Troms

After breakfast we met Lars Gaup at Isnestoften. we had some real sami coffee. He worked here from may - october and then he moved to Karasjok working with reindeers. Later this day we entered Troms and met a finnish guy Arto, he was also coming from North Cape. We continued along Langfjorden. Andreas was ahead of me and stopped at a parking lot with 4 german tourist buses. They offered him meatsoup with some bread and a soda (for vitamins!?! otherwise he would probably have a beer) before I came. Then we continued to Burfjord, we crossed a mountain pass which was not very steep but long and persistent. We met Arto again, he stopped there for lunch. It was hot like Sahara but then it was a wonderful long downhill that cooled me off. Soon after coming down we found a tentspot and made a campfire. 75 km today.

Tunnels passed: 0

Morning at the camp.

Langfjorden.

Sami.

Andreas and Lars Gaup.

Andreas.

Ängsull.

On the road.

Andreas and Arto from Finland.

Andreas is addicted to coffee...

Tonight'scamp.

Passing Alta

This morning the tent almost blew away since I took out the sticks and then made coffe and forgot about the tent for a while. I had to run like never before to catch it. We went to Alta and looked for handlebars (to make life on the road more comfortable), bought some food, had pizza and a beer at Peppes while charging phones, then we continued until we found a campsite by the sea just before Talvik. 60 km today.

Tunnels passed: 1

Leaving Sennalandet.

Finnmark.

Pizza in Alta.

Nice road after Alta.

Finnmark.

Rallarfamiljen - The migrant worker family*.

Finnmark.

Checking the tentspot.

Andreas enjoying the view...

...and the stockfish.

* Rallarfamiljen. Englishmen started mining copper in Kåfjord 1826. Local labour was in short supply. Eleven men from Röros were the first workers. A whole mining community grew up within the next few years. The copper works gave employment to many immigrants. There were many blast accidents in the mines were people were crippled and mutilated for the rest of their lives. Many died here and were buried in the Kåfjord cemetery without any form of monument marking the graves.

(Some pictures by Andreas Christiansen)

Beautiful Sennalandet

Today we had a late start. First stop was at Skaidi kro for some coffee and charging. Then we went on to Sennalandet. Approximately 60 km today. We found a nice tentspot and made a campfire to help against the mosquitos. Tomorrow we will be passing Alta. 

Tunnels passed: 0

Finnmark.

Skaidi kro. Transfering images.

Finnmark.

Finnmark.

Repparfjordvasselva.

House on a sledge. 

Watch out for reindeers.

Sennalandet.

Campfire.

Sharing a beer with my travelmate.

Finnmark is the northernmost county in Norway and also the largest and least populated.

(Some pictures by Andreas Christiansen)

Finnmark

We had breakfast and went for the Nordkapptunnel which is 7 km. The first 4 went fast as a shark and the others a bit slower since it was now going uphill. It took us one hour to go through the first tunnel of the day. Never been so happy to see the light again. We met several cyclists and the road was narrow but really beautiful and weather was perfect. When we arrived Olderfjord we were quite hungry and exhausted so we went straight to Russnes kro for coffee, waffle and charging batteries. (My camera battery went empty yesterday so I couldn't take one single picture today but thanks to Andreas I have a few to present.) Then we went looking for a campsite which proved to be really hard this time and we had to go further. Totally we made 96 km.

Tunnels passed: 3

So HAPPY to see the light again!

Great initiative! 

 

(All pictures by Andreas Christiansen)

North Cape

Cool bikers with dogs.

Two happy ladies from Skåne.

Honningsvåg.

North Cape.

Andreas at North Cape.

North Cape.

North Cape.

Heading south.

The flyfishing guys were active all night, fishing, driving the boat, rowing the boat, grilling, making coffee, fishing, drinking beer etc. We took the bus from Alta at 06.35 and arrived in Honningsvåg 4 hours later. We went to look at the church which is the only remaining building after they burned everything in the second worldwar. We met a couple from the Netherlands who came by bike with two dogs (!) also heading for North cape. They had been on the road for 3 months. Then we got on the bus to North Cape and suddenly we were there! Today's best surprise, entrance was free for bikers! We asked someone to take a picture, then we had coffee and charged our cellphones. We were thinking about camping out here but it's just crowded with people, new buses with tourists came in a constant flow. And the will keep coming until 1 am when they close because they also want to see the midnight sun. Also we didn't find any good spots around so we started our journey today instead and drove past Honningsvåg maybe 45 km. We also found an old abandoned school which now was an old thrashed film location (Lengsel etter nåtid) in Sarnes so we just had to go inside and have a look. Then we passed our first tunnel and stopped to camp just before the nightmare tunnel which awaits tomorrow. 

Tunnels passed: 2

 

 

 

 

North Cape - Europes's most northern point is raw beauty, extreme seasons and the play of arctic light. Luminous summer nights and snowcapped mountains. Just under 3300 people live in the North Cape municipality.Fishing has been a way of life and culture for centuries.

 (Some pictures taken by Andreas Christiansen)