Countdown 2 - Begins. Scandinavia 2017

[WelshGas]

Well, Day 5. What happened to Day 4 you might ask. Well, I met up with Olle and his wife Ewa in Umea and royally welcomed into their home and well fed. First time I have ever had Smoked Elk Heart and Elk and Red Dear steaks. They are both excellent cooks and Ewa's Cinnamon Bread was out of this world. I forced myself to only have 2. They took me on a tour of Umea, a University town with lots of new builds, very impressive. Ollie showed me his " man cave " a garage at the local Yacht club that you could store 3 Californias in if you wanted. On our return we compared Calis. His was clean but the front of mine was covered in so many insects you couldn't see the paint. Oh, by the way Olle I picked up some of that Insect Removal spray you mentioned. After an excellent dinner we reminisced about our careers and family and found out we had a lot in common including the same profession.
We even sorted a problem that Olle had with the kitchen cupboard doors. If anyone wants to know, the aluminium slide trim for the front sliding door clips under the outer trim, with some force required, but no screws etc.
So, after an excellent nights sleep and breakfast I set off on my journey to Tromso. Well, everything was going well, stopped for lunch and then decided to fill up with diesel. 1st garage was awaiting deliver and 2 no garage had a computer problem. At this point I had covered 420 miles and the next garage was 60 miles away. 2 Motorhomes decided to wait for the problem to be sorted and the owner let them stay. According to the computer I had 120 range so took a gamble and got there and had to put in 68 L. Problem was, the 2 campsites I was heading for are still under snow and closed so I'm now parked up in the middle of nowhere for the night beside a frozen lake surrounded by snow. At least the Heater has fuel.

Olle and the Calis, one clean and one not.

This where I am now. 130 miles from Tromso, just inside Finland.

 

[WelshGas]

Double post deleted . Slow connection.

 

[Olle]

Welsh Gas, thanks for the visit! I wish you a nice night's sleep in the snow. Tomorrow, you do not need to use the steering wheel so much, it's almost constant straight all the way up to the Finnish-Norwegian border and even into Norway. As you approach the Norwegian coast you will meet with spectacular, breathtaking views, if you get the same weather with clear skies as today. Best regards! Olle.

 

[WelshGas]

Welsh Gas, thanks for the visit! I wish you a nice night's sleep in the snow. Tomorrow, you do not need to use the steering wheel so much, it's almost constant straight all the way up to the Finnish-Norwegian border and even into Norway. As you approach the Norwegian coast you will meet with spectacular, breathtaking views, if you get the same weather with clear skies as today. Best regards! Olle.

Thanks Olli, and please give my regards to Ewa.

 

[Olle]

Hi WG, Ewa greets back. You have stayed overnight in an area with many Swedish cold records, it is actually part of the Russian tundra, from a geological point of view. I hope the heater worked and managed its task. When you come down to the Norwegian coast, the temperature is higher thanks to the Gulf Stream and the sun that light up around the clock. Have a nice trip and watch out for reindeers,
Ewa, Olle.

 

[WelshGas]

Day 6. Well survived the night. The traffic seemed to stop at midnight, well I didn't hear anything. The approach to Tromso is stunning. Spent the afternoon wandering around the town and now set up at Tromso Camping, 2miles outside, owned and run by the local football club. Excellent facilities.








Had to stop for this little troupe



An afternoon spent in town.

 

[WelshGas]

Sledge theft is common by the looks of it.


The campsite is busy and that's artificial grass to put your awning on. Makes sense up here.



And for those of a certain age, you can always stay here if you want.

 

[WelshGas]

No longer the " Grim Reaper ", managed to clean all the insects off the front. Looks almost clean. 2 Motorhomes and a Caravan arrived over an hour ago and they still haven't finished fussing around. The Motorhomes are going back and forth trying to settle the correct point on their ramps. The caravan has just finished levelling and is now filling his water containers, and one of the Motorhomes is trying to find a second spare Mains socket with the longest extension lead I have ever seen. As long as they are enjoying themselves.

