Monday, September 18, Week 7
Tomorrow 6 °C
Noon 10°C
Evening 7°C
We still have some work to do in Alta.
We buy delicious birthday cinnamon rolls at the bakery.
We do a bulk purchase at Coop Extra because a lot of things are missing.
Pfüdi gets a full tank of diesel. And suddenly it's already after 11 o'clock.
Then we simply chug a little southwards on what is now a grey and rainy day.
We stop for lunch at the top of a pass in the middle of the fog.
Normally you have a fantastic view here!
A quick stop at a Vinmomopolet on the way.
And then the big frustration - I looked at the wrong ferry connection and in Olderdalen the ferry left right in front of us. That was actually the fast connection to Tromsø.
The next ferry doesn't leave for another 1.5 hours. So we continue on to Skibotn.
Here we end our day at a campsite and toast my birthday.
On the way we can once again admire the incredible speed of the Norwegians in road construction. Last summer there was nothing to see, but now a lot of work on a new section of the E6 is well underway for miles. A tunnel is also being built. The entire section is scheduled to be finished by 2024.
OK, unfortunately you might not be able to enjoy the great view anymore. The old roads are often no longer maintained.
Day route: Alta - Skibotn
Distance: 280 km
Average consumption: 9.4 liters
Average speed: 59 km/h
Travel time: 4 hours 43 minutes
Pitch cost: 375 NOK, incl. water/electricity
Tuesday, September 19
Tomorrow 5°C
Noon 8°C
Evening 5 °C
We only plan from one day to the next. So we decide to drive out to Tromso this morning. The weather is not supposed to be bad at all. As you can see below, a steel blue sky shines behind the Arctic Cathedral.
Since yesterday I have been retired for real! The stay in Tromso, a day late, also provides a great setting to celebrate with a delicious lunch. We enjoy it to the fullest and then have dessert in the nearby bakery.
To aid digestion, we stroll through the city. We particularly like the mix of traditional and modern.
But we don't want to spend the night in the city.
Instead we drive out to the island of Kvaloya to Grotfjord, which is located in the northern part of the island.
Here, the locals have marked almost the entire green strip behind the beach as parking spaces.
Parking costs 30 NOK, an overnight stay 100 NOK. There are barbecue areas, benches, tables and even a hot pool and sauna, but these are no longer in use.
The three of us are standing here on this expansive meadow - far apart. Wonderfully quiet - simply perfect!
And then Lady Aurora lights another firework for us. We stand on the beach and enjoy the spectacle!
Day route: Skibotn - Grotfjord
Distance: 152 km
Average consumption: 8.9 liters
Average speed: 53 km/h
Travel time: 2 hours 51 minutes
Parking space costs: 100 NOK, including waste container
Wednesday, September 20
Tomorrow 6 °C
Noon 9 °C
Evening 7 °C
We were so lucky with the wind last night. The temperature was bearable for admiring and photographing the Northern Lights.
We didn't get to bed until around midnight; it's usually hard to fall asleep straight away, but we were both awake again shortly after 6:30 a.m.
Next night is also expected to be fairly cloudless in this area.
So we decide not to travel far. We drive back to Tromso, stop here for a little shopping and then drive northeast to the island of Ringvassoya. Here, between Hansnes and Grunnfjord, there is an ideal parking spot with a perfect view of the Northern Lights.
We treat ourselves to a lazy afternoon in the warm motorhome. Hansruedi does a few small repairs - one or two screws are loose.
We are also roughly planning our onward journey. We already know at least where we want to go tomorrow.
A small aperitif, a delicious dinner, washing up and then just waiting to see what the Northern Lights plan to do today.
A perfect stop for our lunch!
Our overnight spot - and we are all alone here!
Today we can admire the Northern Lights again, they are just not as intense - but still beautiful!
Day route: Grotfjord - Hansnes
Distance: 93 km
Average consumption: 9.1 liters
Average speed: 40 km/h
Travel time: 2 hours 17 minutes
Parking costs: 0 NOK, incl. waste container
Thursday, September 21
Tomorrow 5°C
Noon 9 °C
Evening 7 °C
We drive back to Tromsø and then continue south on the E10 and E6.
In Bardufossen we fill up with the cheapest diesel in Norway so far, fill up our gas tank and do a little shopping at Kiwi. We stop for lunch in the parking lot and watch the hustle and bustle at the cheap gas station and the hustle and bustle at the motorhome dealer right next door, which is having its autumn fair starting today. Motorhomes are arriving almost every second.
