This was in the news today, so it's time for putting on winter tyres here in Norway. When the snow starts falling in the mountains, it could easily mean that we get some lower down as well. The two last winters we had one metre of snow in our garden for several months. And we live 50 km north of Oslo.

Edited 9 October, 201213 yr by Norse

I'm trying to persuade the wife for us to drive to Norway one year, looks like a beautiful country.

I'm trying to persuade the wife for us to drive to Norway one year, looks like a beautiful country.

DO IT! lol. 4 years ago I drove from dunkirk, to Hamburg, and then up thru Denmark, ferry to Sweden, up the inside of the country to Kiruna and over to Lofoten and Narvick and all the way down the coast to Stavanger and back to Newcastle, lots of miles over 3 months but the most amazing trip I have ever taken, to wake up with some of those Fjord views is unbelievable, and the Sun at midnight over the coast, I still like to take myself back to those moments every now and then. Shame the Newcastle ferry has now gone, Means the easiest way is to Denmark from Harwich. But worth it.

Back on topic of winter wheels, have you noticed less snow over recent years Norse? My friends over in Karlstad not far from you have said there has been a lot less

It´s beautiful - but expensive! I worked up there as a turbine technician a few years ago. Back then, in 2008, a pack of cigarettes was £9.50, half a cucumber (!) £1.75, a standard-pizza £23 and so on. My brother is up there at the moment (as a pilot), and the prices have´nt falled since then, he says

Yes, Norway is beatiful. I'm biased of course, but the more I travel the world the more I'm aware of what this country has to offer. That said, I have seen some absolutely stunning landscapes I other countries as well, The Alpes for instance.

I really recommend a trip (s actually) to Norway, but keep in mind that this country is 2500 km long. Don't do the same mistake as the american tourist do every summer when arriving in Oslo on cruise ships. They want to see Oslo, Bergen, The fjords, the mountains, museums and some more between breakfast and lunch. So choose one part and stay there for two weeks, for instance the west cost from Bergen to Trondheim. Then you get to see stunning mountains, the coastline with islands, some beautiful cities and more.

Some years ago there was a ferry line between Bergen and Newcastle, but I don't think it's running anymore. So I would guess a ferry to Denmark and then one from there to Norway is the fastest way. Don't come between September and May, then it's cold and not very nice. The winter months are nice if you like snow and no sun though...

And yes, Norway is expensive, so don't do any shopping at all. Sone appr. prices in pounds: 20 sigs = 7,5. One pint 5-10. One Big Mac 7,5. One litre gasoline 1,5. Diesel 1,4. Dinner for two at a normal restaurant with beer and a bottle of wine 100. Pack of 500g salmon filet at shops similiar to Tesco 4,5. I kg potatoes 1,5. Nice hotel room per night including a great breakfast (in Molde for instance) from 80 per person in a double.

Regarding snow. No, I have not noticed any less of the white stuff. We live 50 km north of Oslo close to the main airport, and this is a very snowy region. Never a winter with less than 50 cm. but I do understand what he means in Sweden. We have gotten considerably wetter summers and a lot more weather over the years. I remember summers that were long and warm, but the last couple of decades something has happened with the climate.. And we have regions here that used to have a lot more snow and colder temperatures. At our place it's quite common to have minus 15-25c for weeks. Coldest last winter was 31,5 below. The mpg sucks in such conditions, believe me. If you don't like the cold, stay away from this place :-)

Edited 9 October, 201213 yr by Norse

I've still got an invite to John Haugland's Ice Racing School somewhere, from my days with the Skoda rally team.

Go for it!

I really recommend a trip (s actually) to Norway, but keep in mind that this country is 2500 km long. Don't do the same mistake as the american tourist do every summer when arriving in Oslo on cruise ships. They want to see Oslo, Bergen, The fjords, the mountains, museums and some more between breakfast and lunch. So choose one part and stay there for two weeks, for instance the west cost from Bergen to Trondheim. Then you get to see stunning mountains, the coastline with islands, some beautiful cities and more.

Hi Norse,

I used to fly to Trondheim quite a lot in the late 60's on C130s' - joint training with Norwegian troops. A friend of mine was not so lucky when landing at Trondheim; they slipped off the side of the runway into a very large ditch! The fuselage broke off just behind the flightdeck, the propellers thrashed into the ground. It was a total right off! Fortunately no one was injured.

My winter wheels and tyres are in my workshop loft ready to be fitted; but not for a month or two yet...

Peter

Hi Peter

Several nation's troops come here for winter training every year. I guess we (and Sweden, but since their not NATO, hardly any troops go there, only the test people from Porsche, Mercedes, BMW etc when they want to test new models on ice and snow) have the optimal training grounds for such activities in Europe. This has been going on for decades, especially up north. Everything from normal troops to special forces get their butts kicked by the Norwegian winter conditions :-)

And when the exercise is done, the go nuts in local bars. There are stories about them in the news every year, and their MPs having a handful.

Talking about c-130. We lost one of our brand new planes during last winters international military exercise “Cold Response". it flew straight into the swedish mountain Kebnekaise at full speed in really bad weather. There was nothing left of the plane and the five crew members, but the search parties have managed to collect the two black and one red (?) boxes.

http://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/norway-sweden-investigate-mystery-c-130j-crash-369650/

I'm having my breakfast just now. Looking out at mInus three c and white, frosty grass. So the winter tyres go on today! And then off to Dublin for the weekend.

Here is a video taken after a gigantic snowfall in southern Norway in 2007. We're talking four metres of snow some places. It's not mine, found it on youtube. Enjoy!

http://m.youtube.com/?reason=8&rdm=4218#/watch?v=qddtuzvuI5w&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DqddtuzvuI5w&gl=NO

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Edited 10 October, 201213 yr by Norse