Norway has a number of designated National Tourist Routes - I think 18 or so. These routes obviously follow paths of high levels of natural beauty and have rest areas and sometimes lookouts. On our way from Flam to Olden we travelled two of these routes.

The first route was the 'Snovegen' or 'Snow Road'. This 47km road is only open for a few months a year, but we had checked and it had recently opened for the summer. The road starts at Aurland (which is quite close to Flam where we had been staying) and finishes at Laerdal. Travel between these two towns can also be by done by a new 24km tunnel, said to be the longest road tunnel in the world. Not long into the route is the Stegastein Lookout, a beautifully constructed viewpoint that hangs out over the valley. 

    
  
 
Soon we are again into snow. As we go higher it is stacked beside the road and at the top of the range it is 4 metres high. The road however is clean and dry. A lake we pass is frozen, with the ice just starting to melt in small patches. We reach a rest area with picnic tables, but they are still submerged in snow and ice. So this morning we have a super view, but have to stand to drink our coffee. 
 
Laerdal at the other end is busy with a farm machinery show of some kind, and we pass through just to see the old timber houses lined beside the water before we travel on.

There is another ferry crossing, and later at lunchtime we are luckier, and have a great spot by the fjord.  
 
We stop at Kaupanger to see a stave church. Stave churches are from the Middle Ages. The traditional Norwegian craft of wooden boat and house building was used to build churches that were to replicate the massive cathedrals that were being built in other parts of Europe. Stave refers to the post and beam construction. Norway is the only country with these Medieval churches still intact. This church has been renovated but the building, pulpit, altarpiece and font are all from from the 17th century. It is lovely inside. The darkness because of the wood construction really enhances the colour of the painting on the walls and fittings.
 

 
The next route was the Gaularfjellet. This road has many waterfalls, rapids and lakes. The narrow road twists back and forth up mountain sides for over 100 kilometres. At the higher levels the country is decked in snow, and with the sun shining brightly it is quite a dazzling sight. Everywhere is the sound of waterfalls or water running swiftly along streams. We wondered how long it all takes to melt, or perhaps it doesn't, as the summer season here is short.

Many kilometres later we reach Olden on Nordfjord. Here we have a room in a camping area. Thrilled to see we overlook the water and the view to the mountains. Happy days.