Have dream of owning your own island?
Not exactly “an island in the sun”, but on the west coast of Norway there is an island for sale. Something for the adventurous type buyer?
“Where nobody would believe that anybody could live”:
Jeanette Hansen and Pascal Blowijn bought Storholmen in 2020. It had been 57 years since anyone had lived there permanently. Their plan was to live there permanently and rent it out to tourists.
According to their website, it was Gerhard Chr. Brekke from Kvamsøy, who in 1880 was able to buy an outlying piece of the islet, a few stones’ throw from southern Kvamsøy.
People in the area are said to have understood little of what he meant by settling on a bare islet where no one had previously lived.
But at that time the sea was national road number 1, and Brekke set about building a three-storey sea packing house. There was also a salting area for fish and herring, a shop and a bakery. He also had his own house and rooms for fishermen in the winter.
Good choice if you have a place here, but June - Sept. is the busies time for tourists, both those who travel by tour busses, or independently by car, or by public transport.
With several large ships making weekly or 14-nightly cruises along the Norwegian coast the most popular tourist places gets very crowded.
Sometimes two or more ships visit the same small ports at the same time, like here:
A view to Geiranger and Geirangerfjorden from Flydalsjuvet in Stranda municipality, Møre og Romsdal, Norway in 2013 June.
Photo: Ximonic (Simo Räsänen) -
PS> Geiranger tries to limit the daily cruise ship visits to avoid too much congestion in the small village with a permanent population of abt. 250.
It is that time of the year again. The Cod is in the fjord to spawn and hobby fishermen is out in force to catch a few for the freezer.
Every year our local newspaper smp.no arrange a fishing competition called “ByTorsken” (The City Cod) The picture may tell you why:
Hurtigruten:
A rare winter passage into Trollfjord – under the Northern Lights
On December 20 at midnight, our captain sailed through the narrow, snow-lined passage of Trollfjord. The Aurora appeared overhead, moonlight shimmered on the still surface, and the towering cliffs framed a truly cinematic moment:
It’s Easter, which traditionally is a long holiday in Norway, where most people take off Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week, thus stretching the holiday to 10 days.
Last working day is Friday before Palme Sunday and first working day after Easter on Tuesday after Easter. (Maundy Thursday and 2nd day of Easter are Public Holidays)
After a long winter people goes to their cabins in the mountains looking for snow, sun and skiing, believe it or not.
Since Easter is late this year and there were not much snow in the mountains in Southern Norway this year, there are not much snow left except at higher elevations.
Here is two pictures of the road from Geiranger towards Grotli and Eastern Norway, which was opened part of the way today:
It was pure Easter spirit when the road from Geiranger to Djupvasshytta was opened to traffic on Monday at 4 p.m. This is the earliest opening since at least 1997.
Photo: Kåre Berge/ Møre og Romsdal County Council
It is too early to say anything about when the road between Djupvasshytta and Grotli can be opened. Photo: Staale Wattø
PS> The road from Djupvasshytta up to the lookout point on Dalsnibba (1500 m.asl)
will not be open before maybe late May/early June.(The Cafe’ open 15, June):
Very observant!!!
Nothing said about when the picture was taken, so I can’t tel you whether there have been some painting done, or change to the windows since last year.
User photos on Google maps suggest the change was July 2024, so that white paint was probably still wet when I took my pic.
It may need more than plowing. Has it been repaired since last year’s rock slide? We had to detour from Andalsnes to Geiranger last year as Trollstigen was closed. The temp closing of the Eidsdal ferry posed another potential logistical challenege, but it was back in service just in time for us.
Norway is NOT an easy country in which to travel around by car, even in the middle of summer.
In Western- and Northern Norway especially you are dependent on ferries to cross fjords. Although the ferries have become more reliable, with longer operating hours, this is still a main reason of delays for travellers and transport.
High mountain crossings that may be exposed to closing/convoy driving behind a snow plow for many months of the year, (especially in Northern Norway):
The golden rule for travellers in Norway is; watch the weather forecast, road condition website and be prepared for sudden changes in both.
Plan your trip well, allow ample time and be prepared to wait for space on ferries in the summer.
In the winter, be prepared for suddenly closed roads, bring warm cloths, food and drink, as you may be stuck for hours waiting for the next convoy.
PS> Winter tourism is pick up, both to experience the Northern lights, polar nights and off-pist skiing and other activities, (incl. surfing under Northern lights):
