Day 21 – Veggli to Larvik – end of Bike Norway

99 miles (159 km) – Total so far: 1,277 miles (2,055 km)

A great night in the train and a clear morning, but still I was a bit slow to get moving, leaving just after 10. The only options to stay off the RV40 were in the morning, on what must have been the old road on the opposite side of the river. Riding on their was wonderful through quite a special area of the country also, Rollag Kommune. There are many traditional log houses here dating back to the 12th century. The old railway runs along side the road also, 15 years since it operated. All day I followed the Numedal river valley, though the road had its climbs. This is also National Cycle Route 5, all the way through to Larvik, though after Rollag I have no idea how it can be called a national route, there is no shoulder on the 40 at all.

It was also particularly busy, Friday afternoon traffic. It certainly isn’t enjoyable cycling except for the physical input, so I decided to just put my head down and go for it. I had reckoned without the rain of course, the forecast had been for a dry day. There was 2 hours of heavy rain, and another of drizzle mid-afternoon, and I almost stopped to call it a day, but when the best way to dry out when you’re that wet is to keep riding.

I got into Larvik just after 7 with a day of almost a hundred miles. I have a cheap room as there is nowhere to camp anywhere close to town. Larvik is the first Norwegian town that looks down on its luck. Many businesses are closed down, even on the sea front.

That’s ‘Bike Norway’ complete at 1277 miles and 22 days, actually one day less than I had planned for. Some of the best riding I’ve ever done in Lofoten and the National Parks of the south, but so much rain. I think only 4 days of riding on which it didn’t rain. With prices as they are it makes camping with continually wet gear difficult.

Distance 98.7 miles Left at 10:25 am Arrived at 7:15 pm Time riding 7 hours 36 minutes Height gained 944 metres