Geiranger to Trollstigen, Norway

Leaving Geiranger the road leads us higher and higher until we are at a lookout that provides an eagle eye’s view of Geiranger Fjord.

Maybe, just maybe, that is why this part of the road is know as Ornesvingen (Eagle’s Road).

What do you think, huh?

No…an American would say that. I should have said…

What do you think, eh?

Beautiful view, isn’t it.

Aside: If you have not seen our posting about the Geiranger fjord cruise…click here

At this point I truly believed nothing on this journey could equal what we have seen here. However, Norway has a lot in store for us! Behold…

…and this type of gorgeous scenery continues as we travel on and on.

We are on the Norwegian National Road 63 and it is spectacular.

At Eidsdal we have to take a small car ferry across the fjord to Linge.

Eidsdal ferry

In Valldal we stop at the touristkanter and buy some postcards of this gorgeous scenery. At a stand we buy some plums, strawberries and raspberries. I remember thinking how fresh the fruit looked.

Well…obviously I had not researched this area very well because we are now driving through fields of strawberries…this far north and there are fields of strawberries!

Strawberry fields and hay fields! Go figure!

Soon I fall asleep because we are going through an area that does not impress me all that much.

Lots of moss covered rocks, mountains with a vastness of space.

I am vaguely aware of tourist buses on the road…here! Why?!

Now there are lots of tourist buses…I mean LOTS of tourist buses!

Then we come to the crest of a ridge

and I understand.

There before us is a scene that takes my breath away. It is beautiful!

But what do you mean we are going down there?! It is straight down!

We are going on that road?…that narrow road that snakes back and forth a zillion times to get to the bottom of this valley?? (Okay I exaggerate. It was only 11 hairpin turns…but it does go down the side of a mountain that mountain goats would fear to tread!)

This is Trollstigen…

where legend says trolls roam every night and then turn to stone each morning when the sunlight hits them. No wonder the road is nicknamed Troll’s Footpath.

Aside: Do click on the photo above to enlarge it to get an inkling of the feeling one has looking out the passenger window of a car driving on a narrow road with no guard railings…looking down, down down into the valley (and this photo does not show the bottom of the valley…this is only halfway down!) Can you see the road way down there?

Half way down we cross over/by Stigfossen (Waterfall)

It started at the top of the valley and continues down to the bottom…but we can not stop on this stone bridge long as there is a car coming. We have been very lucky that there is very little traffic on this magnificent road today so we have been able to take our time and enjoy the journey down, down, down.

WOW! Whew!

We made it to the bottom. What a journey!

Yes, that definitely equaled our Geiranger fjord adventure.

Back at the cabin I must tell our neighbours about this adventure.

(I know…but I really wanted to include this delightful photo somewhere.)

Want to see more of Norway? Just click here.

and/or

Want to see more of the world? Just click here.

Happy travels!