Today we traveled from the Elvesaeter Hotel, over the mountains, through Sognefjord and eventually winding up in Bergen. This is probably the overall best one day sightseeing drive we have ever taken. It combines rugged alpine roads, rustic Norwegian towns, and a fjord that must be one of the best in the world. For you spelling aficionados, fjord and fiord are both acceptable English spellings, but we're in Norway, so I will use fjord. Vera has picked a few other great Scrabble/"Words With Friends" weapons as well, but she's keeping those secret.
Driving up the hill, and above timberline. We are further north than Anchorage, Alaska now, so the tree line is low and the summers short. The road we are on is closed October through May, much like many high mountain passes in the U.S.
This is near the top and is a relative flat area ideal for cross country skiing. The elevation at the pass is only about 4000 feet, but then again, we are a long way north.
We had to bypass lots of sheep. Norwegian farmers bring them up above timberline in the short summer, and will start bringing them back down in a few weeks. Other than a few birds, we saw no other wildlife, which I found surprising.
The drop back down to the valley floor, and eventually the fjords, is quick and through a series of sharp switchbacks. They are tough for cars, not to mention buses. There were some tight turns and a few places where either we or on coming traffic had to yield so the other could pass. At least twice an on coming vehicle had to back up so our bus could manage the corner.
The picturesque valley floor. There were lots of opportunities for pictures.
And..wild raspberry picking along the road.
Group picture in the small hamlet of Surheim and at the farthest inland penetration of Lusterfjorden. Lusterfjorden is actually a tributary of the larger Sognefjorden. It's a short drive from Surheim to Kaupanger, where the ferry boat ride through the fjords begins.
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