If you have a few minutes this might be worth watching, it has about ten short video clips within it.
Slow Down!
It was their fault for speaking to me in the first place “You’re the guy with the Rocket”, as one of them stood and threw his hand out in a friendly gesture. I duly accepted the offer of a handshake and proceeded to scattergun them with all things motorcycling and travel related. That’ll teach them for talking to strangers! The two English bikers from York, were having a peaceful pre-ride coffee outside the hotel when I spoiled their peace. It transpires that we are returning along the same roads so maybe I’ll see them again, unless they see me first!
Reflecting on our conversation, yes they did have chance to get a word in edgeways, it seemed that I was a bit hyper! Whether it was because they were the first English people I’ve spoken to on the trip, and that they were fellow bikers, I’m not sure. I don’t feel any need for contact, and certainly have no desire to ride with anybody else, maybe I was still buzzing from yesterday’s exploits and also looking forward so much to today?
Continue reading “Slow Down!”Midnight Sun
I was on half nights last night. Set off on a short fell walk at 10pm and got back to the hotel at 2am. Here are just some of the results:
The good, the bad and ……………
A lot of reading here but you got the easy stuff (photos) yesterday.
One of my biggest concerns over this trip was availability of fuel in the remote areas of northern Sweden, Finland and Norway, during my ‘night ride’ to the North Cape. It was never a ‘given’ that I would get there, the distances are so great compared to closer to home. There were times that I imagined it was like riding through a vast country like Canada or America. If you think Kielder Forest is big?! My riding depended very much on getting fuel, Reg, or more accurately me, have previous for …….. let’s say ‘cutting it fine’. So it came as a relief that these areas of these countries mainly rely on unmanned or womanned or gender neutral petrol stations. As I got closer to the North Cape, and when I say closer I mean about 200 miles away, I found such a filling station. My tactics were also adjusted so I tended to fill up even with 100 miles left in the tank, providing there was somewhere. I was going to the North Cape now, and just had sufficient fuel to make it there. As I rode in the sunshine either side of midnight I pondered my return, I had no intention of staying up there unless……… unless I ran out of fuel! I would not have sufficient to get me back to that last petrol station and as the time got to one then two o’clock I had to find another fill up, fortunately I did, which allowed me back and eventually to rack up another 250 miles after hitting that target.
That’s a very long description of the good, the bad will be a lot shorter!
As in England, automated fuel filling deducts a huge sum to cover a maximum permitted fill, but never actually comes out of your account. It nevertheless is classed as ‘pending’ on my banking app.
It came as somewhat of a shock to me that my account had dropped £1,500 for the twelve fill ups on that epic journey! I’ll be relieved when they start dropping off! 😬
Continue reading “The good, the bad and ……………”The Easy Option
After a few days and nights of shift work the easy option would have been to stay another ‘night’ on Sommarøy to just chill and recharge, that’s what my body was telling me, but my mind had other ideas.
Continue reading “The Easy Option”Germans, a Norwegian and Two Poles!
You can imagine my surprise as I rolled up at the viewing platform overlooking a fjord to be greeted by a German with the words “Where is the elk, I miss the elk”!
“Err…..in the pannier drying off after yesterday’s rain” stuttered my response.
It seems that this particular moose is becoming a bit of a star across Scandinavia! It transpires he’d been spied on the island of Sommarøy, sunbathing, swimming, having a couple of beers in the bar. No seriously though, these Germans, two on BMW GS’s (obviously) and two in a Land Rover Defender, had seen the now infamous moto moose at the last hotel!
As we left Senja the weather started to pick up so Sven was back out as rear gunner.
Got chatting with this Norwegian lady who was en route to Sweden for a rally.
Whilst waiting in the reception area of tonight’s hotel a large motorcyclist came in and approached me “Is that your Rocket outside and you’re from England”? The fact I could say yes to both kick started full on biking and travel banter. He and his wife were on their way to ‘The Cape’ and I was the first Brit he’d seen, and also the first Rocket!
Tomorrow it’s 150 miles to my accommodation deep into the Lofoten islands, I’m again relishing the prospect as I just know that some of the scenery will be magnificent!
Journey to the Lofoten Islands
In pictures not words.
But tomorrow afternoon the weather is supposed to become typically Norwegian, so I need to get a few hours sleep before a very early start! Hopefully more decent photos by tomorrow eve.
Ramberg – Midnight Sun
About 150 miles south (latitude) from the last timelapse. This was taken between 11pm and 3.30am.
Making the most of it!
After collecting the GoPro at 3.30am, I did the necessary posting, had breaky and at 5am headed off on the bike for a two hour ride to the very end of the islands. Here are just some photos, I’m working on other stuff (including video) and may, only may publish later.
The mountain in the background Rachel and I named ‘The Wizard’s Hat’.
Its real name is Volandstinden
Traditional fishing and seafarers houses are adapted into tourist accommodation.
Many new ones being built specifically for that purpose, which just goes to show where the income lies.
