My travels - Norway on Bike 1997 - 6.day

8.August 1997

It is morning and I am going out from tent very slowly. All my body is weary of yesterday route. After a small time I feel more better and I decided to pass next route. Today we have prepared beautiful track to Trollstiegen (Troll way). After a few kilometers of easy ride I warm up. We are in beautiful valley. Place with promised gradient we didn't see and we are making hoots from Peter, that he surely he underestimate our abilities. This track is no problem for us. We stop and make some photos near of open-air museum. All way is bordered with marks "Attention troll". Weather is good, only sometimes in shadow it is a little bit cold. We force us with hot chocolate, to increase our energy on near parking place. At that time we didn't suspect, how much we will need this energy later. In short time, after first curve, we are surprised with unlucky view. We see very steep uprising in switchbacks to a far top of mountain. Only from this view our enthusiasm together with our jokes fly away. Peter had a true, unfortunately. I change my gearing on easiest degree and with speed of turtle I go to my first serpentine. It must be possible to do it. I only must save enough energy for next serpentines. And really it looks much more better, after first serpentine. It is possible to do it. Very slowly, but it is possible. With each serpentine my energy and enthusiasm decrease, but still I am able to continue with energy from my hidden backlog. Slowly I reach a bridge somewhere in half of our way up. Here is Jaro waiting us with hot coffee. I change my shirt because it is vet from my perspiration, and it is not very comfortable now. After changing it, and good coffee I feel better. I decide to continue but my legs don't want to continue. In my mind I order to my body to continue. Surrounding drivers greet us and are very regardful, especially in curves. Together with us they must be careful on sheeps and cows on road.

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Some time later we slowly reach an observation point on top. There I sit down on bench together with others. I did it at last. Gabika has legs in unbelievable cold water of small river "brrrrr", and other are eating and sunning. I am doing the same. After half hour rest we are going to observation point. In souvenirs shops around way there, are trolls of all sizes and shapes. This is the right place to buy troll at home. We also built our troll from stones for happiness. It is a difficult thing, because all stones are used for other trolls, and take stone from another troll means accident. We finally found enough free stones for our troll. Near of observation point are Japan filmmakers and they are recording advert on Subaru and some kind of tea. Actress in Norway national costume is drinking tea from pot with words "teaaaa" with smile on face. When she did it 20 times, she looks so bored from this role. We lean against barrier railing and take a pleasure in beautiful view down. Now we really see how difficult was our way up. Way was going up in steep long serpentines and its start is boundless. We make some photos for our families and friends in order that they can admire us for this performance. Then suddenly Jaro begin to hassle. He bought emblem with reindeer and he pinned him to peak of his cap. But cap unfortunately fall down 20 m under observation point with help of strong wind. Jaro without speculation skid down. And Peter everything record on camera. Terrain looks very dangerous and Jaro's way down looks very risky. Everybody on observation point is looking on this crazy man, but Jaro fortunately take his cap and he returned back without wounds. Our bikes stay abandoned near of our car. Here it is possible. We are careful only in big cities.
Slowly we sit on our bikes and we continue. We are near of top, and after it we have only meed in form of downhill run. But before we fight small snowball war on top only in shorts. After long downhill run we ship on ferry from Ligne to Eidsdal. There we have only a few kilometers to camping, but only now I understood what does it mean absolutely worn-down. My legs are stoned and only with enormous effort I reach our camp. Here I fall down to grass and long time I spend on ground without any move. Today it was heroic achievement, and I know that tomorrow will be very tough for me. Later I only sit on near stone and I write my letter to my ... Only my hand are able to move now. Our driver Jaro decide to make his own trip on bike. Peter is preparing meal and in short time we eat big serving of risotto. This day I went to sleep early, maybe before midnight. A spent some time to find good position for my painfull body and my eyes slowly fall down...

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