 

[Hotel California]

No longer the " Grim Reaper ", managed to clean all the insects off the front. Looks almost clean. 2 Motorhomes and a Caravan arrived over an hour ago and they still haven't finished fussing around. The Motorhomes are going back and forth trying to settle the correct point on their ramps. The caravan has just finished levelling and is now filling his water containers, and one of the Motorhomes is trying to find a second spare Mains socket with the longest extension lead I have ever seen. As long as they are enjoying themselves.

Thats one of the big advantages on the Cali ...park up and 5min later you are either coocking your meal , getting off on a walk , reading a book , straigh to the showerblock , in bed , .....whatever...no fuss ....

One of the things i hate is when on a site a motorhome arrives late in the evening , it takes at least 10x opening every door and hatch before they are settled!

 

[WelshGas]

Day 7. Lofoten. Pitched up overlooking the ocean. No roof up tonight. Blowing a gale. Not raining yet but I can see it coming! I'm at Moskenes Camping a short distance from the harbour. Excellent day for travelling as it was the Norwegian National Day. A public holiday, with church services, parades and partying, along with lots of drinking. Most people were walking or in buses but followed 2 cars where I think they liked the partying but not the walking. Anyway they turned off onto a farm track after a few miles.

Many bridges and tunnels and around every corner a new vista opens up. Unfortunately it was raining on and off and very difficult to stop and take photos as the roads are mainly 2 lanes with a deep snow ditch each side so you are restricted to the signposted stopping areas. Going to visit A, a town, tomorrow and then amble back towards Narvik.

 

[The Merle]

Looks like your having an amazing trip, lovely the pics.

 

[T6 CFO]

Great trip. Looks like your going to get some better weather.

If you don't move that is




Mike

 

[WelshGas]

Great trip. Looks like your going to get some better weather.




Mike

That would be nice, although I can't complain. This was the first rain I've had.

 

[Kmann]

@WelshGas. Thank you for posting your travel Diary … I am really enjoying reading it. Safe ride ;-)

 

[WelshGas]

On my todo list is, Bodo, Arctic Centre and the Atlantic Tunnel and Highway.
I have to be in Holland on the 30th, so Denmark on the 29th, southern Sweden 28th.

 

[ArcticMatt]

I get back to Bodø on sunday but you'll have gone by then I'd imagine? Not even sure if the Arctic circle centre is open yet? The season always seems awfully short.


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[WelshGas]

S

I get back to Bodø on sunday but you'll have gone by then I'd imagine? Not even sure if the Arctic circle centre is open yet? The season always seems awfully short.


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Supposedly opened on May 1st. I'll let you know.

 

[WelshGas]

Day 8. Might not be able to post much tonight, UK sites very slow to load. Norwegian and Google no problem.
Well, wall to wall sunshine today. Visited "A" this morning. Very pretty, specialising in Dried Fish judging by the amount drying in the sun. Very fishy smell.








Following the Norwegian National Day, all the traffic seemed to be going the other way. Stopped for lunch.



Got to the campsite I'd picked out to find it closed as it was being used to house the workers building this-



A new suspension bridge + a new tunnel as a direct route into Narvik rather than the circuitous route that the E6 follows at present.

So I'm here and heading to Bodo tomorrow.



View out of the California.

 

[WelshGas]

Day 9 and I'm just outside Bodo.


Lots of infrastructure, roads bridges etc being built. A main ferry port and a large airport used by the Norwegian Air Force. My son was there in 2015 with the RAF. The drive here was stunning with tunnels, bridges and fantastic landscapes round each bend. The E6, the main route N-S in Norway is stunning for the views and engineering of tunnels etc: but although the road surface is generally good some sections are diabolical. I can confirm the California can fly. Should have realised the black marks on the road wasn't new Tarmac but tyre rubber as vehicles landed following a particularly severe ripple. Anyway no damage. Took my first Norwegian car ferry. Efficient and a cafe on board. Tomorrow I'm going via the back roads to rejoin the E6 heading towards the Arctic Centre.

