Monday, September 25th Week 8
Tomorrow 7 °C
Noon 12°C
Evening 7°C
Today we are taking a trip into the past. Shortly after Fauske we turn on the indicator and drive through a beautiful valley, first along the fjord and then past lakes and the river to Sultjelma.
In 1858, copper was discovered here and the town experienced an incredible boom. Mining only stopped in the 1990s. Sometimes you get the feeling that the workers just left everything behind one day and stopped working. In Jakobsbakken, 600 meters above sea level, the renovated, colorful wooden houses of the miners are a reminder of this era. We are thrilled!
After this excursion we drive back to Fauske. Our fridge is empty, we need supplies.
We decide to continue on to the Arctic Circle. Unfortunately, heavy rain sets in. There is a lot of traffic on the E6. We are happy that we reach our destination for the day safely and make ourselves comfortable in the warm motorhome.
Day route: Fauske - Arctic Circle
Distance: 191 km
Average consumption: 10.3 liters
Average speed: 50 km/h
Travel time: 3 hours 47 minutes
Pitch costs: 0 NOK, incl. V/E, incl. NOTHING
Tuesday, September 26
Tomorrow 7°C
Noon 12°C
Evening 10 °C
Well, it was a stormy and rainy night.
We continue south. We take a lunch break on Korgfjellet. The wind and rain are lashing around our Pfüdi. We briefly considered staying here. The weather is supposed to improve, the night is quite clear and there would be a very good chance of seeing the Northern Lights. But it is only 1:30 p.m. and our Pfüdi is shaking, we just don't feel like staying.
We're having a bit of trouble with today's trip.
The weather seems to be a bit better in Sweden and so a few kilometres after Mosjoen we turn on the indicator and drive on the FV73 towards Sweden.
We land in a parking lot high above the Rossvatnet with a clear view to the north.
There is a pretty little house here that serves as a checkpoint for Norwegian customs.
And lo and behold, around 7 p.m. two customs officers show up.
They are not interested in us and we have something to watch!
And suddenly there is just a starry sky and the Northern Lights!
Daily route: Arctic Circle - on the FV73 just before the Swedish border
Distance: 262 km
Average consumption: 9.4 liters
Average speed: 57 km/h
Travel time: 4 hours 31 minutes
Parking costs: 0 NOK, incl. waste container
Wednesday, September 27
Tomorrow 8 °C
Midday 13 °C
Evening 9 °C
There is a lovely little wooden house near our overnight spot with a warm, cosy and open lounge with panoramic windows and even a TV!! We read on park4night that the room is for the customs officers. And they really did come yesterday evening and made themselves comfortable there. Suddenly the customs officer came out with a red light, stood at the side of the road and waved the car out, which soon arrived from Sweden. The trunk was inspected, then the man was allowed to drive on and the two officers disappeared back into the warm house. Two more vehicles drove past, but they were not interested in them. After about another half hour the customs officers left.
So this morning we drove across the border into Sweden and saw that the border was under video surveillance. Did the officials therefore know exactly which car to stop?
But where is the better weather? The weather apps correct their forecasts in the wrong direction almost every hour. It is getting greyer and cloudier and at times it even rains lightly.
The rivers and lakes are full to the brim, many even overflowing.
The decision is made - today we'll just drive south until we get fed up with it.
In Storuman we stop for a little shopping and at Systembolaget we stock up on wine
(costs a lot less in Sweden), in Wilhelmina Pfüdi gets a sip of diesel (costs a lot more in Sweden) and we also fill up Adblue.
We simply entered Östersund into the GPS, but we decided to stop for today in Hammerdal. It was already 5 p.m., high time to call it a day.
A little off the E45 we find a nice little campsite called Camp Route 45.
After a phone call, the operator rushes over and we are given a warm welcome.
There isn't much going on here anymore. There are only 6 motorhomes left.
We then put the tip of the 2.5 km walk through the forest into practice. It feels really good after sitting for so long.
Cooking, washing up, doing the homepage, reading, etc. and before you know it, it's time for bed. Good night!
Daily route: on the FV73 just before the Swedish border - Hammerdal, Sweden
Distance: 415 km
Average consumption: 8.9 liters
Average speed: 67 km/h
Travel time: 6 hours 8 minutes
Pitch cost: 200 SEK, including water/electricity, excluding electricity
Thursday, September 28
Tomorrow 4°C
Noon 12 °C
Evening 11 °C
Sometimes you're just driving along, there's not much traffic, you're lost in thought or chatting, and suddenly it jumps across the road - a moose!
So we drive further south, chatting, and then suddenly we realize - next weekend the whole of Germany has a long weekend.
Tuesday, October 3rd is German Unity Day. Half of Germany will be on the road. Denmark will fill up and even southern Sweden will feel it. We are heading south too quickly. The weather is not particularly tempting to stop here.
We spontaneously turn on the indicator and drive east. Where exactly? That remains to be seen.
