Today I learned that Danmark is a small island, one of the many within the Austre Grimevannet, which I passed on my way along Vassdalen to the foot of Hisåsen Hill. Climbing up to the top of the hill, with 240moh the highest within the municipality of Lillesand. It’s a short hike of 1km, rather steep through the coastal woodland providing some tropical kind of impressions and memories. Nice view.
An enjoyable bike & hike combo.
Fair winds…
It was the river ride along Tovdaselva, which caught my attention. It is one of the longest rivers in Sørlandet and used to be a paradise for wild salmon fishing long time back. Today, it is on the Norwegian Red List, means risk of extiction. Projects are ongoing to get the salmon back into these waters.
Along the river I passed Mollestadeika, a cultural and natural landmark. Although the presumably 1000 year old oak tree looks pretty shabby, it is apparently still growing. It claims to be the second largest tree in Norway and carries many legends and beliefs.
My way home took me via Røynåsveien through forest land over some small hills back to Lillesand. A well maintained gravel road with an official speed limit of 80km/h! I ended up in the dust two times, while one driver really slowed down to minimize my exposure. Three cars only on the 11km stretch.
Overall, a nice ride but not outstanding though. Maybe I am spoilt.
Fair winds…
It was time to cut into the country rather than another ride along the shoreline. I was curious about it.
Vestre Grimevannet connected to Austre Grimevannet form a huge sweet water lake/fjord kind of system with remarkable off-road opportunities within a natural, pretty undeveloped landscape. Lonely but not completely deserted. A few picnic spots along the track. BUA Lillesand operates a rack with well-maintained kayaks at one of the spots, free to borrow. Norway!
Today’s ride encourages for more miles into the back country of Sørlandet.
Fair winds…
I start to reconsider my preconceived opinion, that the south of Norway is rather boring compared to what we have seen over the last year. Not only that Lillesand is a charming town, its vicinity seems to offer some nice spots as well. Not only spots for a cool down splash during this top summer conditions.
Homborsund was on my menu list for the day, a short and flat ride, mostly on perfect tarmac but with little diversion for gravel in order not to overstretch but keep going, or perhaps better, restart.
🛶…Lille Poro…🛶 is ready and will add value soon to explore this area further.
Fair winds…
The heat is also on in southern Norway and the summer in full swing. Nothing compared to central Europe hitting new temperature records day by day.
Slighly impacted by hay fever my short ride today took me out to the historical small village of Brekkestø, nicely embedded within the easterly stretch of the picturesque Blindleia strait.
A quick detour took me to Saltviga, a peaceful tiny beach with some good green to rest.
Norway lost against France last night but the spirit remains high!
Fair winds…
We have arrived via Kopervik, Skudeneshavn and Kristiansand in Lillesand at the southern coast of Norway. Summer has arrived in time for the peak season. Festival season, crazy in Kristiansand, pleasant in Lillesand.
Fair winds…
It was around 2am, when a big bang got us out of the bunks in now time to check what happend. It did not sound right. The set was dramatic and the movie already in full swing, literally speaking. A long story short:
A drunken guy operating an outboard small boat crashed at decent open throttle perpedicular into a solid GRP 50ft sailing yacht. The sudden stop threw him against his stearing pedestral ripping out the same. His small boat kept spinning in circles, him not knowing what happened. They kept spinning just between us and our neighbours’ boat and my head did the same at that time. What’s next…
A very brave man on his way to work, also by boat, heard the bang, returned and somehow got the emergency stop of the outboard engine pulled and my heartbeat slowly got back to normal.
The drama ended with a hole (!) in the hull of the sailing yacht and an irresponsible boatie taken into custody by the police.
A miracle, that nobody got injured and we all got away with just some annoying material damage.
Impressive, how the brave man took care of the drunken boatie totally out of order but gladly not going overboard on his spinning boat with a blacked out brain.
There is no AI contribution into the movie.
Fair winds…
The change in character & landscape between the islands of Fedje and Stord is remarkable and became even more obvious during two bike rides starting from the southern town of Leirvik.
While Fedje offers very limited distances for hiking & biking, Stord seems to have an endless network for both. Gravel, gravel, gravel is the terrain on Stord. This shall not conclude, that one place is surpassing the other, in no way. Just very different, depending on your wishlist. Both beautiful.
Fair winds…
The day started with a morning walk along a tiny little nice gravel stretch being part of the much bigger Nordsjøløypa. This overall North Sea Trial covers 26 regions within 7 partner countries in total and has the goal to keep alive the common cultural heritage of the North Sea countries.
The Bike & Hike session in the afternoon took us back to the highest hill on the island, Fedjebjørnen. The windy but sunny weather invited for some further easy activity to absorb more of this man-made nature the island offers today.
Tomorrow is a rain & rest stay followed by some sunny northerly gale over the weekend. Happy to stay a bit longer.
Fair winds…
Today’s bike & hike trip took me back to one of my favourite places on Fedje island. The short 1km hike from Hellisøy Fyr to Aurihophytta (south approach) brings you through some impressive landscape before/after taking rest at the comfortable hytta. What a place for a short retreat! Norway at its best!
Fair winds…
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