Monday, September 11th Week 6

Tomorrow 11 °C

Noon 13°C

Evening 10°C

Well, actually, I was already in my pajamas and on my way to bed. Hansruedi was on his last lap around the motorhome like every evening, checking that everything was OK and locked. Then he suddenly called out.

"Heidi, come out immediately and take your camera."

So quickly slip into jeans and a sweater, stumble out and then just marvel and enjoy.

At some point the camera will be ready!

Well, it is already after midnight when we finally slip under the covers, a little frozen.

And so we're taking it slow this morning.

Another purchase at Rema 1000 and a few liters of diesel to fill up and it is almost 11 o'clock before we are ready and set off for Hamninberg.

44 wonderful kilometers later we turn onto the meadow in the bay near Hamningberg. Time for our lunch and then a hike through this unique landscape.

The weather forecast predicts rain tonight and cloudy weather on Tuesday.

So we decide to drive back today in this wonderful weather.

Shortly after Vardo we stop at the Domen viewpoint. A short walk and we are once again amazed by the architectural diversity and uniqueness of the Norwegians for viewpoints and toilet facilities.

At 5 p.m. we turn back into the large parking lot in Vadso. The six of us are standing here nicely spread out and we are now looking forward to the end of the day.

Daily route: Vardo - Hamningberg - Vadso

Distance: 158 km

Average consumption: 8.6 liters

Average speed: 43 km/h

Travel time: 3 hours 36 minutes

Pitch costs: 0 NOK, incl. water/electricity, no electricity

Tuesday, September 12

Tomorrow 12°C

Noon 15°C

Evening 9 °C

We want to take advantage of the cloudy day and simply travel a little further west.

We stop at the Nesseby Church. Eight years ago, the three of us spent a lovely, quiet night here. When locals or visitors to the church passed by, we greeted each other in a friendly manner.

There is now a large sign prohibiting camping here. A stay of three hours is still permitted.

We can understand that very well. It must have looked like a campsite here at times and visitors to the church or those attending a service probably often had trouble finding a parking space.

Why have so many people lost respect and decency for their fellow human beings and nature!!!

The next stop is at the Tana Church. Here it is not the current people who make you think. A memorial plaque tells of a sad chapter from 1944.

Our lunch stop somewhere on the FV98 in the midst of a great autumn atmosphere.

Well, the FV98 is long and many kilometers have already been renewed. We drove some very bumpy and dusty construction site kilometers in 2015 and also in 2022. Today not a single construction site is in operation, but there are still a lot of bumpy and bumpy kilometers that still need to be renewed.

The route leads through what seems like endless, beautiful landscapes, with no traffic for miles. You feel truly alone in this world and simply enjoy this endless expanse.

We reach the Porsangerfjord and find a wonderful place to stay overnight.

Park4night says that no more than five people should stay here overnight. Well, we are exactly vehicle number 5!

And we remain vehicle number 5!

In high season, the site is hopelessly overcrowded every evening. There are motorhomes, vans, roof sleepers and caravans, sometimes 20 of them!

How long will it be before there is a camping ban here?

Daily route: Vadso - on the FV98 31km before Lakselv

Distance: 260 km

Average consumption: 9.2 liters

Average speed: 53 km/h

Travel time: 4 hours 52 minutes

Pitch cost: 0 NOK, including beautiful view, nothing else

Wednesday, September 13

Tomorrow 8 °C

Midday 15 °C

Evening 5 °C

Our plan - we just want to chug along towards the North Cape and then spend the night somewhere we like. We want to arrive at the North Cape by Friday at the latest, as the weather forecast predicts a fairly clear night.

Now the somewhere comes nowhere. We stop often. Rema 1000, bakery, gas station and again and again to enjoy nature.

And suddenly we are in Honningsvag and stop here at Rema 1000. It is almost like coming home; we stop at this shop every time on the way to the North Cape.

Well, then we'll just drive a little further. There are two more campsites.

But something just keeps pulling us further and at the end of the day's drive we find ourselves in the parking lot at the North Cape.

The fact that the front row is already full doesn't bother us at all today. There is a strong wind blowing.

Arrived! First a glass of rosé and a toast to the wonderful journey so far. And since we haven't eaten anything decent all day apart from breakfast, we cook our dinner at 5 p.m.

Then we pay a visit to the Nordkapphallen. We are members of the Royal Nordcap Club and can therefore enter the halls for free. A new troll member joins our traveling group - it's tradition!

The weather: storm, rain, blue gaps and then everything starts again.

