Day 3: Fure on the way to Askvoll

I am waiting for the ferry, which is a large part of cycling in Norway. This morning I had a 90 minute wait and this one is two hours. Let’s see if I can write y’all something and get it to post!

My first ferry ride was on day 1. I happen to arrive just when the cars from the other direction were disembarking. They were no cyclists, which will be an important point a little later in the story .

I rode on and parked my bike like a pro in the Bicycle section. I even had brought my strap (as directed) to attached my bike to the rail.

I don’t know if I should feel guilty about this next part or simply change my position on the possibility of divine intervention. I’m leaning towards the latter.

Remember the waterproof glove search? The fruitless one that had me zigzagging all over Oslo?

As soon as my bike is tethered, I grab my electronics and hustle into the ferry inside-place. (what’s that called? A lobby? The bowels of the boat? ) I want to charge my phone and my battery pack. I find the plug, insert my gear and start exploring the ferry for snacks.

20 minutes later, the automated voice tells us to collect our belongings, and prepare to disembark. (Actually I have no idea that’s what it said.

It was in Norwegian. It could’ve been, “Everyone hustle off the boat and see if the American biker can figure out that it’s time to get off!” or “Who is sick of fish?” Or “Danny? Danny?”

Right before I left, I notice a pair of bike gloves outside the WC. Yes, bike gloves. Yes, waterproof, bike gloves.! A pair of the elusive , nonexistent, waterproof bike gloves. I wait to see if anyone comes out of the WC. Nobody does. I give a “Hello? Are these anybody’s?”

No reply. Everyone has already gone upstairs to get in their cars.

The ferry is going to dock in moments and there will be a mad rush to get off and let the next passengers in.

I hustle back to my bike and ask the German couple whose bikes are next to mine- the only other cyclists on the ferry- if the gloves are theirs, and they are not. ( I also learn that this is the second month of their bike tour. Did I mention they have a dog with them in a trailer???)

There are no other bikers around. I take the gloves and ease them into my panniers.

And this morning, when I left camp in the rain, those gloves kept my hands really dry and warm!!!