I was driving towards Odda from Bergen one day to hike the mountains above Ringedalsvatnet, a lake up the road from Tyssedal. There were three other passengers in the rental car, all of us wholly unsure what the two, or so, hour drive would consist. It was a scenic journey enriched by the convivial company of my passengers. Sixty five kilometers since we departed Bergen, the Audi's navigation system led us to a ferry terminal.
"Does anyone know when the next ferry will arrive?" I asked.
Everyone gave a quick glance at each other and heads were thereafter shook.
The terminal was occupied only by one car; ours. In addition, there was no one around to guide us. We got out and searched for information.
"abc xyz 123" or something of the kind was written on an information post.
"I have no idea what that means" said Raphael, an Austrian.
"Do you?" Eyes directed to the others.
"No clue." Said Nicholas who spoke French, German, and English.
"PJ?"
"Oh, I don't know." Replied PJ, a Belgian who spoke 4 or 5 languages.
As we decoded the ever-so-mysterious Norwegian inscription, we determined that there were about four ferry routes that served this terminal. The GPS indicated no information as to which route, and when, was appropriate to take in order to wind up in Odda. Fifteen minutes later, we were still the only car on the lot.
"Let's walk around and find somebody."
We sauntered along the shore and found a path that lined one side of a peninsula, adjacent to the terminal. No one. Another fifteen minutes came and cars started to line up behind the Audi. We decided to walk back. A moment after deciding to return, the lot was filled to capacity by other motorists. A couple of minutes after that, a massive ferry approached the shore, seemingly out of nowhere, and we jogged for the car.
The ferry lifted its snout and out came a menagerie of wheeled vessels; semis, busses, tow trucks, and so on. An employee knocked on our window and asked, in Norwegian, where we were headed.
"We don't know." One of us said.
She demanded that we pay and embark the vessel so I handed her my credit card. If anything, this ferry would probably take us somewhere interesting. There was probably no harm in spontaneity.
