From Spain to Norway - the long way round (1 Viewer)

jumartoo

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As some of you may already know we live in Totana, Spain. This summer we are making a five month trip, spending some three months or so in Scandinavia and most of that time in Norway.

We're setting off in the morning to start a slow drive to Dieppe to catch a ferry (19 May) to Newhaven to spend some time with my mum and other family and friends.

We then take a ferry (19 June) Harwich to the Hook of Holland and drive through to Poland where we catch up on our postponed, from last year, organised trek in the Tatras Mountains. It was totally coincidental that we found a five day orienteering event near Krakow three days after the end of this trek!!! so we just had to take part. After this event we drive back through Germany to catch a ferry to Sweden where we're taking part in two multi day orienteering events, one of which is the biggest event in the world with about 20,000 competitors (compare this to the Polish event where there might be 400 of us!)

Once we've finished our organised part of the trip we're heading north through Sweden before crossing into Norway and spending two months or so slowly wending our way south, before we have to head back to Spain for the middle of October.

Of course this is our intended plan. We can only hope that, unlike last year, nothing prevents us from following our route.

I'll try to post the most interesting parts of the trip and any recommendations of places to visit on the way will be gratefully accepted.
 
Feb 24, 2013
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not long enough
Looking forward to the detail :)(y)

Having had to cut down on our trip this summer, the idea of a longer route option sounds bonkers, you do luckily have time on your side (y)(y)

When I first planned ours from UK to Lofoten Isles and return we were over 5500 miles door to door, plan in Nordkap add another 2000+ miles, start from Spain and take in all of Europe I dread to think how many miles you will do, just hope you are not restricted on your insurance, I am working out if we need to up our 8K / year o_O

Have a great time (y)
 

Anthea M

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Sounds a wonderful adventure!!!
Safe travels and looking forward to the Travel-log-blog!!!

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big map

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Lots of photos please Judith. Safe journeys (y)
 

scousebird

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Looking forward to updates & pics. By the time you get home I'll have had 3 holidays o_O

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Hagstrom

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We'll be following your journey on MHF too and maybe see you on your way through UK.

(Started fitness training already for next winter and having to put double the effort in, if need to keep up with Wilf on one of his mountain epics.)

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jumartoo

jumartoo

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We'll be following your journey on MHF too and maybe see you on your way through UK.

(Started fitness training already for next winter and having to put double the effort in, if need to keep up with Wilf on one of his mountain epics.)

Definitely intend to meet up with you, it's pencilled in the diary (not sure of the date yet though!!!)

Viajes seguros y disfrutar.
:sun:

Thank you! You had a bit of spare time then? Or did Mr Google have a hand in it?
 

Armytwowheels

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We are at the aire in Tortosa after a long but easy drive. It's sunny but breezy here. We've just had a very late lunch, pizza and salad, and are now heading out for a look around.
Lovely town. We broke down there 2 years ago and spent a week walking round the town while the van was being fixed.
 
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jumartoo

jumartoo

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Had a short walk along the river and into part of the town and through a park with the giants house! Unfortunately we didn't go far as we were keeping an eye on the black clouds approaching. This was our fallback route to avoid bad weather:LOL:!!!

The camperstop is either side of the road bridge. Any hail and we're under there!

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In the park we had to go and look at a train. We are parked on a via verde that used to be a railway line.

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Made in GB!

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jumartoo

jumartoo

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We did a quick but of research as this was our fall back route and found there was a via ferrata not too far away. Trusting Co Pilote it took us up a rough, narrow road that eventually had a sign, CLOSED for roadworks. Backtracking we found a normal sized, smoothly tarmacced road that took us directly to the parking area as described!

This was the first via ferrata we'd done since just before Martin's accident last year and we were happy that it was short and easy.

This way
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Starting off
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jumartoo

jumartoo

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After the ferrata and an early light lunch we rode a section of the via Verde (cycle way on an old railway). We parked at an old railway station where we've overnighted in the past. Last time we went in the direction of Tortosa, this time we rode in the other direction. The trail was tarmacced throughout so suitable for most bikes. It does go through tunnels and torches are necessary. One tunnel was 749 metres long!

We only managed about 11km as it was slightly uphill all the way and into a strong headwind but the scenery was stunning nevertheless.

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We did a quick but of research as this was our fall back route and found there was a via ferrata not too far away. Trusting Co Pilote it took us up a rough, narrow road that eventually had a sign, CLOSED for roadworks. Backtracking we found a normal sized, smoothly tarmacced road that took us directly to the parking area as described!

This was the first via ferrata we'd done since just before Martin's accident last year and we were happy that it was short and easy.

Very impressive!! Looks dangerous to me. :eek:

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DBK

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You've started this trip in good style. Looking forward to the reports of your Scandinavian adventures. :)
 
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jumartoo

jumartoo

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We decided not to stay overnight at the ruined station for no other reason than we didn't have internet access!

We drove the short distance to a motorhome parking area at Asco where we joined four other motorhomes.

We had a bit of "fun" when the local kids came out to play football on the newly constructed, but as yet unfenced, football area next to the camperstop. After a ball hit our van for the sixth time Martin took action! The next ball that hit it he confiscated until the kids came grovelling asking for it back. He explained that the motorhomes were in a camperstop and were expensive vehicles (even ours!). Quick as a flash their answer was that they were playing on a football area. No excuse for kicking it out of play.

A short while later the local security guy arrived as asked if all was well. Martin explained about the footballs and he spoke to the kids and moved them into a fenced area. He said that tomorrow the football area was to be fenced. Sure enough as we left this morning a lorry arrived. Whether the work was completed we don't know.

We have now driven, through heavy rain at times, to the Mallos de Riglos where we hope to do another via ferrata tomorrow weather permitting. The rain is like April showers, bouts of heavy rain and then sun.

On the way here we stopped at Ayerbe and grabbed an hour's walk in dry weather.

We walked up to a chapel and a ruined castle.

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Heading up to the ruined castle
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The ermita from the remains
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View to the Riglos, our next stop.
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Anthea M

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Great Photos Judith! Thanks for sharing. The climbing ones look scarey ! So glad it all turned out so well !
You two are so super fit!!(y)

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jumartoo

jumartoo

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We parked at the Riglos and were immediately joined by an old Hymer with two Dutch women and a small dog. They asked if we minded them parking so close but they would like to be near for security. It turned out they had just bought the van and sold up and gone full-time.

A short time later they had taken off the fridge vents and peering inside. Martin went to help. They said the solar panel wasn't working as the fridge wasn't getting cold! Martin explained that it wouldn't run the fridge! They said they'd put it on gas (for the first time) but there was a bad smell. Martin cleaned out some debris and the smell disappeared. We'll check with them this morning to see if the fridge is cold. We also gave them other bits of info about changing gas bottles etc. They're going to have an interesting time.!

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We seem to have been lucky here with only having torrential rain. Nearby Huesca had a tornado and hail yesterday after we'd driven through!

Hoping to get on the Via ferrata today, weather permitting. This one is more of a walking route (about three hours) with a short half hour ferrata along the way.

Our view from the parking. There are two climbers up there. Photos taken yesterday just before one of the deluges.

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One climber is in the centre of this photo!
 
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Hagstrom

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After seeing JuMar on the via ferrata, I had to go and have lie down. They aren't going to survive very long doing stuff like that. What's wrong with a good book?

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