Molde

Tuesday 12 August

Berthed 80M from main street and 200M from centre of town.  Very pleasant weather.  Molde is known as the "town of roses," and is the administrative and cultural centre for the county of More og Romsdal.  An early walk to Town Hall and Cathedral.  Town Hall has a rooftop rose garden and the Cathedral has a freestanding 50ft bell tower.

Then off to tourist office to check out bus for Atlantic Ocean Road.  A spectacular 50 minute drive each way through a mountain tunnel, alongand between fjords, over causeways and bridges connecting islands (10,000 of Norway's islands must be in this area).  A wander around a very new boardwalk made of recyclables and particularly enjoyable before our return.

Time in the Moldes beautiful new library to catch up with emails and then a quick lunch before taking the self guided walk along the foreshore past some very pleasant new buildings, including Aker Stadium (wouldn't he love it! !).  Then up the hill to a viewpoint and open air museum and back down to town via some beautiful homes.

It was in Molde that King Haakon and Prince Olav sougt shelter while being hunted by the German occupying forces.  The town appears prosperous and is a stunningly beautiful mix of old and new and on a fjord harbour.  If you wanted to jump ship somewhere, this would be the place to do it!!!