Tagesstrecke: Hammerdal, Schweden - Funäsdalen
Distance: 278 km
Average consumption: 9 liters
Average speed: 63 km/h
Travel time: 4 hours 23 minutes
Pitch cost: 160 SEK, including fresh water and waste container
Friday, September 27
Tomorrow 9 °C
Noon 16°C
Evening 8 °C
We've barely started and we're already putting the indicators on again. We don't want to miss this waterfall. You can climb up 303 steps and enjoy ever-changing views of the roaring water.
The next stop is in Roros. We stroll through the alleys and find that it is always worth stopping here.
After an extensive stroll through the city, we drive further west.
All we need now is a nice place to stay overnight. The journey is wonderful and varied. The sun is shining again today.
The first three overnight accommodation options don't appeal to us at all. Too close to the road and muddy after the rainy summer.
Then I (Heidi) discover a toll road that branches off to the right and leads up the mountain. There is supposed to be a great big square at the top. The toll costs 40 krone. You can pay with VIPPS (only possible with a Norwegian account) or with cash, which can be put in a prepared envelope.
Luckily we have some change, so we take the gravel road, which is quite steep in places.
If we are unlucky there will be nothing there and the 40 crowns will be a bad investment.
But it is an absolute hit. A wonderful place with a fantastic view, exactly to our taste.
And since it only has one comment on park4night and you have to pay 40 NOK without seeing it, it is not very busy. We are completely alone here and are just happy.
Tagesstrecke: Funäsdalen - Folldals Verk
Distance: 202 km
Average consumption: 9.1 liters
Average speed: 53 km/h
Travel time: 3 hours 47 minutes
Parking costs: 40 NOK toll, magnificent view, nothing else
Saturday, September 30th
Tomorrow 4 °C
Midday 15 °C
Evening 10 °C
We slept wonderfully in absolute darkness. Only the full moon and the stars and nothing else.
At 1,096 m above sea level it is quite fresh but windless this morning.
We turn back down to Folldal, but once we're in the village we turn on the indicator again and drive up to the Folldal Mining Museum. Copper, zinc and sulphur were mined here until 1993. Of course nothing is open at the end of September, but like almost everywhere in Norway, the outdoor areas are freely accessible and it's great to stroll around.
After this short detour we continue westwards. And then the almost unimaginable happens!
The police wave us over. Oops, we were driving too fast. Hansruedi says he must have been driving at 54 km/h instead of the permitted 50.
We roll down the window and are amazed. Alcohol test, and this in the morning at 10.30 a.m.
So Hansruedi, at just over 71 years of age, has to blow into a tube for the first time in his life.
Result 0.00 per mille!! The police officer thanks us kindly and wishes us a nice day and a safe trip!
Viewpoint Snohetta - a wonderful hike the second time around. We didn't see any musk oxen this time, but it was still beautiful.
The car park at the start of the hike offers wonderful panoramic views, so it's perfect for a small snack after the hike. Then we continue to Dombäs. It's really busy here, we still have to do some shopping.
We entered Andalsnes into our GPS. Before we reach the town, however, we turn off towards Trollstigen.
We finish work at the Trollstigen campsite down in the valley. It has started to rain, but it should be better tomorrow and the journey will certainly be more fun then.
Tagesstrecke: Folldals Verk - Andalsnes
Distance: 183 km
Average consumption: 8.3 liters
Average speed: 53 km/h
Travel time: 3 hours 23 minutes
Pitch costs: 260 NOK including water/electricity, 60 NOK for showers (expensive, but we treat ourselves)
Sunday, 01 October
Tomorrow 9 °C
Noon 14°C
Evening 10 °C
For the 30 NOK shower fee per person we at least have a whole bathroom at our disposal and the water is wonderfully warm! So we start the day well. At 10 a.m. we are ready to travel.....
... and take the hairpin bends to the Trollstigen. Huge masses of water are rushing down the valley everywhere. We can stop at any parking lot, we experience the least traffic-intensive climb, not a single coach comes towards us. Almost boring. The weather is improving by the minute!
When we take the ferry to Eidsdal shortly after Valldal, the sun shines from an almost cloudless sky!
We even find space for our Pfüdi at the Adlerkurve and we enjoy the view of the Geirangerfjord.
The icing on the cake is at the campsite - our favourite spot and in our opinion the best spot is just becoming available!
1 p.m. - just the right time for lunch and there is even a restaurant still open.
Of course, we stroll through the shops afterwards, but we come back to Pfüdi empty-handed.
There is not much going on at the campsite and so we can calmly start a washing machine and by the evening everything is done.
We start into a cozy Sunday evening.
Day route: Andalsnes - Geiranger
Distance: 75 km
Average consumption: 10.6 liters
Average speed: 35 km/h
Travel time: 2 hours 07 minutes
Pitch cost: 310 NOK incl. water/electricity, excluding electricity