雖然從沒有打算在英國買車子, 但想到有可能在旅行時在歐洲駕駛, 好像拿個歐盟的駕駛牌照方便些, 所以在搬到倫敦不久便把澳洲的駕駛牌照換成英國駕駛牌照。這也不止, 我還買了載有歐洲各國地圖的汽車衛星導航儀。這些年來, 在歐洲各地已經有十來次自駕遊經驗, 今回細說在挪威駕駛的趣事。
數年前的七月份, 我和朋友打算到挪威去看看冰川。在計劃行程時只知道我們要從 Flåm 開車到一個叫 Jostedal 的地方, 因為我們在那裡已經預約了一個一天的冰川遊。 Flåm是一個小鎮, 好不容易才在網上找到一家兼營租車的旅館。租下車子, 把導航儀設定好我們便出發。開車不久, 發現原來汽油不足, 見到有油站便駛進去。 奈何油站是全自助式的, 沒有英文指示, 又不能用非挪威的信用卡付款, 結果花了差不多二十分鐘才入滿汽油再出發。在導航儀的引領下, 不久便到達一條隧道。以為是普通一條隧道, 來往方向只各有一條行車線。但走啊走, 過了十多分鐘還沒看到盡頭, 加上迎面行車線上的車子光線很亮, 人越來越睏。再多走一兩分鐘, 到達一個車輛休憩處, 那裡可停泊大概十輛車, 跟之前不同是那裡的燈光。在隧道裡的燈光很昏暗, 但休憩處裡的燈光竟然好像的士高一樣, 很幻彩的, 還會變顏色。休息了一會便繼續開車, 再開了十分鐘才走出隧道。後來在網上尋找才知道這條隧道來頭不少, 叫 Lærdal Tunnel, 是世界上最長的陸路隧道, 共24.51公里, 怪不得那條隧道把我弄得頭昏腦漲。
離開隧道不久, 跟著又要過河。那裡沒有橋, 只有一艏汽車渡輪。由於人不多, 要等了好一會船才開。幸好挪威郊外的景色宜人, 我們便用過河的時間來欣賞風景和拍照。過了河以後繼續開車, 由於沿途風景如畫, 一路上不知道把車子停了多少遍來拍照, 結果花了三個多小時才到達目的地。
次天的冰川遊比原定結束時間晚了一些, 雖然我們都累透, 也得全速回程到 Flåm 把車子還給租車的旅館。在人煙稀少的地方已經盡量超速駕駛, 但回程也花了兩個多小時。把車子還掉後, 我們走到已經預訂了房間的飯店去登記入住。怎料,在登記處工作的女生很歉意地跟我們說, 因為我們這麼晚還沒到, 而且有兩個沒有預約的客人前來租房間, 她曾經多次嘗試打電話給我們但沒法聯繫得上 (由於那天又要划艇又要爬冰川, 我們都把手機放在車子的行李箱內, 所以沒聽到), 結果她把房間租了給那兩個沒有預約的客人。當時實在晴天霹靂, 在 Flåm就只有這一家飯店, 租車那間旅館和露營營地, 所有都客滿, 而且我們翌日就得在早上坐火車回 Bergen, 當晚是不能離開 Flåm 到別的地方住。正當我們想著那個晚上要在火車站睡覺, 飯店的女生打了好幾個電話, 然後告訴我們附近有一家人有間空房可以租給我們, 我們一口應承。本來租飯店是打算刷卡的, 結果把所有用來吃飯和買東西的現金都付給把房間臨時租給我們的人。那天又累又餓, 但洗澡後便倒頭大睡。只是短短數天的旅程, 到現在仍然覺得很難忘呢。
數年前的七月份, 我和朋友打算到挪威去看看冰川。在計劃行程時只知道我們要從 Flåm 開車到一個叫 Jostedal 的地方, 因為我們在那裡已經預約了一個一天的冰川遊。 Flåm是一個小鎮, 好不容易才在網上找到一家兼營租車的旅館。租下車子, 把導航儀設定好我們便出發。開車不久, 發現原來汽油不足, 見到有油站便駛進去。 奈何油站是全自助式的, 沒有英文指示, 又不能用非挪威的信用卡付款, 結果花了差不多二十分鐘才入滿汽油再出發。在導航儀的引領下, 不久便到達一條隧道。以為是普通一條隧道, 來往方向只各有一條行車線。但走啊走, 過了十多分鐘還沒看到盡頭, 加上迎面行車線上的車子光線很亮, 人越來越睏。再多走一兩分鐘, 到達一個車輛休憩處, 那裡可停泊大概十輛車, 跟之前不同是那裡的燈光。在隧道裡的燈光很昏暗, 但休憩處裡的燈光竟然好像的士高一樣, 很幻彩的, 還會變顏色。休息了一會便繼續開車, 再開了十分鐘才走出隧道。後來在網上尋找才知道這條隧道來頭不少, 叫 Lærdal Tunnel, 是世界上最長的陸路隧道, 共24.51公里, 怪不得那條隧道把我弄得頭昏腦漲。
離開隧道不久, 跟著又要過河。那裡沒有橋, 只有一艏汽車渡輪。由於人不多, 要等了好一會船才開。幸好挪威郊外的景色宜人, 我們便用過河的時間來欣賞風景和拍照。過了河以後繼續開車, 由於沿途風景如畫, 一路上不知道把車子停了多少遍來拍照, 結果花了三個多小時才到達目的地。
次天的冰川遊比原定結束時間晚了一些, 雖然我們都累透, 也得全速回程到 Flåm 把車子還給租車的旅館。在人煙稀少的地方已經盡量超速駕駛, 但回程也花了兩個多小時。把車子還掉後, 我們走到已經預訂了房間的飯店去登記入住。怎料,在登記處工作的女生很歉意地跟我們說, 因為我們這麼晚還沒到, 而且有兩個沒有預約的客人前來租房間, 她曾經多次嘗試打電話給我們但沒法聯繫得上 (由於那天又要划艇又要爬冰川, 我們都把手機放在車子的行李箱內, 所以沒聽到), 結果她把房間租了給那兩個沒有預約的客人。當時實在晴天霹靂, 在 Flåm就只有這一家飯店, 租車那間旅館和露營營地, 所有都客滿, 而且我們翌日就得在早上坐火車回 Bergen, 當晚是不能離開 Flåm 到別的地方住。正當我們想著那個晚上要在火車站睡覺, 飯店的女生打了好幾個電話, 然後告訴我們附近有一家人有間空房可以租給我們, 我們一口應承。本來租飯店是打算刷卡的, 結果把所有用來吃飯和買東西的現金都付給把房間臨時租給我們的人。那天又累又餓, 但洗澡後便倒頭大睡。只是短短數天的旅程, 到現在仍然覺得很難忘呢。
One of the first things I did after moving to London was to switch my Australian driving license to a UK one, as I thought a standardized EU license makes life easier when renting a car in Europe. Thinking that I might do a few driving trips, I invested on a sat nav loaded with a European map. That was probably the best investment I made since I have done no less than a dozen trips in various countries since then.
