We got up around 6:30 in the morning on Thursday April 18, 2019 and after another big (free) hotel breakfast, headed off to the Bergen train station. It was cool-ish in the morning. We took the train from Bergen to Voss to begin our day of experiencing the fjords. 000-DSC_2598-header: At the Bergen Jernbanest (Train Station) 000-DSC_2598-headertext:
We got to the station with quite a bit of time to spare. We had a schedule for the day and didn't want to miss our trains, buses, or boats. There were video screens in the station that ran ads that had about a 20 second loop. I think I saw an ad for some Scandenavian Police show where they are tracking a Norwegian Hanibal Lector about 380 times. There was also a little snack shop and a news stand. It was, esssentially, still outside. Probably in the low 40s F or single digits C, so it was a little chilly sitting around. 000-DSC_2598: Walking to the train station in Bergen. 001-DSC_2600: There are a lot of rentable bikes in Bergen (and Oslo). 002-DSC_2602: Wide shot of the inside of the Bergen train station. 003-DSC_2605: Closer shot of 2 of the 4 traks (or spors). 004-DSC_2606: A train departs. 005-DSC_2607: Looking at the entrance to the train station (from the inside). 006-DSC_2608: The big board. We were on the 8:39 train (spor 4). 007-DSC_2609: Our train approaches in the distance. 008-DSC_2610: Getting closer... Note the Viking attendant. 009-DSC_2611: ...closer... 010-DSC_2613: Now is the end of the waitingtime and beginning of the soontoboardtime. 011-DSC_2614-header: Fjord! 011-DSC_2614-headertext:
The train left Bergen and then traveled along the Sørfjorden, a fjord
that is one of the innermost branches of the Hardangerfjorden. A fjord
is an inlet that has steep walls, carved by glaciers. I admit, I used
to think the fjords were the cliffs, not the water.
The train went from Bergen to Voss with several stops include Vaksdal,
Stanghelle, Dale, and Bolstadøyri. It was a very scenic trip.
I spent most of the train trip by the doors so I could get pictures
from both sides.
011-DSC_2614: Inside the train from Bergen to Voss, with a view of the
Sørfjorden.
012-DSC_2615: Views of the Sørfjorden from the train to Voss.
013-DSC_2616:
014-DSC_2617:
015-DSC_2618: Next stop is Vaksdal.
016-DSC_2619: Just before the Vaksdal stop, we bassed the Felleskjøpet
Agrifabrikk plant in Vaksdal. Yes, I looked it up. I thought it was
a station.
017-DSC_2620: More Felleskjøpet.
018-DSC_2622: Fjord!
019-DSC_2623: The right side of the train was less scenic, as the cliffs
and trees were pretty close to the track.
020-DSC_2625: A little cemetary in Stanghelle off the right side of the train.
021-DSC_2626: At Stanghelle, the Sørfjorden becomes the Mjelkevikjæ,
more of a small inlet.
022-DSC_2628: Back to the right, looking at the south half of the little
cemetary.
023-DSC_2629:
024-DSC_2630: The narrow waterway is probably the Dalevågen or maybe
the Daleelva on the way to Dale.
025-DSC_2631:
026-DSC_2632: The sun is just peaking up over the hills, which means
I'm looking out the right side of the train (east). So we're just
shy of Dale and that's probably the Dalevågen.
027-DSC_2633: Just so I know what was near when pictures were taken.
028-DSC_2634: Hey, it's Bolstadøyri! Just past where there Bolstadfjorden
becomes the Bolstadelvi river.
029-DSC_2635: Good old Bolstadøyri. And now we've moved beyond it.
030-DSC_2636: Before Evanger. Left side of train, probably still
Bolstadelvi.
031-DSC_2637: More Bolstadelvi river.
032-DSC_2638: The car drove into view as I was taking this picture.
Left side of train.
033-DSC_2639:
034-DSC_2640:
035-DSC_2642: Snow-capped mountains in the distance. Winter is never far.
036-DSC_2643: Scenic hillside in the foreground, snow-capped mountains
in the distance.
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