Day 3 - To Røros

http://www.a-trip.com/tracks/view/155695 - climbing again to Roros - OK I reckon this track is pretty impressive - yep it was hard, but I did it - Yay!

btw - to make Maggie fly along the map, just keep hitting the > button, a lot of times and eventually she takes off and even Cadel wouldn't catch her!  

Leaving Stugudal - not a breeze from front or back - just already quite warm....

I know I have to ride over that ridge, but what's on the other side?

almost at the top - surely

above the tree line - snow on the mountains and chilly little glacial looking lakes!

surely the weather station is at the top!  I think it was, but there were more hills ahead

once a jolly swagman, camped by a reindeer yard
under the shade of beautiful birch tree!

a new lake-side cottage - wonderful people and wonderful hospitality!

down by their lake

sitting on the old deck furniture

idyllic getaway from the rat race!

typical clear water in a river along the way

surely Carl Larsson was here!

Rushing river at Glamos

arrived in Roros - the timber town by the old copper mine - UNESCO protected

Rorus Kirke - a well-known landmark in Norway

Another blue sky day!  They said it might be raining and cold in Norway – “it always is!” 

After yesterday’s climbing, I was a little worried about the day ahead – would I swoop down the hills, then have to climb up to 700m to Røros?  So I quickly opened up Google maps and checked.  Now do they always have a contour map?  I don’t remember seeing it before, but there was one showing my road to Røros!  Hmm..  it looked like another climb, then swooping downhill all the way to town!  And there was an alternative route – about 3km shorter, but alongside a lake…  well that looks like something to be seen – a Lake!

I checked with the lovely girl at Reception and she agreed; there was quite a climb out of town, but then undulating down.  She also showed me another way to go, which was on a quieter road to dodge about 5km of the main road into town.

So off we went – the lake outside was flat as and the reflections were truly beautiful.  But then around the corner – 6-10% rise for 3km…  oh dear.  I did have a good big breakfast, so let’s just get started and see if I can make that patch of shade.  Just, but now I have to stop as legs are screaming and lungs are not working….  Gasp!  So I walk along up a little way to regain composure and a bit flatter ground to start the grind again.  But I am getting much better.  Yes, I did have to stop and take photos… J but I rode the rest of the way to the top – with only about 2 or 3 more stops.  It took nearly an hour to go 5km and by the time we were at the weather station on the top, I was feeling proud of myself and Maggie was pleased to take another rest.

We were now above the tree line – only shrubby plants and on the hills over the valley there were patches of snow still clinging on.  How doesn’t it melt in this heat?  It was cooler up there, only 25!  But the sun was bright and strong.

So let’s get this downhill fun happening!  So off we push and down we go – but around the corner there is another up!!  Groan….  And so on – but now the downs were much longer than the ups and WooHoo!!  Granny is on her bike!  Hit top speed – 58!!! – and that was getting a tad scary with the panniers so gently, gently brakes were applied. 

By 11am it was time to slow our progress for a snack and I saw a small track leading off into the forest and we came to some stockyards.  Hmmm… fences too high for sheep and cattle – maybe it’s for reindeer and this was confirmed later.  Tho I never saw any of them along the way.

A little later on I could see the next lake glistening in the sunshine, so I was ready for the turn right and then I saw the bakery that the receptionist had told me about.  I could do with a coffee and a cinnamon scroll I thought…  so I turned up the driveway…  2 other cyclists (locals) arrived at the same time as me and they heard me asking if there was coffee.  “sorry” the lady said, we are only open for coffee on Sundays…  the cyclist asked if she could buy some bread and so the freezer was opened and I also bought some flat-buns…

The cycliststhen said - we have plenty of coffee, would you like to have a cup with us?  So we sat down on the bench and I enjoyed a cup of strong black coffee with them.  They have a cottage about an hour away and had just come up for a morning ride and were on their way back again.  They invited me in for some cold water when I would be passing, so away they rode and I toddled along afterwards.

There was a flock of sheep lying in the shade and they had bells tinkling away and another group of cows, sleeping in their long grass also.  The lake on the left had hardly a ripply and the mountain ranges stretch off into the blue. 

Onwards I pedalled, past Norwegians enjoying this unusually hot summer.  They were sunbathing near the lake, or swimming in the cool water.  Carl Larsson idyllic vistas to the left and right! 

After about an hour, I came to the end of the lake and could see that lake fading into a reedy fringe.  Then I saw the fluoro vest that was the marker for my cold water stop.  So up the driveway I went.  They were such nice people – their new cabin had replaced an old one that belonged to his parents.  They lived in Trondheim and came out for a few days whenever they could – do some fishing and generally escaping from the rat race – these Scandinavians know how to live!  We went down to the lake side to check if a fish had been caught on the line, but nothing this time.  Gerte insisted on taking my photo and I must say I am looking pretty happy there.

So back to the cabin for cold water and bread and cheese and cherries picked from their own tree and please No More!!  I am full up!  I am finding it interesting the rapport that so easily happens between such friendly people. Bjorn said the lake was at about 690m above sea level – so I had only come down about 200m.  surely that meant a breeze into town.

After a wonderful break of an hour, I pedalled off to Glåmos and over the bridge of a roaring river and just around the corner joined the main road into Røros.  A lot more traffic now and just outside of town – a steep hill !  dang it, another one still!  So grind away, but I was now getting tired, so we had to have a bit of a walk before getting back into the saddle for the last haul.  Then down the hill into town.  I had arranged to meet the hosts from Trondheim at the Tourist Info booth, but as I was about 15mins early, I got my head around the idea of an ice-cream.  Haven’t had one for aeons!  And I needed something cold!  Just then, brring brrring, there were my friends ready to guide me to the cabin!

But we decided to have an ice-cream anyways and sat in the shopping centre to cool down and enjoy the sweet treat. 

So the end of another day – 70km hard work at the beginning, but ending with a beautiful ride alongside the lake.  Just loving this whole trip so far.  And so nice to be with such friendly people again.  

letter box in Roros