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A bicycle tour to Lofoten and Vesterålen, Norway                                                                               dansk  Sortland
Sortland, Vesterålen                                                                                                                © Ole Jacobi July 1993 
Sortland is the biggest town on the Vesterålen group of islands. The watercolour is painted from a small tourist cabin in the mountains above the town. There is a bridge crossing the Sortland strait. The ship is Hurtigruten leaving Sortland on its South bound voyage.

How is bicycling on these rocky islands? It is easy. The roads are well paved and they run most of the time along the coast with small gradients. Bridges connect the many islands. The bridges have a great gradient forcing the bicyclists to dismount and walk to the top. The road going west from Sortland to Straumsjøen and Vinje rises to the height of 100 meters above sea level in Ryggedalen. Here is a 1600 meter long tunnel going through the mountain. It is unpleasant to bike in the tunnel. It is humid, cold and dark, and there is a terrible noise and pollution from the cars. But at the end of the tunnel you are out in the sunshine with a beautiful view and a free ride downhill.