We started the process off poorly chasing down the airport bus with H still hobbling with a strained Achilles from our lofty ascent of Mt Stalheim a few days back.
Deposited at Bergen's small airport and paperwork out of the way, we walked across to the car park to view our Toyota Auris Hybrid.
Now the moment of truth, with some serious navigation needed to reach our small one way street near the centre of Bergen H took over driving duties with a moment of trepidation as he recalled his last left hand drive experience in Germany in 2011 which included a few abortive attempts to mount sidewalks and take on roundabouts the wrong way !
As it was we sat in the car park for a good 15 minutes not because of any lengthy pre start prayer session, but because we couldn't work out how to start the damned keyless car. Power button on, silence - power button pushed again- ready lights on - power button pushed once more - everything turned back off ! And so the process was repeated time and again !
After numerous trys we finally started the car ( not quite sure how) switched on our voiceless Gps navigation system (couldn't work out how to turn the audio on) and took to the road to head back into Bergen.
In the drizzly conditions H was doing pretty well only having received a single yellow card (driving too close to the guard rail) by the time we'd pulled in to Maccas for a much needed breakfast and coffee.
Exiting we had the same problems starting the car before we eventually negotiated through Bergen's one way streets to our accommodation grabbing what we thought was a legit parking spot before racing up to grab our gear and bikes and head back to the car to dismantle the bikes and pack everything in.
As luck would have it we were accosted by an official looking Norwegian parking attendant who told us we were parked in a residents car park - we played the dumb English tourist card (easy to do) and the gentleman allowed us some leeway allowing us to get the hell out of there !
Rapidly dismantling the bikes and finally working out how to make everything fit we put the car in reverse and you guessed it nothing !
We rang D Mike to ask him to come down and suss out our Norwegian driving manual but Mike started the Hybrid first time with suggestion that with foot on brake and in park mode all you needed to do was wait for the electrics to kick in and tap the accelerator !
We said goodbye to our Danish friend who was returning to Oslo by a late afternoon train before a long 6 our drive to Copenhagen. His help on the Norwegian leg was invaluable and much appreciated !
Our final challenge now was to move on to our next accommodation in outer Bergen.
Finally knowing how to start the car H did pretty well keeping to the low speed limits (30 in places and only 80 on open roads) as speeding attracts Australian like fines
I say pretty well as H's only blemish was attempting to mount a footpath following a u turn thinking that it was a continuation of the road we were on - thankfully no pedestrians were harmed !
Eventually we made our way to our lovely AirBNB host Anita's apartment although a good 12 kms from Bergen centre it does have some outstanding views.
With the rain settling in and Anita doing one of her 3 jobs as Taxi Driver (others include Air BNB host, and youth counselling) H and i settled back to a luxury dinner of 2 minute noodles and some open ham and cheese sandwiches something we'll have to improve upon with a 4 night stay in a self contained cabin only a day of two away !
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