As with all the driving trips I have done in Europe, I am always the designated driver as none of the friends I travel with can drive stick and all the rentals are manual drive without fail. The trip to Norway was no different. My friend and I flew from London to Bergen, then took a cruise to a small town called Flåm. As we had booked a one day ice-hiking tour near a town called Jostedal, we had no other choice but to rent a car to drive up there. Flåm is a small town and we could only find one bed and breakfast which rents car as a side business, so we hired our rental from there. Not long after setting off, our first hurdle was to fill up the tank. With Norway having one of the world’s highest standard of living, we found no manned petrol stations. With no instructions in English and no other motorists around to ask for help, it took us about 15 minutes to figure how to use the self-service machines. After we eventually filled the tank, we continued on, and found ourselves entering a tunnel. At first we thought it was just another tunnel, but how wrong were we. There is only one lane each way, and after being blinded by oncoming traffic for well over ten minutes, I was tired and wondered how long we had to travel to get out of it. Then we reached a rest area, an area that is big enough for 10 cars. While the tunnel itself is very dim, the rest area has colour-changing lights as if it is a nightclub! We rested for a while before we continued, and it took a further 10 minutes or so before we actually exited the tunnel. An internet search after the trip tells me that this tunnel, Lærdal Tunnel, is the world’s longest road tunnel stretching some 24.51km, no wonder I was feeling so dizzy driving in there for so long!
After the tunnel, there was a river to cross. The only means of crossing the river was by car ferry. With only a few motorists, it took quite a while before the ferry was filled and we could cross. Fortunately the scenery in Norway is so beautiful that it was not a problem killing time, as we happily snapped away and absorbed it all in. We stopped along the way a few more times as we were so taken away by the beauty of the unspoiled countryside. If there is Utopia, I think this is pretty close to it. At the end it took us well over three hours to reach Jostedal, and we had an early night in anticipation of the exciting day ahead.
