ANC 240A - Adventure North Cape
The first day of riding begins with a hearty breakfast in our exclusive city hotel, where we got to know each other yesterday at the joint welcome briefing and dinner. Unfortunately, we had to cancel the world-famous Trollstiegen from the first route, but fortunately this gives us the chance to drive the no less famous and spectacular Atlantic Road. We approach the bridge which seems to reach into sky via small side roads and use a nearby parking lot for some photos before we have lunch in a small but fine fish restaurant shortly after the stop. We continue along the coast to the port city of Kristiansund and along the Tingvollfjord to our hotel in Sunndalsöra. After a tasty dinner at the neighboring Italian restaurant, we end the evening and are already looking forward to what tomorrow will bring.
After the usual morning briefing, we headed off towards east for our 240 kilometers to Trondheim. Today’s goal was to be in Trondheim a little bit earlier to have enough time to explore the city. On our way to the first coffee stop we stopped for photos at a very nice view over the river Driva. At the coffee stop our support van waited for us, before he headed off directly to the hotel to prepare our arrival. We followed little narrow roads, stopped for a picnic lunch and (again) photos. Around 3pm we arrived at the hotel, where everything was prepared. Refueling, parking, check-in in just 15 minutes…perfect! At 4.30pm we met for a city walk to see the main attractions of Trondheim. Holger did a fantastic job as a city guide and after an hour walking together all guests had enough time to stroll through the city by themselves, before we met for dinner.
The riding day begins very relaxed with a ferry ride across the Tromsø Fjord. Directly from the ferry, we set off on one of the most beautiful coastal roads in all of Norway, where we stay all morning and are amazed between the rock formations rounded by glaciers and the surf on the coastline. After the group has settled in well in the last few days, the focus is also on riding fun and we make the breaks a little shorter. After an excellent lunch in a fine restaurant on the lonely expanse of the coast, we drive inland and finally arrive in the small village of Overhalla, where an excellent dinner awaits us. Exhausted but satisfied, we fall asleep a little earlier today to be ready for tomorrow.
After a great breakfast we prepared for our riding day. Today that included to put our rain gear on, because there was heavy and long rain expected. Our first photo stop was close to a bridge where we had a fantastic view. The second stop we made to take pictures in front of a gigantic waterfall. A little bit later we hit our first ferry ride of the day. After the ferry we found a nice place for lunch in the small town of Brønnøysund. We spend a little bit more time there, visited the harbor and went to the Norsk Havbrukssenter AS, because our second ferry ride of the day were just a little bit later. Between the second and the third (and last) ferry ride, we just rode and enjoyed the landscape. We were lucky enough to catch an unscheduled ferry, to safe some time. After we finished the ferry ride, we visited the Petter Dass Museum, a famous lyricist from the 17th century, on out way to the hotel. Overall, the rain, the landscape and the 3 ferry ride made this day very special and memorable.
Today we will cross the Arctic Circle. So we leave the coast and start our adventure by driving quickly to the 700m high pass with the Arctic Circle, where we also spend our lunch break and take the opportunity to stock up on our first souvenirs. Afterwards we follow the main traffic artery E10 for a while to a small winding mountain road, on which we once again put the riding fun in the foreground and drive through to the well-known Saltstraumen. The huge tidal current transports 400 million cubic meters of water twice a day through a 150 m wide strait and is considered the strongest maelstrom in the world. Impressed by the spectacle, we drive a short distance further to Bodö, where we have a sumptuous meal in an Asian restaurant in the harbor.
Today the day starts excitingly. There is a music festival and a TV show in Bodö this weekend and the ferry to Lofoten is almost fully booked. Of course, we know about this circumstance and are a little earlier at the ferry terminal to get the free remaining seats. The crossing to the archipelago gives us hope for good weather, but shortly before arrival the rain sets in. So first of all, go to the city with the world's shortest name and have a snack. This proves to be a good decision, because the initial traffic from the ferry has spread to the island and despite some wetness from above and some wind on the bridges, we enjoy a swinging ride past Norway's photo stop No. 1 in Reine and the Lofoten Cathedral to our exclusive hotel where we again enjoy excelent food for dinner.
