Amazing shop

Thursday April 23, 2009

Went to local shop and were offered coffee, the people are very friendly in these small communities. Also the shop has a library and free internet, it is truly a one stop shop! We cycles on for 7 hours non stop, finally reaching Talvik, where we could find no where to camp. The local shop suggested camping on the Church grounds, but as we pondered sleeping alongside gravestones Gunnard a friendly local offered us a ed in his house. As soon as we entered his house Gunnard popped back out to buy coffee, trusting us alone in his home. It was brilliant to shower!

Oh and by the way if you are wondering why Gunnard was so kind towards us, it is because he s a descendent of Robin Hood. He helped us as it is what his illustrious ancestor would have done. Who am I to question his geneology?

A split tyre

Friday April 24, 2009

Firstly I would like to apologise for starting this journal by moaning. I am incredibly ofrtinate to have the opportunity to undertake this trip and now that my homesickness and climate shock are over I intend to enjoy every day. I choose to start in April knowing the weather could be iffy, as I was desperate to begin prior ro my 25th birhday. I didn't want to reach the quarter of a century mark having achieved nothing significant to me, at least I will celebrate the occasion whilst trying to prove to myself that I can achieve ambitious goals if I fully commit to them

We cycled on from Gunnards house toward Alta. My tyre split, I guess under the strain of the heavy panniers. I held out my brken wheel and quickly managed to flag down a car containing 2 men and a dog in the back. The rear had no seats so I st with the do on the floor. I enjoyed seeing the world from a dog's prespective, I had been really worried about being caught in a white out snow storm, but for thatshort perod in the back of the car my fate as in someone elses hands and I could just sit back and enjoy the fantastic views.

Daniela soon caught up, we cycles a little further and made camp.

A day in the mountains

Saturday April 25, 2009

 We cycled over a 50 mile stretch of mountainous road, with very little in between the settlements at either end, apart from a few cabins and a soltary house. There was a town on the map called Aissoroau, but all I saw were 2 signs, informing me that I was entering and leaving the town. Between the signs there was a lay by. In Ruseness we enquired at a camping and cabin establishment if we could camp. They offered t let us camp for free as it was so snowy, but then offered us a free cabin, which was uncleaned so unavailable to hire out. Brilliant, another night in the warm and another shower!

 

Wind

Sunday April 26, 2009

We left ruseness arund 10 am. Initially the road was very flat and we made excellent progress, soon covering the frst 10 km. Then it became very windy in the exposed parts, with inland stretched even windier. we rode through the Nordkepp tunnel (well we walked up the steep section to get out). We reached a camp site, it was off season and deserted, I rang the number, a child answered, we put the tent up anyway as a storm was beginning.

 

Nordkapp

Monday April 27, 2009

Daniela was worn out after cycling into the wind yesterday and was put off by the snow outside, so she stayed behind at base camp, as I made my attempt on the Nordkapp summit. I should mention that after several days in a small tent Daniela and I were niggling at each other. She planned to wait for me in an open toilet, which was being renovated, I asked her to tell and builders that arrived that I had gone on up to the Nordkapp, but she refused to wind me up.

So I set off, the road was covered in snow and had not been ploughed, and the forecast was for mor snow. Some cars came by, crushing the snow into an icy layer. I rode carefully, it was windy and cold. It was so windy I walked much of the way only cycling downhill.

Evetually I was met with a smaller road toward the Nordkapp, with 13 km to the summit. There was a sign on the road saying it was closed except for bus convoys, but I saw some tracks and decided to go for it. there were dark clouds, I was alone and very worried I could get snowed in. After about half an hour a van and a tracked vehicle passed and waved, I was relieved someone knew I was here.

The wind intensified and it became hard to push the bike in a straight line. I had a balaclava on my face, but my nose was freezing and even through m gloves my fingers were freezing too. I got to the top of a long hill and saw a globe which I figured was the Nordkapp, it looked close but it was deceptively far away. I walked and rode closer passing 2 bulldozers moving snow. As i neared the building I considered whether I should splash out on lunch, we had not been to a shop yesterday and my fods supplies were all but exhausted. Also due to the storm last night i hadn't felt lke leaving the tent to cook pasta, so had eaten badly. I decided I would buy something, maybe chocolate, as all I had left was stale bread.

I hoped that the people who had waved at me would perhaps welcome me in uot of the cold and offer me a drink. then I would buy a postcard and post it from the most northerly post office in the world.

From my experience of Lands end to John O'Groats reaching a land mark detinatin can be an anti-climax. Nordkapp proved so. It was completely closed, a van was delvering supplies. Still I was able to go around the closed building to the very end and take a photo of myself next to the statue.

I went back to the front to check again for people. I decided to eat my emergency rations, i had to get back to daniela who was waiting. I eat 3 cereal bars and set off. It felt like the journey was finishing not beginning, I was just happy to be finally heading South, and downhill.

I knew I was still up a road I shouldn't be on and was very alone. I hurried back. Later we tried to find a place in town to camp, but failed so went back to where we camped the night before. I rang the number again, this time I spoke to a lady who said we could not camp as no tilets were open. We went back into Honnigsvan and I decided to spend the night in a youth hostel I had scoped out earlier. (I had saved the 200 kr entrace fee to the Nordkapp as it was closed and wanted to treat myself). There were few places to camp as it was all mountainous and snowy, Daniela ended up back in the toilets of the camp site we were told not to stay at.

Daniela and myself have very different views on respecting private property, and this has caused numerous arguments when it comes to pitching a tent.