51 miles (82 km) – Total so far: 962 miles (1,549 km)
| ⏮ | ◀ | ▶ | ⏭ | 22/45 |  | Rating: (0) |
By Andy Weston
Day 16 – Geiranger to Bismo
Saturday July 30, 2016, 51 miles (82 km) – Total so far: 962 miles (1,549 km)
Rating: (0)                          +−10 km5 miLeaflet | Map data: © Stadia Maps, © OpenMapTiles © OpenStreetMap contributors |
It wasn’t a quiet night at the campsite. I expected it to be busy and it was, but at 11:20 3 Norwegians arrived and camped as close as possible to my tent. They put their tent up, then cooked and chatted loudly, and smoked, until about 1 am. I spoke to them on arrival and they moved back a metre or so. Some people like to be as close as possible to other tents, I can’t understand why. There was much more space.
Drizzly rain was still falling at 8 after a night of quite heavy rain. The forecast was better though and I was moving by just after 10. There are only two ways in and out of Geiranger, both with 10% gradients. I had come in on the descent from 700 meters and was leaving on the ascent. The road winds its way up through very many switchbacks to 1040 metres. The rain went and it was cloudy and cool, great conditions.
At the top of the pass it is possible to drive up 5 more kilometres to the mountain top (practically) of Dalsnibba. Not for me today with a loaded bike. The road loses a little height and then passes several lakes and is joined by a bigger road coming up from St. It was now quite busy, and as it is pretty much without curves, the traffic is fast. What was a tremendous climb now became a very gradual decent on the worst road I have ridden on so far, busy, and with little shoulder. This is the case for 45 kilometres and again 20 tomorrow morning. There really isn’t any alternative though.
As the road descends below the tree line the temperature warms up a bit and it is more scenic. Bismo is just outside the Rheindalen National Park and next to the huge river I have followed down. The campsite has mainly long term stayers and is very quiet.
Distance 50.7 miles Left at 10:10 am Arrived at 5:05 pm Time riding 4 hours 57 minutes Height climbed 1200 metres
The top of the pass – noticeable by the lack of any marker, very Norwegian
The road up to the summit, at 1388 metres
Safe Return Doubtful 
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