Weekend getaway to the fjords - day 2
Day 2 we approached Lysefjord by road from the south, picking up the E39 and then the 13 roads, before splitting off to the left to visit the Riska peninsula, where many lucky Stavanger residents have weekend cabins at the water edge. We picked the 13 back up, and then took the ferry from Lauvvika across to Oanes. After the short hop across the waters, we took hug a right on the FV491 to take in the views as we crossed the panoramic bridge, and then hugged the fjord edge on the FV496 to take the spectacular Lysefjord in at water-level. Along the way we found a delicious little beach called Ytra Dørvika, sign posted from the road with a swimming sign. Picnic here! But bring citronella - the midges have a field day with your sunbathing body. I had a swim here, laughed on by a few. But the experience of having a dip in the part salt, part glacial meltwater of the fjord in the scorching sun is well well worth the momentary shivers afterwards. It makes you feel so alive!
We then backtracked to the 13 and continued slowly on this specially marked Ryfylke National Tourist Route, which is noted and protected for its incredible views. This isn't a road you rush, and many local sights worth visiting are indicated along the route with a Celtic-style pattern on a sign. No guidebook we found gives you detail on this level, so download the app which can be used with GPS offline to give you more infomation on each spot. More details on the official Visit Norway website.
When the 13 reaches water at Hjelmeland we hopped on the ferry, getting off at the second stop, Ombo. We didn't do this beautiful little island justice, as ti was raining. But even through the mist we could tell it was special. With mini lakes and hikes and characteristic Norwegian remoteness, compacted into a small and manageable area. We'd love to come back here and rent a cabin and explore more. On this occasion we dashed across the island to pick up the ferry on to Finnøy, and from Finnøy we island hopped the last few rocky crags through the mix of bridges and underwater tunnels until we arrived back at the hotel in Stavanger, ready for food.