The second day in Lofoten welcomes us with sunshine and an impressive play of clouds. The guests are so full of anticipation for the day of travel that we are much too early at the ferry to Melbu. Fortunately, our support vehicle is not far away and without further ado we move the first coffee stop to the waiting lane of the ferry by shortening the waiting time with a camping stove of the transport driver. Directly after the ferry ride, we turn onto a very narrow, winding island road, which puts a big grin on everyone's face. We also have a lot of fun visiting the Hurtigruten Museum and show hidden talents of the group in rope throwing and drawing. We then have lunch in the belly of the museum ship. In the afternoon, we continue through the unique landscape of Lofoten to the newly built hotel in Harstad. As we fall asleep, we are accompanied by the "singing" of the seagulls in the harbor and an incomparable view from the hotel window.
After a very good and relaxed breakfast we were happy to prepare the day without thinking of rain. Less than 5% chance of rain today. 😊😊😊 Today’s route was planned to go on small and winding backcountry roads close to the shore to have water and nice views all the time right beside us. Our first coffee and photo stop we had in a small gas station with shop and seatings and views over the water. The War Museum of Narvik was our next stop. We spent on hour in this small but well-arranged and good equipped museum. After the visit we continued for another 20 km on a backcountry road, before we hit the E10 towards Sweden. 45 minutes after the border Holger waited for us with an Instant-Noodles-Picnic and snacks. The place was nice situated under trees on a river mouth. Everybody enjoyed an hour of eating, chatting and spending some time at the lake. Another hour later we arrived at the Camping-Hotel of the day. We all disappeared into our huts to use the time until dinner to relax.
Today we started a little bit later, because the accommodation was nice and the breakfast huge and great. The plan was to ride trough untouched nature, endless forests and passing clear lakes. After 1.5 hours we stopped at a small supermarket to shake our legs and try to get some coffee. Unfortunately, the shop did not sell coffee, but the lady from the shop served us coffee in her office from the staff. What a great gesture, to help unknown travelers. Thank you! 100 kilometers later we crossed the border to Finland, our third country on this trip. For lunch we stopped at a restaurant along the road. A very friendly shop owner welcomed us and served fish soup, cake, drinks and ice cream. Everything homemade and awesome. Our destination of today we reached one hour later and Holger waited for us with a cool welcome beer. On today’s stretch we saw in total 10 reindeers, but only one was cool enough to not run away and we were able to get some nice pictures.
Today we start in the rain, but that doesn't spoil the mood. As in the last few days, we get on the bikes straight after the morning briefing and head off to our first photo stop at the Finnish-Norwegian border. We quickly take a few pictures and head to Juhl's silversmiths, the first in all of Norway. Here we sit out the last drops of rain with a coffee and a bit of shopping before following a river through a wide valley deep into Samiland. In Karasjok we visit the cultural history museum and then treat ourselves to a hearty lunch. Only a short distance to go and we'll be back at our hotel early to gather strength for tomorrow. We go on short hikes and bike rides and marvel at the ubiquitous reindeer that roam freely through the town. Now we're ready for the North Cape! We're leaving tomorrow morning.
Finally, Noth Cape Day! We started the day one hour earlier, because we expected a long riding day. Weather forecast for today, 20°C and sunshine all the way up. 😊 First stop on our way to the North Cape were a small coffee shop, before we headed North always along the Fjords and incredible views. We reached the Cape around noon and (unexpected) it was not crowded. 😊 We took pictures, walked around, visited the exhibition, the visitor center and the souvenir shop. Overall, we enjoyed two hours on Europa’s most northern point. On our way back we stopped again on nice scenic places to take pictures, enjoyed the views or just enjoyed the time and day. After nine hours total, we arrived at our hotel. Everybody was tired but also happy about this day!
The last day of riding begins and at first the mood is a little subdued. But that soon subsides as we quickly tackle the roads along the fjords and the Lynggen Alps appear on the other side of the water. A unique scenery that will accompany us for almost half the day. We keep the breaks short to avoid the afternoon rain and to be able to spend enough time in the Arctic Cathedral. When we arrive in front of the hotel, we notice that there is a music festival in town and that life is in full swing there. At the last dinner together, we exchange the highlights of the past 2 weeks and talk about other planned tours. The tour guides Ron and Holger say thank you for a wonderful time.