Thursday 13th September 2018
We left Rjukan Hytte & Caravan Park this morning bound for Oslo. We didn’t know exactly where at this point, we would choose somewhere nearer the target.
This site had been OK for a short term stay. The field was a little damp under foot but the car pulled the caravan out without problem. The facilities are a little tired and in need of refurbishment. The showers are just warm enough with little flow, but at least we weren’t charged for them.
The only plan we had was to stop off and visit Heddal Stave Church, Norways’ largest stave church. After a nice run back down the superb 37 road we arrived within 45 minutes at the church. The car park has spaces for car & caravan so parking was easy.
The church sits in a lovely setting and is an impressive structure. The graveyard is large and extremely well tended. On attempting to enter there is a sign saying to buy tickets in the café.
We crossed the road to the café and browsed around the shop. We purchased three postcards, four stamps, and two cups of black coffee. £19. £19!!!
The young lady asked if I needed tickets for the church but I had by then had a sense of humour failure about the rip off prices in Norway and said no. The entry fee would have been £8 each.
We hadn’t had breakfast and I was hungry. The menu included a burger, £14.50. Fancy tomato soup? £8.90. Ridiculous.
I have loved the sights and sounds of the whole country but the prices of eating out, and particularly alcohol is nothing short of legal mugging.
On the way out we studied a fine model of the church structure.
The journey continued on the E134 and E18 on route to Oslo Camping. We entered the city where it all went wrong. Very busy roads coupled with roads closed for the upcoming Oslo Marathon saw us going around in circles. We pulled over and chose the nearest campsite on the cars sat-nav, Bogstad Camping, and headed straight for it. On arrival I recognised it as a place Paul & I had stayed at in 2012.
Towing Kilometres – Today: 169 Cumulative: 23,725
The welcome at the site was good and we were told to choose our own place. The site costs 320NOK per night with no wi-fi and extra for a shower. We intend to stay a couple of nights.