Minutes of a Motorcycle Addict

Hardanger is the Norway cliche: The scenery and the motorcycle roads are totally magnificent!

On the road between Utne and Jondal. More pics below.

My mate Tor and I was supposed to go to Nordkapp that week, but things came in our way so we postponed the whole trip. As a small substitution we decided to do
Vis større kart">Hardanger by bike.

Hardanger is one of the most beautiful areas of Norway, situated in the Western parts near Bergen, with its green fjords (due to melted ice), blooming fruit trees, lush green hills, narrow corrugated roads and perfect weather. Well, the latter is a bit hit-and-miss, but this particular weekend the weather was just that. Perfect.

My other mate Jon from the UK joined Tor and I for the trip. Jon borrowed my Guzzi Griso, while I took the Quota. Tor picked his new (to him) Aprilia Caponord.

I was the travel guide, and laid out a route taking us up the Hallingdal, crossing the Hardanger plateau, passing the Vøringsfossen (approx 200 m of fantastic waterfall), spending the night at a historic hotel in Utne, crossing the Hardanger fjord from Jondal and head for Voss, do the Lærdal tunnel - the world's longest road tunnel at 24.5 kms - and head home down the Numdal.

From sea level to approx 1100 metres the landscape varied from summery lush green to snowy barren mountains. Jon coined it Saturday when he said he "could just go on and on" as the scenere changed every few minutes.

The hotel at Utne was a grand place. We came there while a wedding party was taking place. Instead of throwing ourselves into the party (...) we ordered dinner and shared a couple of wine bottles with the tender lamb we had. We also met fellow riders from Belgium, a band of some six riders doing the Western parts of Norway through nine whole days.

Our trip back home on Sunday took us again through a varied landscape, cutting short at Gol and heading back the same Hallindal as we came instead of going down the Numdal. Never mind - we were all three happily satisified after these two days in bliss.

The next time you're in Norway, make sure you visit Hardanger. Or come here just to see it. I assure you it's a pretty sight come rain or sun.

These boots aren't made for walking: Jon had his gear back in the UK so he bought a pair of boots at Biltema and borrowed some gear and a bike from me.

Two of the tres hombres: Jon (left) riding the Griso, Tor his Aprilia Caponord.

We rode into a Porsche rally at Gol. Even if they have way too many wheels some of them look quite nice.

The Quota and Tor's Caponord at a rest stop at the Hardanger plateu, crossing over from Eastern to Western Norway. Still snow and ice covering the lakes.

The Vøringsfossen waterfalls. It's pointless to try to take pics from this angle as it doesn't show the waterfall's might. But I assure you - it's a mighty sight!

Jon waiting for the ferry from Kinsarvik to Utne. He had just returned

from a nine day ride from UK to Spain, taking a few ferries

en route so this was routine to him.

On board the ferry from Kinsarvik to Utne.

Jon got the room with a view at the Utne hotel, appropriately

decorated with Union Jack.

Relaxing at the Utne hotel. The ferry quay was just 30 metres from the hotel.

Our Belgian friends whom we met at the Utne hotel.

Inside the Lærdal tunnel they have made parking spots where you can

stop to take the obligatory pics.

Check out more pics here!