After an action-packed day of canoeing and ice-hiking, we had to make our way back to Flåm to return the rental car. So even though I was thoroughly exhausted I had to soldier on, and I sped my way through the winding quiet country roads as we were already running quite late. The return journey did not take quite as long, but still it was a two hour drive. After returning the car, we walked to the hotel which we had a reservation. To our horror, we were told by the hotel receptionist that she had been trying to contact us for hours, and since she could not get through to us (we had left our phones in our luggage all day), and it was getting late, she had given the our room to a couple who walked in without booking. I was totally dying for a nice hot shower and a nice comfortable bed at that time, and the thought of having to sleep inside the station filled me with absolute dread. Flåm is such a small town that the only hotel, the bed and breakfast and even the campsite were all fully booked. Although the receptionist checked and suggested that we could and stay in a bed and breakfast in a nearby town, we didn’t think it was a good idea since we had a morning train to catch the next day, and in that part of Norway taxis are almost non-existent. Luckily, the helpful receptionist made a few calls and informed us that a family nearby had a spare room they could rent us for the night. Without any hesitation we took up the offer. As we had planned to pay for the hotel room by credit card and thus didn’t have much cash left, we had to use every last Krone we had to pay the owner in cash. It was 10pm by the time we arrived at the house, needless to say, we went hungry that evening as we had no cash, nor were there any shops or restaurants nearby! Nevertheless, I was so exhausted that I passed out in bed straight after shower and slept for what felt like eternity!
It was only a short trip but it was certainly a memorable one.
As with all the driving trips I have done in Europe, I am always the designated driver as none of the friends I travel with can drive stick and all the rentals are manual drive without fail. The trip to Norway was no different. My friend and I flew from London to Bergen, then took a cruise to a small town called Flåm. As we had booked a one day ice-hiking tour near a town called Jostedal, we had no other choice but to rent a car to drive up there. Flåm is a small town and we could only find one bed and breakfast which rents car as a side business, so we hired our rental from there. Not long after setting off, our first hurdle was to fill up the tank. With Norway having one of the world’s highest standard of living, we found no manned petrol stations. With no instructions in English and no other motorists around to ask for help, it took us about 15 minutes to figure how to use the self-service machines. After we eventually filled the tank, we continued on, and found ourselves entering a tunnel. At first we thought it was just another tunnel, but how wrong were we. There is only one lane each way, and after being blinded by oncoming traffic for well over ten minutes, I was tired and wondered how long we had to travel to get out of it. Then we reached a rest area, an area that is big enough for 10 cars. While the tunnel itself is very dim, the rest area has colour-changing lights as if it is a nightclub! We rested for a while before we continued, and it took a further 10 minutes or so before we actually exited the tunnel. An internet search after the trip tells me that this tunnel, Lærdal Tunnel, is the world’s longest road tunnel stretching some 24.51km, no wonder I was feeling so dizzy driving in there for so long!
After the tunnel, there was a river to cross. The only means of crossing the river was by car ferry. With only a few motorists, it took quite a while before the ferry was filled and we could cross. Fortunately the scenery in Norway is so beautiful that it was not a problem killing time, as we happily snapped away and absorbed it all in. We stopped along the way a few more times as we were so taken away by the beauty of the unspoiled countryside. If there is Utopia, I think this is pretty close to it. At the end it took us well over three hours to reach Jostedal, and we had an early night in anticipation of the exciting day ahead.
After an action-packed day of canoeing and ice-hiking, we had to make our way back to Flåm to return the rental car. So even though I was thoroughly exhausted I had to soldier on, and I sped my way through the winding quiet country roads as we were already running quite late. The return journey did not take quite as long, but still it was a two hour drive. After returning the car, we walked to the hotel which we had a reservation. To our horror, we were told by the hotel receptionist that she had been trying to contact us for hours, and since she could not get through to us (we had left our phones in our luggage all day), and it was getting late, she had given the our room to a couple who walked in without booking. I was totally dying for a nice hot shower and a nice comfortable bed at that time, and the thought of having to sleep inside the station filled me with absolute dread. Flåm is such a small town that the only hotel, the bed and breakfast and even the campsite were all fully booked. Although the receptionist checked and suggested that we could and stay in a bed and breakfast in a nearby town, we didn’t think it was a good idea since we had a morning train to catch the next day, and in that part of Norway taxis are almost non-existent. Luckily, the helpful receptionist made a few calls and informed us that a family nearby had a spare room they could rent us for the night. Without any hesitation we took up the offer. As we had planned to pay for the hotel room by credit card and thus didn’t have much cash left, we had to use every last Krone we had to pay the owner in cash. It was 10pm by the time we arrived at the house, needless to say, we went hungry that evening as we had no cash, nor were there any shops or restaurants nearby! Nevertheless, I was so exhausted that I passed out in bed straight after shower and slept for what felt like eternity!
It was only a short trip but it was certainly a memorable one.