Shortly before 10 p.m. we walk to the ball. We have never seen it lit up before. Either it was light all night or it wasn't lit up in October for whatever reason.

Northern lights? Yes, that will also appear around 10.30 p.m. But the strong gusts of wind make it impossible to set up a photo tripod.

So we lie comfortably under the warm blankets and enjoy the spectacle through the windows.

Hansruedi took the pictures with his mobile phone through the open roof hatch and almost froze to death in the process!

At some point the northern lights fade, the wind dies down and we fall asleep contentedly.

Daily route: on the FV98 31km before Lakselv - Nordkapp

Distance: 226 km

Average consumption: 9.2 liters

Average speed: 47 km/h

Travel time: 4 hours 46 minutes

Pitch cost: 0 NOK, including waste container and fresh water

Thursday, September 14

Tomorrow 4°C

Noon 11 °C

Evening 4 °C

Well, it was after midnight before we finally closed the blinds.

So today we're not in a rush. After breakfast, a bit of office work, updating the website, pedicure, tidying up and, and, and.....

Around midday we start our trip to Skarsvag, park in the harbor, take a walk and enjoy our lunchtime salad buffet.

Then we go back to the North Cape.

“Parental leaver” from South Korea.

The vehicle and the country of origin of the family with three children is admired by many.

Lunch in Skarsvag

We decide to park in the huge, empty middle of the very large parking lot at Nordkapp.

This way we have a panoramic view and can observe the hustle and bustle around us.

But we hadn't reckoned with the German cuddly campers. The Ahorn camper parks his vehicle so that the right rear corner is 1 meter in front of our left fender (left picture below, but we are no longer standing there). Our astonished, annoyed, even stunned looks are met with a grin from everyone in both vehicles.

We move our parking spaces. Later, we can observe more cozy camper activities. Some of them can hardly open their doors! Where has common sense gone?

Egoism is increasingly dominating the world! People no longer show consideration, they no longer speak to each other, everyone only thinks about themselves.

The parking lot is far from full. Even in total darkness, latecomers squeeze into the smallest of spaces to see the dark sea. The first to leave early in the morning and it's easy to find a space at the front if you're not too lazy to move your car!

But let's leave this topic aside. Much more important is...

.... we caught exactly the one gap between the short, intense rain showers and photographed the Northern Lights with the North Cape globe!!!

A little wet but just happy, we sit in our Pfüdi and celebrate our happiness with a shot of schnapps!

Cheers and good night!

Tagesstrecke: Nordkapp - Skarsvag - Nordkapp

Distance: 31 km

Average consumption: 12.1 liters

Average speed: 28 km/h

Travel time: 1 hour 3 minutes

Pitch cost: 0 NOK, including waste container and fresh water

Friday, September 15

Tomorrow 4 °C

Noon 11°C

Evening 5 °C

A walk across the North Cape plateau, one last time into the North Cape Hall and then we start the engine and from now on we drive south - with branches to the east and west.

In Honningsvag we make the obligatory stop at Rema 1000 and then we chug along the Porsangerfjord in beautiful weather. Shortly before Olderfjord we spontaneously turn the indicator to the right - we drive out to Havoysund. The late afternoon sun bathes the landscape in a wonderful light.

The wind turbines in Havoysund have been replaced and new ones have been put up, so you can drive up to Arctic View again. We tackle the steep climb full of excitement. How many are up there?

What surprises await us!

Some new wind turbines have been placed right at the top, and a new gravel road leads up to it. The panoramic view is fantastic. A Finn is already standing in the best spot and everything is, of course, very artificially heaped up and sterile.

We decide to drive back to Arctic View a little further down. There are no more wind turbines there, nature is still intact and the best thing of all - we are completely alone. Later, a small bus from Basel joins us in the upper parking lot. At least 100 meters away!

The beautiful day ends with a brilliant northern lights!

Day route: North Cape - Havoysund

Distance: 228 km

Average consumption: 9.8 liters

Average speed: 52 km/h

Travel time: 4 hours 21 minutes

Pitch cost: 0 NOK, including view, nothing else

Saturday, September 16

Tomorrow 3 °C

Noon 10 °C

Evening 8 °C

And I was already on my way to bed again when the northern lights finally appeared. So it got late again and we were a bit cold.

There is no rush to get up and for breakfast we drive up to the top of the new wind turbine and enjoy the fantastic view. Just like yesterday evening, there is no wind today and it is pleasant in the sun.

We can hardly tear ourselves away from this view. But eventually we set off on the 80 kilometers back to Porsangerfjord. Every kilometer is a pleasure.