Take a hat

A flight to the Fjord Fling Norwegian to Alesund After three days in Bergen it was time to head North to Alesund. There is supposed to be an angstrom A at the beginning so it is pronounced AWLESSOOND? We took a late evening cheap flight with Norwegian, just over £20 each, and booked into the Scandic Hotel. No more self-catering but the prospect of a good breakfast buffet in the morning. We were first down and smashed it. Smoked Salmon, Egg, Bacon, Honey and, of course, bread for the doggie bag picnic lunch on the boat.  Deck Class transport - no Jacuzzi Hurtgruten Ferry arrival - M/S Vesteralen We had booked Deck Class for our trip along the Fjord to Geiranger. I kidded TW that we might be rowing, a tease supported by the fact that a Viking Longboat was moored just by the hotel. She was relieved when our actual transport arrived. A Hurtigruten Ferry the M/S Vesteralen pulled into the Quayside. This company operates a daily ferry that starts in Bergen and then w...

Back-pedalling in Bergen in August 2013 Harbour View in Bergen from Mt. Floyen I recently found out that TW had wanted to go to Norway ever since she was seven and saw "Song of Norway" at the pictures with her friend. YouTube clips reveal that it was an excruciatingly corny film about Edvard Grieg starring, amongst others, Harry Secombe. It is a big birthday year so it seemed like a good place to go to mark the occasion. So, with visions of cartoon trolls appearing from behind mountains we set forth on a six day trip to Norway. First stop was Bergen which is clearly a prime destination for cruise ships. On our short stay there we were joined by the Oriana, The Black Watch, The Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth. I was hoping someone would ask us if we were also on a cruise ship as I had my reply ready - naah, Easy Jet from Gatwick luv! Alas, nobody asked. We probably needed to carry an SLR camera, a shopping bag and to look vaguely prosperous. Ladegardsgarten - the St...

Tour de Londres - Freecycle in London - August 3rd 2013 Heading away from Westminster We parked in Battersea and pedalled in to Westminster to join the other 50,000 or so cyclists taking advantage of the closed roads. From Westminster we headed up to Buckingham Palace then down The Mall to Trafalgar Square. Then it was down to the Embankment and a ride to St. Pauls. We ate a picnic on the steps of St. Pauls and fed the pigeons, not deliberately, they hoovered up the crumbs. Feed the birds tuppence a crumb came to mind as it was a Starbucks treat. We were going to have a wander around the Cathedral but entry is £16. You can go into a side chapel for free to pray or perhaps get someone to hear your confession. TW thought about confessing but I told her we did not have sufficient time, I have no lights on my bike and did not want to be there all weekend. We sneaked out and pedalled off in the sunshine. Have to say the City looked very smart and clean. At 4 pm we had to get clear of...