On into Norway! To Oslo.

31st May 2015

At last, more than a month after we left home, we are crossing into Norway. 

We crossed via the new bridge, since our weight is too high for the old bridge, which we could see as we crossed. The customs formalities were easily completed, by a customs agent who said he had never seen a camper on a carnet, and no carnet at all from Australia. He took photos of the vehicle and wished us well on our way. 

Our first priority now is to get new tyres for the vehicle, in preparation for the safety inspection we need for renewal of our registration. After locating the Toyo dealer for Norway we soon found that there is only one tyre of the same type as we currently have, in all of Norway and Denmark! We need four new tyres! So we have changed to a different but similar tyre, keeping the remaining 2 Toyo tyres as spares. The new tyres are an American brand (Baja- Mickey athompson). 

As in Denmark there is evidence of the original inhabitants from the Bronze Age everywhere. Thèse stones are known as the "stone ship". It is thought it is the burial site if a chieftan. He was likely buried here with a "ship" to indicate his stature, and it is not known whether his men were buried with him. 

This is a burial mound, also Bronze Age, although it is thought that burials were done here later as well. Soil was brought from all over the place by the village members until the mound was complete, and they could rest safely.

There are also lithographs, stone paintings, ground into the rocks. We were struck by the similarities with aboriginal paintings - similar figures, similar subjects. 

And some subjects are universal....

Tomorrow Oslo, and then on to the west coast and the Fiords (Fjords)!