Hurtigrouten, Hammerfest and Alta

My third sticker. This is going to make me smile every time I will look at it, e.g. when driving to work in a suite in Frankfurt in a month. The thing is, that my main client had called me last week that he needs a person for an upcoming project. The request seem to fit quite well to my profile.

 [subsequent entry - Dec, 2016: yes that was the case, and I am working again since 5 month]

The dining room of the Vandrarhem (Youth hostel) in Honnigsvåg. This used to be part of the fish factory that is still next door.

From Honnigsvåg, I took the Norwegian Mailboat Hurtigruten to Hammerfest

These are the stops of Hurtigsten.

From Hammerfest, I cycled to Skaidi where I med with my former route.

 And from Skaidi though pretty rough nature back to Alta

The view from my camping site about 5 km east of Alta.

Pretty early, I was at the airport - to have enough time to prepare all the things for the flight. Including drying the clothes that had become a little wet at the rainy way to the airport.

My plane home. Good-bye ... until the next trip...

Reached the North Cape

after some rest days in Östersund, I was ready to continue on the E45, the Inlandsvägen further North. I had most f the time nice weather. Here, I crossed the lake Ströms Vattudal.

The day length was getting close the their maximum (Midsummer) June, 25th of 2016. This is one of the main events in Sweden. At the local ICA supermarket, the salesman gave me a nice present.

  Actually, these pralines were pretty good.

Crossing into Lappland

Another highlight was the jump over the Arctic Circle. It was already one of my last days in Sweden.

And just here, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I discovered a nice Café with very friendly traditional dressed young ladies.

At the border Pajala / Kolari (about 30 km between these two), I crossed into Finland. Good-bye understanding the local language (på Svenska - I have at least a little knowledge)

And it gets even more remote. Which I like - to some extend - I like to ride in the pure nature - but I like to talk to people. That's why I always use all the Cafés on the route. Especially as the distances here get close to 100 km.

The best friend of any Scandinavia Tourist...  ...got em...

From the landscape, you can tell: I am in Norway now. The south through Finland was only 220 km long.

East of Alta, the first sight of the North Cape:

And here it comes - the famous tunnel under the ocean. About 7 km long and minus 212 m under sea level. I had myself a banana and took it slow. For me, that is just the best way to approach it, especially the ascend on the last 3 km.

On July, 05th 2016 1:30pm, I reached the North Cape. It is my third time, I cycled from Frankfurt up to this iconic landmark in Europe. And, I guess, it hasn't been the last time...

Östersund & into the wild

I follow my way was up North at the coast. Many small islands make a very pretty and varied companion.

From time to time, I need to fill up my energy storage. The 'bensin station' is a good Place to Do that:

But then, as one of my bad habbits are sweets - I saw that sign, just after frukost (breakfast):

M A R Z I P A N - I could not help, I needed to stop for some godis

Because I like to get in contact with other people and to train my Swedish language skils (and because it is comfortable), I stay a lot in vandrahems (Youth Hostels). Here is the vandrahem in Sågen. Actually, it is an old trainstation. 

I am now North of the Vänern lake. It is becoming really lonely. Villages are rare and I need to plan ahead in terms of food. Talking about places, that are needed: It is the time of the European Football Championship EM 2016. My iPad helped me a couple of times in a small shop w/internet somewhere in nowhere. 

Next stop: Mora - known for the Vasaloppet (The Vasa Race) and the Dalahäst - the Swedish horse.

I hat my second beer, a couple of days ago on one of these lonely roads.

I am having some restdays in Östersund and will continue North!

Youth Hostel

I have seen the river Fulda from its wet side

 After 30km, the rain stopped and made it easy to climb over a litte hill in oder to reach Göttingen. I bought all the neccesary things for a camping dinner from the local Netto Store. 

The sky did look interessting but a little threatening.

So I opted to drive the extra mile to the Youth Hostel of Heidesheim. No need to mention that it is on the highest point of the town. 

First day - no rain

 Today is the first day of the rest of this tour. Which is all.

Just that my first beer is 1000km away...

On the pushbike !

Frankfurt - Riederwald : Giving my tires the right (high) pressure helped for a good start. 

According to the weather forecast, it should have rained. Rain and thunderstorms are predicted for the next days. I started anyway. You never know, sometimes you wait and the day turns out to be just sunny. That is exactly what had happened today.

So, today, I made it to Fulda. 

The further route is not fully fixed, planned is Kassel - Rostock -Trelleborg - und up North...

The bags are packed

everything is prepared for my next trip to Scandinavia. If the weather is not totally bad tomorrow (as they say in the TV), I will start tomorrow from my hometown Frankfurt.