Last Updated on: May 21, 2025
A day ride can be fun. Sometimes even more fun when you end up on roads you didn’t know existed. A real bonus in other words!
Saturday May 10th 2025 I had no plans for riding. Spring came early this year. And we’ve had less than normal of snow in Norway. Which means that it was possible to start riding motorcycle earlier than usual. However. this early spring brought periodic northern or polar winds. Winds that swept down our long stretched country.
May 10th, looking down on Lake Randsfjorden.
These winds are usually directed by polar jet streams. And these usually stay for a longer period of time. In these conditions riding can be a pretty cold experience. One thing is day temperature measured without wind. Quite another if you factor in the wind. Plus of course, that you are in motion. So a 10-15 degrees Celsius with such polar winds will feel like five or six less.
Day ride, first leg
I’d planned to do chores. Some Garden work plus other “interesting” things. Around 10:30 I checked one of the most widely used Norwegian favourite weather servicees again. Things had changed! What was supposed to be a chillier day, all of a sudden looked ideal for a short day ride!
Usually on such day rides I merely consider a direction. Sometimes maybe figments of a plan, although plan isn’t the best of words. Plans often means less surprises. I like to improvise. If you’ve read some of the posts on this page, whether rides in the country or down in Europe, then you probably have seen examples of that.
Along Lake Randsfjorden on Fv245, or Vestsidevegen.
It began with a familiar route. Up along Randsfjorden on “Vestsidevegen” (aka Fv245). Randsfjorden is Norway’s fourth largest lake. Quite a few of the bigger freshwater lakes in the country has a name with fjord in it. On this particular day I wanted to ride a toll road across to Begna valley. Many of the toll roads in the country now has cameras.
To what extent anyone non-Norwegian is pursued for payment is an open question. With regards to ferries I’ve heard you will get charged. If you plan to ride around in Norway it is sensible to register yourself and your vehicle at Ferrypay. With regards to toll roads, on of the biggest and most comprehensive network of automatic tolls is linked to YouPark.
I don’t really know if they are able to, or will invoice or trace. foreign registration plates.
Skjellingsvegen > Buvassvegen
Skjellingsvegen is a gravel road that runs from Fluberg bridge. For the most part it’s an easy road to ride, even for touring motorcycles. But it depends, on time of the year, on weather and amount of gravel.
Skjellingsvegen > Buvassvegen between Randsfjorden and Begna valley.
The whole road, which consists of three parts with different names, is around 35 kilometers. There are quite a lot of surface variations. If you are coming from the south, for instance Oslo, and want a little bit of adventure, then this road definitely is one to consider!
Max 3 tons, well that’ll do fine for a BMW 1250GS.
When I bought the current bike, this is where I went to try it out on gravel and dirt. Not that I doubted it would work fine, but I was curious as to how well it would work. Turned out to be way better than I thought it would be, although nowhere near the previous motorcycle. But It also depends on how you ride.
As I believe we all can acknowledge, it’s also about your skills, combined with level of comfort in a particular situation.
On Buvassvegen down towards Begnadalen, or Begna Valley, Norway.
Skjellingsvegen changes name to Buvassvegen as you approach the next valley. And changes character somewhat. I’ve had some sketchy experiences in a certain part of this road. But that was down to wetness and roadworks.
Begnadalen, new roads
Begnadalen is the southern part of Valdres. The plan was to ride a little bit up, then take another gravel road west. Coming from this side I’ve missed it before. This time I was simply too impatient. But what seemed to be a mistake turned into the surprise of the day, ride-wise! After a lower section with plenty of roadworks and challenges, I got higher up into the terrain.
A sandy and loose section on the way up.
Equally surprising was the good old BMW Navigator VI actually gave a route suggestion through. it wasn’t obvious this road system would lead anywhere. Quite the contrary actually. Had suspected it wasn’t going to lead me to where i planned to go. But getting past what seemed a wash-out repair job. higher up things got way more interesting!
if you’re waiting for a bus here, then you’re doing it wrong!
Apparently people with humour had roamed around. In the thick woods I found a bus stop sign! I dare say, anyone waiting for public transportation in here would better prepare for a miraculous afterlife public transportation experience. I got deeper in, to the point when it wasn’t much of a road anymore.
A “road” through the woods, more like a track
Day ride way out
I know now there is a route through the woods. But I was supposed to meet a friend and it could take too long time. That, plus being without mobile coverage, and alone, were three compelling reasons to abandon the plan. But I will go back to explore, with company.
Road or forest trail? I’ll be back!
So I turned around, but decided on a second road back out. Soon enough I didn’t at all regret turning around. Because this road led me out in the open, high up on the valley side. I think the below picture speaks volumes about what I was served!
High up on the Begnadalen valley side
I’ve been around in this valley a few times. And have found some interesting routes. But this was an all new experience. Chosen to save time. it was soon going to be more interesting. As I got closer to pavement I found a barrier. Fortunately I managed to get the bike through it. Experience probably helped.
Back on pavement I rode quickly across the mountains on Hedalsvegen to Nesbyen in Hallingdal. Then Down and over into Eggedal, to up with a friend. Together we rode “Slokuvegen”, a gravel and dirt toll road between Eggedal and Nore og Uvdal.
Waiting for my friend along Slokuvegen
It was late evening when it finally made it back home. It had been a almost 500 kilometer day ride, with lots of fun and surprises! Below a screenshot of the whole day ride.
Day ride route on May 10th 2025