Day 8

Last night when we camped in Olderfjord the Swiss couple who parked next to us happened to be driving a Land Rover. We haven't seen so many adventure equipped vehicles so far on our trip, so it was cool to see them plus talk.

Today was going to be a day of as lot of driving. The first trial that I planned to drive started in Skågvarre, but when were at the start for the trail it was marked for back packers and cyclists. This had me stumped with the information I had so we decided in taking the decision to not upset any other trail users and not drive it.

So a quick recalculation with the Garmin and we were heading In the direction of the Alta Old Postal road which we decided to drive from the lowest point to Alta. The road appeared to be more rough than usual as it was heavily rutted. Many hours later we came out in Alta where we refuelling for the 11th time in 8 days.

From Alta we decided to simply take the quickest and only way to the 3 boundaries meeting point for this time Sweden, Finland and Norway. By the time of 11 at night we decided that it was enough driving for today and found a nice grassy meadow by the highway in Oksfjordhamn.

Day 7

We did it, Knivskjelloden hike of 18 km to the most northerly point outside of Russia. Knivskjellodden is actually 1.5 km further north of the tourist Nordkapp location.

After we completed the hike we had to go back to a conversation that we had at breakfast with a French couple who cycled to Nordkapp the day before. They told us to park our vehicle 500 m before Nordkapp entrance and simply walk around the area to come in from the side. Doing so after our hike, it gave us the change to get a picture at the globe before heading south again. Before doing so we had to eat at a local restaurant to eat cod tongues. Ulla's first! 

We are now a 100 km south of Nordkapp in Olderfjord with a camping spot on the water front.

Day 6

Well today it was a short distance to travel compared to the previous day's, just 410km to Nordkapp. The roads were so much better but with that the traffic increased. I hate being pushed to drive faster for those behind us so I was the nice guy and pulled over to let them pass, must have been 10-12 times at least. 

When we stopped for lunch at a rest spot in a fjord, a tour bus came in shortly after us with tourists from France. Some how we became the main attraction instead of the fjord. The people were checking out the Land Rover, watching me cook our lunch and were asking about the Canadian stickers on the landy. LOL we were so glad to see the back of that bus.

The tunnel to the island that Nordkapp is on, you decent for 3km, it levels off for a km then it's a long 3km climb out to day light again. The views here are amazing, not seen any real trees to talk of, plenty of reindeers and sheep.....the wind, well none stop is the best way to describe it. We just hope that the rooftop tent can survive the wind tonight. The forecast for tonight tomorrow is overcast with no chance of droplets from above with wind gusts as high as 9 m/s.

Day 5

Our first night in Norway was in Svanvik on our way down to the three country boundaries for Now, Finland and Russia. This particular road is only a 100 km so we figured that it would take no time to get to the hike that we were looking forward to but once again the roads tried to break us. 2 1/2 hours to travel 100 km!

BUT with that said, the experience at the Norwegian boundary side was well worth it. We were the first to arrive at the car park where out of no wheres came a Norwegian soldier and gave us a briefing for the hike. Prepared we enjoyed the 5 km hike to the 3 boundaries where we were meet by 2 more soldiers who gave us further information and instructions so that we didn't enter Russia. These guys were great and very informative which added to the experience of the hike.

One of the things that make the 3 countries boundaries between Norway, Finland and Russia special is the fact it's the only one that has 3 different time zones.

We now are in Tana Bru, Norway which is a short way out of north eastern Norway making our way to Nordkapp.

Day 4

Don't under estimate the roads in Finland nor the time it takes to travel them. We had only 475 km through Finland but the roads were unbelievable. The direct line through Finland was part gravel and pavement which was perfectly OK with us but halfway in the gravel route the road was closed as they were rebuilding a bridge. OK we did see a road sign for road construction but the way it was positioned in the intersection we figured it was for the other road. LOL jupp we had to backtrack about 20km for the detour.

Then back on pavement well we felt that the gravel roads were smoother. I laughed at the speed limits, 100 on a surface that a vehicle could never do without losing control immediately afterwards. Dah!

Both border controls for Finland are unmanned so they we easy sailing.

Once in Norway we were so burnt out from the roads that once we hit Kirkenese we turned south looking for the first place to pitch the rooftop tent.

Day 3

An other long day behind the wheel, as we decided that we would go through Sweden as fast as the landy would take us. Yesterday over 740 km, today another 710, brining us to a total over 2 1/2 days of 1755 km.

To our surprise the roads up north are actually really good which allowed us to make some good time. But it's the fuel stops that need to be figured into the equation as I have only a 43L fuel tank. I've been trying to do the fuel stops so that they were at stations that corresponds to my diesel card, the discount is applied. This is all and well till my Garmin GPS decided to act up today. In Luleå we were forced to back track to find one of the last Preem stations in northern Sweden.

After Luleå the roads did begin to get worst but that did play into my hand with the cars. On one long stretch of rough gravel road I was able to pass. That was a change.

Eventually we made it to our destination of Pajala Camping in Pajala.

Tomorrow's plan is the final fill up in Sv, fill the cooler with fresh meat and head into Finland.

Day 2

A bit wet this morning, OK actually torrential downpour is a better description, the rain came down so hard and fast in Borlänge that there was rivers in the streets. Everything was soaked so it was best to motor on and hope for better. As luck would have it the sun came out and then we were able to make some progress with over 700 km driven.

At one point I was about to overtake a slow poke but a turbo hose to the motor had other ideas and blew off. LOL  5 minute repair and Ulla got to stretch her legs.

finally we found a great camping spot on  a lake just outside of Honing. It's blowing a bit off the lake but it's helping so much with the mosquitoes that we will not complain.

Honing you can see on a map that we decided to jump over vildmarksvägen this year so that we can get to Finland a bit faster.