Mini road trip through central Norway

Until the last minute, I was convinced that there was already some way to reach Gjendesheim by public transport. In the end, I had to capitulate. We were exactly one week early. The bus from Otta did not resume service until the last week of June. So we were left with two alternatives – hitchhiking or renting a car. Since the uncertainty factor regarding our rather strictly timed travel plan seemed too great for me with the former, I decided to rent a car after a short fight with myself. It hurt me a tiny bit that our plan to travel to Norway only by train, bus and boat fell through because of the detour to the Jotunheimen National Park. But this fact hurt me even more when I realized during the last minute research how expensive it is to rent a car for four days. Since the prices for a vending machine (4 days from Trondheim to Oslo Airport) on the websites of the usual car rental companies were so horrendously high, I decided to negotiate directly on the spot. Since driving a car is exotic enough for me anyway, I had previously preferred to have clarified all rental car concerns before the trip. To calm the nerves.

In Trondheim, however, it quickly became clear that the nerves would have been unnecessary. In the middle of the city center there is an Avis rental station, which to my surprise made me a cheaper offer than the station at Trondheim airport 30 km away (according to the online price comparison) and at the same time promised me to pick up the machine at the airport at no extra charge and drive to the city center (according to the website you can only rent machines at the airport).

For the equivalent of around 550 CHF, we rented a sporty Audi A3 with an automatic transmission for the last four days of our trip to Norway. By the way, the repatriation costs of the car from Oslo to Trondheim accounted for about a third of the amount paid (so it would be worthwhile to choose the same rental and drop-off station…).

However, the adventure “Road trip through Central Norway” almost failed during the first hour. First, I practiced for about 15 minutes until I was able to start the engine (in my defense, the last time I was behind the wheel was more than a year ago in Florida). After that, I wandered from one-way street to one-way street in Trondheim and narrowly missed a nervous breakdown. After we finally found the ramp to the E6 (the friend with the navigation system wasn’t really much help), I slowly calmed down again.

The first day’s stage includes a little over 300 kilometres from Trondheim on the E6 southwards to Gjendesheim. The E6 first winds its way through small villages in central Norway and then slowly moves towards the mountains. After I have finally “broken in”, the boyfriend rummages in the camera bag. “What do you want?”, I ask, irritated. “Take out the camera so I’m ready when a moose crosses the road.” “Oh, stop the nonsense, there’s no moose crossing the road here anyway,” I reply. Less than ten minutes later, I reflexively press the brakes with the river “there, a moose!”, I shout loudly. Less than thirty minutes on Norway’s roads and already an elegant moose lady crosses the road right in front of us. I would have loved to show you the proof photo, but well, the camera remained in my pocket at my insistence.

Stopover in Dovrefjell National Park

After this unexpected event, the journey proceeds without any significant incidents. Fast, for once, the pace is much too slow for me. Only on a few sections are more than 70 km/h permitted. In Dovre we make a short stop and walk from the parking lot for about an hour to the architecturally interesting Snøhetta viewpoint. From up there there is a panoramic view over the Dovrefjell Sunndalsfjella National Park. With a lot of luck and binoculars, wild reindeer can also be spotted.

Today’s destination: Jotunheimen National Park

We reach Gjendesheim after a leisurely ride around 5:00 pm. The parking lot is free for guests of the refuge. Now that I’ve finally gotten used to it again, I think it’s almost a bit of a shame that I’m going to have a whole day of “car break” again. The next morning, the Besseggen Ridge awaits us, which we have to climb on foot.

Detour to the Rondane massif

For the last two days, we hadn’t made any plans in advance. In Gjendesheim we spontaneously decide to start the second last day with a detour to the Rondane National Park and spend the night in Lillehammer. With about 200 kilometers, a leisurely day’s stage, even if the winding ride up into the Rondane massif requires all my concentration. Rondane National Park is the oldest national park in Norway and forms a surreal landscape with its extensive plateau, which is mostly overgrown with mosses. It’s kind of like being on the moon – only in green. We drive to the last parking lot, which is located on the plateau. Various hiking trails to the mountain huts start from here. We decide to take a short route (about an hour) to the waterfall, the name of which I unfortunately have not found out until today.

Last stop in Lillehammer

In the evening we explore what is probably the sportiest city in Norway – Lillehammer. In addition to the Olympic Sites and the Olympic Museum, the small town offers an idyllic shopping street, and a nice city park with a good park café (Storgata 26). Don’t miss the delightful Atelier Kakao (Storgata 46). This is a great place to start the day with coffee and chocolate cake.

We stayed at the Clarion Collection Hotel Hammer in a central location. There are parking spaces directly in front of the hotel, which can be used free of charge during the night. A parking fee must be paid on the day.

On the last 150 kilometers to Oslo Airport, I am finally allowed to drive a little more than 70 km/h. The highest of feelings is 100 km/h on the two-lane sections of the motorway. The conclusion after four days of car adventure is positive. Spontaneous stopovers and detours to national parks would hardly have been possible by public transport. In addition to the rental fee, there were only a few additional costs – one full tank and the toll fee. And last but not least, I once again ventured behind the wheel and, contrary to my fears, succeeded with flying colors.