Now we chug along until we call it a day in Straumsnes on the fjord. A really nice parking spot with a wonderful view and the best thing - it's not fully booked.
Tagesstrecke: Hansnes - Straumsnes
Distance: 282 km
Average consumption: 9 liters
Average speed: 56 km/h
Travel time: 4 hours 59 minutes
Pitch cost: 250 NOK, incl. water/electricity
Friday, September 22
Tomorrow 10 °C
Noon 12°C
Evening 10 °C
We have never been to Harstad and we are changing that today. Get a taste of the city air again.
The trip from Straumsnes to Harstad is very beautiful and varied.
And we arrive in the city exactly at lunchtime, which also offers perfectly located parking spaces for motorhomes right in the center.
So it makes sense that we look for a restaurant. A nice beef burger with fries and then we stroll through the alleys and a shopping center.
After this long lunch break we continue our journey. We want to get to Lodingen today. A ferry ride provides variety and thanks to the Autopass Ferjekort it only costs us half.
We reach Lodingen around 4:30 p.m. It starts to rain and it doesn't want to stop.
Day route: Straumsnes - Lodingen
Distance: 174 km
Average consumption: 8.4 liters
Average speed: 48 km/h
Travel time: 3 hours 35 minutes
Pitch cost: 240 NOK, including water/electricity
Saturday, September 23
Tomorrow 9 °C
Noon 12 °C
Evening 9 °C
The alarm goes off at 6:00 a.m. We want to catch the first ferry to Bognes at 8:00 a.m. After our morning toilet, we first drive the 5 minutes to the ferry port, where we line up as the fourth vehicle in the first line. Now we make coffee and have breakfast. We finish washing up just in time for loading. We expected more people to rush around. There's room for everyone - things looked very different a few weeks ago in the afternoon.
We stop briefly in Innhavet for a little shopping and then we turn on the indicator and drive out towards Steigen. The views of the Lofoten Islands are gigantic. Our destination is a parking space on the island of Engeloya.
We arrive shortly before noon and are completely thrilled.
After lunch we lace up our hiking boots. The sun peeks out from between the clouds and we enjoy the wonderful views on our hike.
Since there is no wind today, we're getting the grill out again. Entrecôte, potatoes and grilled vegetables, with a glass of wine - a perfect world for us at the moment.
Day route: Lodingen - Engeloya Island
Distance: 125 km
Average consumption: 9.4 liters
Average speed: 50 km/h
Travel time: 2 hours 29 minutes
Pitch cost: 250 NOK, including water/electricity, without electricity
Sunday, September 24
Tomorrow 3 °C
Noon 12°C
Evening 10 °C
They came a little late, but they came - the Northern Lights!
To our complete surprise, we suddenly had a very clear starry sky last night. And we are standing in a perfect spot for the dancing lights. Unfortunately, they are a bit dim, but we enjoy it a lot and it is already Sunday before we finally get to bed.
The morning also surprises us with fantastic weather, we can hardly tear ourselves away from this wonderful place. At some point around 11 a.m. we set off and drove on. Every meter is a pleasure. Engeloya is in no way inferior to the Lofoten - and the best thing is that we are the only motorhome on our way around the island, we only come across a few cars.
After countless stops we finally reach the E6.
Our destination for today is Fauske. The nature and landscape on the E6 are also beautiful, but the route is quite challenging. We have to drive through countless long and short tunnels. Tunnels that are many years old. They are poorly lit and narrow.
Even today, Sunday, there are a number of trucks on the road and the tunnel height of 4.20 meters forces the trucks to drive close to the central reservation. The maximum tunnel width of 5.50 meters is not exactly generous either, often it is even less.
I, Heidi, am glad I don't have to drive that. Hansruedi handles every situation brilliantly, but is also happy when we finally reach Fauske.
Here on the campsite there are still free spaces even in the first row at 4 p.m.
The high season is really over.
And we experience a small miracle - we can buy the parking ticket without getting our feet wet.
For once it's not raining! An absolute first!
OK, it won't stay dry all evening. There will definitely be no northern lights today.
Day route: Engeloya Island - Fauske
Distance: 182 km
Average consumption: 8.9 liters
Average speed: 53 km/h
Travel time: 3 hours 22 minutes
Pitch cost: 275 NOK, incl. water/salt, incl. electricity
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