Kristiansand, Norway. Wednesday 4th August

Sat under a tree at the very edge of the tent area, logging on to the internet from the restaurant - if I try to get on from our tent (10 foot away) I can't.... Is free once again though so can't complain - a lovely spot but double the price of the other campsites we've been to in Norway up to now. 

The above is the table I was sat at till late writing my last blog up on - looking very quiet as early morning - very busy the evening and night before up until way past going dark - boats of all shapes and sizes traveling up and down the water. 

Lunch time - sat on a bench in the sun overlooking a delightful harbour area, plenty f people watching to be done as we ate our butties.... Felt as though we were on the Amalfi coast somehow, though not as hot as it would be there - really enjoyable cycling.

 Then came the 5 mile mountain bike gravel track through the forest - some very steep ascents so plenty of taking your bike for a walk in the hot sun. At times the angle of the slopes was at the very limit of what we could manage to push the bikes up on our own. Needed plenty of rest stops on the way up, difficult to get a grip with your feet on the very slippery loose gravel surface. Always difficult to get photos that show the nature of  hill - always look like nothing at all compared to the actuality!!!

 ... up and over a narrow wooden foot bridge over the narrow but deep gorged river below...

one minute we were way down below the motorway type coastal road (the only other alternative to the gravel track route) ....

...1/4 of a mile further on we have climbed all the way up to cycle over a new foot bridge built over the road ...

... and then down a long steep descent to reach the most amazing blue/green water of the sea ...

We only cycled 23 miles - but due to where campsites are available, finished then- and were we glad to!!!  Both of us knackered and slept like logs like night - a lovely quiet site on a farm with only a few other campers - we were glad we had ignored the busy site down at sea level which didn't look very exciting at all. 

Another fine day today, and a lovely ride up and over a lowish hill to then cycle along the river down to the coast at Kristiansand -felt like we were in an Alpine valley rather than so close to the sea.  Finding a spot to eat lunch can be difficult though when out in the country areas -no convenient benches or bus stops much of the time, just lots of trees.... You have to make the most of what you find along the way - like today for lunch we stopped in a stone quarry - had some good sized blocks of stone for us to sit on and have our dinner ...

Had a change to our normal evening meal tonight - fried eggs and fish fingers ... with eggs left over for scrambled egg in the morning for breakfast.  Went for a short walk down to the beach area of the campsite, and a large wooded area left as a nature reserve -all very nice. The objects in the water are the lights for Kristiansand airport -right opposite the campsite.  No flights since teatime - and even before this was only a very occasional one.  

Another easy 23 mile day today, as the next campsite was too far to get to today - both glad of an easy day - as more demanding gravel sections to come in the next few days.