Day 1......
Day 3....
Day 5....
Day 7...
Day 9.....
....Sweden has no shortage of pine forest!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Nordkapp
Did the pilgimage to Nordkapp, which ironically isn't even the most northerly point
From Lufoten I continued up the coast to Hammerfest, still with snow and the wind against me. Took the (very expensive) Hurtigruten to Honningsvåg so I wouldn't have to cycle the same road twice. The road to Nordkapp is nice...but not very cycle friendly; narrow, windy roads cut into the side of the fjord and long, nasty tunnels. Glad I didn't do it twice.
Thursday, May 6, 2010
Lofoten
The Lofoten peninsular in NW Norway has to be some of the most stunning cycling I have ever done!
Mountains, fjords and quaint little fishing villages...every view a picture postcard.
Unfortunately, I also had gale force winds, snow and hail storms....so I probably only saw a third of what was actually there.
It is a major tourist route, so the road can get busy but if you visit in April, except for some local traffic, you are guaranteed to have the road virtually to yourself!
There are also some long tunnels which you have no option but to go through, unless you want to swim!
It is a well recommended trip....though maybe in summer!
The Arctic Circle
Ever since I was a wee cyclist with training wheels I have wanted to cross the Arctic Circle. None of my daydreams included doing it in a snowstorm! 
After a long slow rollercoaster of a climb, I emerged on the open, snow-covered and windswept pass, through the middle of which runs the infamous line.
After a long slow rollercoaster of a climb, I emerged on the open, snow-covered and windswept pass, through the middle of which runs the infamous line.
Once I hit this open plain...the snow came in. Covered in snow and slush, the road was treacherously slipper
y and the water thrown up was freezing up everything. Icicles were forming on anything that wasn't moving. My gears froze into positions, my brake cables iced up so they no longer worked and ice kept building up onto the big ring. I had to keep stopping to chip it away to stop it jamming into the derailleur.
y and the water thrown up was freezing up everything. Icicles were forming on anything that wasn't moving. My gears froze into positions, my brake cables iced up so they no longer worked and ice kept building up onto the big ring. I had to keep stopping to chip it away to stop it jamming into the derailleur.Stopped at the visitor's centre (which wasn't officially open) and was surprised (!) to learn I was the first cyclist through for the summer. This of course was after they told me I was mad!!
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