The Central Highlands

My final days on the road were spent exploring a new section of central Norway. After leaving the Musk Ox I journeyed several kilometers off of the main E6 to Høvringen Camping, located just outside the town of Høvringen. The campground was perched high up on a hillside and nearly every spot offered exceptional views. It also had great wifi and a sauna!

The next morning I set out on a short summit hike before continuing on my way.

I had come to a point in my journey where I finally had to plan. You see, my van rental allotted me 6,800 kilometers and though I could have paid extra for an overage I determined that I had to end the journey somewhere so working within the constraints of my mileage allotment seemed as good a place as any.

I sat down with Google Maps open, a pen and paper, and plotted out how many kilometers it would take to get all the way back to Inide Campers from where I was. Fortunately, I had a few hundred kilometers to spare so planned a side trip on Road 55 which split the area between Jostedalsbreen National Park and Jotunheimen National Park. It seemed that it would be exceptionally beautiful, filled with glaciers and mountains.

The National Park symbol in Norway. Along Road 55 in Jotunheimen National Park.

The route did not disappoint and was incredibly scenic. Eventually, I rose up into the mountains and enjoyed exploring for much of the afternoon in the very brisk air.

Looking into a glacier and towards Galdhøpiggen (Peak) in Jotunheimen National Park.

Much too soon, I approached where I had to stop and turn around. I found a beautiful scenic lunch spot and enjoyed the view before accepting that for the first time on my trip, I finally could not simply wander. I eyed the road in the distance, the one I was not allowed to wander down. It felt like such a tease.

The road in the distance that I would not travel, this trip anyway.

I teared up as I got into my van, with a mix of sadness and gratitude. It was time to stop exploring Norway, for now anyway, but what a gift. To travel for five weeks and hunger for more, that has to be incredibly rare. And it had come in such a profoundly beautiful area. Very Norway of it.

The view looking the opposite direction from my turn-around spot. A perfect example of the 1.5-lane roads!

I retraced my path and made my way to road 51 which would lead me to E16 and back to Oslo.

As a grand finale, the final leg was one of the most beautiful yet! It was like the end of a fireworks show when all the stops were pulled out. It felt as if Norway was saying to me, there is so much more…

The dance of light- the highlands along Route 51.

The dance of light take two- the highlands along Route 51.

Looking back into Jotunheimen National Park.

Looking into the same area, a bit farther south.

Nearing the point where I would drop out of the highlands and back to the valley leading to Oslo

The final image I took with my DSLR in Norway.

Lessons from: The Central Highlands

Roads 55 and 51 are a must-explore if you visit Norway. At some point, I am going to return with more time.
These areas were very quiet compared to the coastal sections of Norway. Another great recommendation for beating the crowds and enjoying an exceptional side of Norway.

Something interesting: Jostedalsbreen National Park + Jotunheimen National Park

Two amazing parks right next to each other. Both are well worth the visit!

Jostedalsbreen is home to Jostedalsbreen Glacier, which is the largest glacier in mainland Europe. Glaciers actually make up half of the park’s area. The other half is comprised of lush valleys, waterfalls, and rivers.

In an earlier blog post, C ampground Hea ven, the campground referenced was located at the base of Jostedalsbreen Glacier. My first cold plunge in Norway was into glacial melt from Jostedalsbreen. I got just a taste of the size of it on my way north and merely brushed the other side of it on my way south.

Jotunheimen National Park sits east of Jostedalsbreen and may not hold the claim to fame of the largest glacier in mainland Europe, but there are still 250 different mountain peaks, numerous waterfalls, rivers, and hiking and biking opportunities. Nearly all of the images in this post are in Jotunheimen.

A look behind the curtain.

This obviously marked the end of five weeks of traveling solo in a camper van. The entire trip was about as impulsive as they come. I woke up one day after some major life changes had blindsided me and was feeling depressed for the first time in my life. I knew then that I had to change something to get out of my funk. My first thought was to get a dog but that sounded like a lot of work! My second thought was to travel. The first country that came to mind was Norway. I cannot explain why other than to say I have always admired its beauty and it seemed like exploring it in a camper van would not only be doable but preferable! I was very comfortable with camper vans having one of my own. One hour later I had booked the van, the flight, and the Airbnb for my final days in the country.

I just knew I had to go. It was simple.

At gatherings, before I left, most women in my life looked at me like I was crazy and asked “Aren’t you scared?”. To be honest, fear never crossed my mind, and for good reason. There was only one time in the entire five weeks that I felt on edge and as I result I left the parking lot I was going to stay in overnight and went to a campground. There was a guy in a large camper blatantly eyeing me. When all the other campers had left and it just became him and me alone, I knew I needed to scoot.

I think this feeling of safety was due to Norway’s incredibly low crime rate, most days having 24 hours of daylight (when I was there), and the culture. People keep to themselves. I felt free to do what I wanted, how I wanted, without any judgment. I felt safe and respected.