Indvik fjord

Another view from the road side

Not a bad spot for lunch. This is at only 270m. The road where I came down is visible to the left of the spruce tree.

Coming down to fjord level again. Huge amounts of wild strawberries. If it weren't for the cycling, they would suffice for lunch!

Between Lote ferry and Nordfjordeid there is a 2.8 km tunnel (open for cyclists). The clue is to wait for the cars coming from the ferry, and then bike into the tunnel - no traffic from behind.

Coming from the ferry

And from there it was only hard work. Treated myself on a hotel tonight. Well deserved, in my own view at least.

A question I ask myself after such a day is why am I doing this? Several answers, they are all true:

• Experience Norwegian nature in slow motion - quite different from driving a car
• Set a goal and achieve it - it means nothing to the world, but a lot to me
• Prove to myself that I'm still not too old to do it