The start in Nordkapp

In 24 hours the Hurtigrutten coastal steamer brought the two of us and our bikes from Tromsø to Honnginsvåg, where the cycling part of our trip finally could begin. The M/S Lofoten, a ship dating back many years and with lots of nostalgic entourage, contained quite a dualistic kind of population. On the one hand the cruise-passengers, who in all comfort go from one excursion to the next, and on the other the normal people, for which this is the only possible way of transportation. We felt ourselves among the latter, inclusive the night-rest in a chair.

At sea, during the 600 km from Tromsø to Honnginsvåg, the wind got stronger and the temperature lower. Anyway, this is the polar region isn't it? Having arrived on land this didn't really change. Lots of sun, but with a freezing wind.

snow and wind

en route to Nordkapp

strong winds and snow

snow and water

On the morning of the 23rd of June, we left our tent at Skipsfjord and set of for the North Cape. With 30 km not that far, but cold enough. The sun was shining on plenty of snow still lying around. All in all a pleasant biking trip.

Having arrived at the real spot however, there is a real, real cape lying even more north then Nordkapp, called Knivskjelodden. We decided that wasting 50 US$ on a touristic attraction, that we were really not interested in, was too much. So we selected another dome nearby as our own North Cape.

Fiona ready to go

.

.

Willem ready to go

ready to
start !!!

On our way back to Honnginsvåg, the wind got stronger, but we got already more used to cycling the slopes. And we encountered the first reindeer. Each spring the Norwegian army brings 3000 reindeer to this island where they can get their calves. At the end of the summer, all reindeer swim back to the mainland, mother and child...

some reindeer

some reindeer