 

[ArcticMatt]

Day 9 and I'm just outside Bodo.
View attachment 21795

Lots of infrastructure, roads bridges etc being built. A main ferry port and a large airport used by the Norwegian Air Force. My son was there in 2015 with the RAF. The drive here was stunning with tunnels, bridges and fantastic landscapes round each bend. The E6, the main route N-S in Norway is stunning for the views and engineering of tunnels etc: but although the road surface is generally good some sections are diabolical. I can confirm the California can fly. Should have realised the black marks on the road wasn't new Tarmac but tyre rubber as vehicles landed following a particularly severe ripple. Anyway no damage. Took my first Norwegian car ferry. Efficient and a cafe on board. Tomorrow I'm going via the back roads to rejoin the E6 heading towards the Arctic Centre.

Awesome photos. They are spending a fortune in Bodø but there are tolls everywhere now! They want to move the airport out of town as it's basically half the town in area.

The roads suffer a lot from "Teleheave" (not sure if that's the right spelling) where the ground thaws in strange ways and the roads turn into a rollercoaster or break up all together. The main road where we live just fell into the river but the locals don't hang about fixing it. Have you seen Saltstraumen?

Gud Tur


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[WelshGas]

They like their Cafe Culture even though it was only 6c with a biting wind.





So off to the Arctic Circle Centre tomorrow.

 

[WelshGas]

Awesome photos. They are spending a fortune in Bodø but there are tolls everywhere now! They want to move the airport out of town as it's basically half the town in area.

The roads suffer a lot from "Teleheave" (not sure if that's the right spelling) where the ground thaws in strange ways and the roads turn into a rollercoaster or break up all together. The main road where we live just fell into the river but the locals don't hang about fixing it. Have you seen Saltstraumen?

Gud Tur


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I haven't seen it , read all about it and will be crossing the bridge tomorrow. I am camped right next door, but because of the tide times there wasn't a lot to see unfortunately.

 

[Amarillo]

Day 9 and I'm just outside Bodo.

Was the drive from Narvik to Bodo of particular interest?

We are planning to take the ferry from Bodo to A, so would miss this particular section of the E6, would we be missing anything special that we will not encounter elsewhere in our 33 day south to north journey in Norway?

 

[WelshGas]

Depends what you like. That section has numerous tunnels opening onto magnificent views, many bridges and stopping areas. I was advised to drive the Lofoten islands both ways as it has a different perspective and views. Lots of roadworks in and around Bodo so expect delays in season.
A has a massive car park with 30 coach slots, so an indication of how big a tourist draw in season. This campsite I'm in, near Bodo, already has most of the touring pitches full and the season hasn't started officially so don't leave it too late in the day to get to a site unless you intend to wildcamp.

I asked some Norwegian drivers of the big 12-18 wheeler HGVs which season they disliked the most - Summer. Tourists stopping everywhere to take photos, especially on the roadside, there is no verge just a snow ditch, not realising it takes a lot to stop 40 tons at 80km/hr on a 2 lane road, which is what the E6 is up here. Very few overtaking opportunities. If you are behind a coach or lorry then that's it unless they pull off the road.

Have fun. I am enjoying my trip a lot.

 

[ArcticMatt]

Depends what you like. That section has numerous tunnels opening onto magnificent views, many bridges and stopping areas. I was advised to drive the Lofoten islands both ways as it has a different perspective and views. Lots of roadworks in and around Bodo so expect delays in season.
A has a massive car park with 30 coach slots, so an indication of how big a tourist draw in season. This campsite I'm in, near Bodo, already has most of the touring pitches full and the season hasn't started officially so don't leave it too late in the day to get to a site unless you intend to wildcamp.

I asked some Norwegian drivers of the big 12-18 wheeler HGVs which season they disliked the most - Summer. Tourists stopping everywhere to take photos, especially on the roadside, there is no verge just a snow ditch, not realising it takes a lot to stop 40 tons at 80km/hr on a 2 lane road, which is what the E6 is up here. Very few overtaking opportunities. If you are behind a coach or lorry then that's it unless they pull off the road.

Have fun. I am enjoying my trip a lot.

Did you come back on the Lødingen ferry? You get a good view of "Norways national mountain" called Stetind. It's a massive flat top peak.


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