 Day
8. Friday 9th July. Distance 260 miles.
Up at 8am shower and shave and loaded the
bike and back to Nordkapp for a light breakfast. Ticket is
valid for 48hours. Met Ivar from Tallin, Estonia and his friend
from Poland. We had a long chat about Russia and the
Baltic States. I headed south and filled the tank at
Honningsvag and it was the toll booth and 68Krone again to get
into the long tunnel to get off the island. The tunnel replaced
the ferry a few years ago and dips down quite steeply before
rising steadily to exit 6850m on the mainland. I swore I
saw fog in the middle and it's very cold down there. I met
several cyclists in there. I hope they made it!
Heading for Finland I got some euros at Karasjok and was waved
straight through the border post. The landscape had
gradually begun to change from the barren wasteland of Nordkapp
until eventually trees started to cover the mountains which
turned to hills. These eventually gave way to small
lowland forests with excellent roads. I stopped for the
night at Inari at a small hotel and got a very good room with
shower and breakfast for 30euros. Here I met Gordon and
Dave two Blackpool lads. They were heading north for
Nordkapp and Hammmerfest for the next night. We had a good
meal together and exchanged stories and information. They
told me where they were stopped for speeding. Finland is a
bit more liberal with their speed limits. Normally 100kph
on main roads but down to 80kph passing junctions with 50kph in
the towns. Also, Finland is one hour ahead of Norway.
Off to bed as the locals had their Friday night singing session
below me. I was lulled to sleep by the sweet tones of Viva
Espania.
Day 8 pictures
here.
Day 7 report
here.
Day 9 report
here.
Return to
Week 2 page.
 © 2004 Alex Bradley
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