Day 278 Friday 20 Jul 2007 Notvann to Trondheim, Norway

A long drive today south to Trondheim, through forests, past lakes and across lots of rivers. It’s the longest drive of the entire trip since Australia, much of it done at Norway’s ridiculously low speed limits. It seems anytime there’s a house within 50m of the road, or a junction with a logging track they put a 50km/hr speed limit. Perhaps they are concerned about the wandering moose as everyone drives at 10km below the speed limit. However, despite the speed restrictions, the roads are generally quite good, with the smoothest surfaces we’ve encountered which is fortunate given the arthritic state of the car’s suspension, but are entirely single carriage way, with campervans and caravans outnumbering cars by at least 2:1.

We decide we’ve had enough of ferries and islands so take the inland route, stopping at the Arctic Circle where in contrast to Finland who’ve cornered the market, there’s not a Santa in sight, just an overpriced souvenir shop. You’d think there would be a limit to the number and range of arctic circle souvenirs but there isn’t.
A bit later on we visit Mosjoen, a town with a precinct of old timber houses and warehouse buildings mostly restored as art galleries and cafes. We stop for lunch at one which resembles the village store 40 years ago and enjoy local specialities of barley and sausage soup and a range of different breads.

Then it’s back on the road, for another 400kms, pausing only to visit a rather spectacular waterfall, not high just BIG and wet. We reach Trondheim by 8.30 and find the Clarion hotel in the city centre where we are quick to take advantage of the help yourself supper which along with DVD player and internet is included in the room rate.