Netherlands to Northcape: Day 30a. Manndalen to Nordkapp. 555kms Photos 1-50

I woke up to a nice warm sunny day. My plan was to spend a night at Alta and then make my way to the top. While I was fueling up the bike, I spoke to another motorbike traveller who had just come from Nordkapp, and I asked him about the accommodation up there. I didn't think that rolling up on Saturday night was such a good idea, as I had heard it can be quite busy up there then. He suggested that finding accommodation should be OK, and since it was such a nice day, I travelled the extra 200 kms to the top.

My hope was that I would catch the midnight sun, since the weather was so nice.

It was a glorious day to riding. This is a problem, because I tend to stop too often to take photos and read the tourist information boards at the many Roadside Rest Stops. (I just checked the camera. 450 photos!! I am glad I took the big memory card with me.)

The ride was comfortable with many changes in scenery, but when I got to within about 200 km of the top; I began to focus on getting there. It was about 4 pm. During all the riding that we did in the Americas and me now in Europe, I have found that it takes about 2 hours to complete 100kms. That would put me at the top at about 8pm.

Nordkapp's nearest town is Honningsvag, population about 2,500. Nordkapp is about 30 km north of Honningsvag and both are on Mageroya Island. On no! It is connected by an undersea tunnel, the "North Cape Tunnel"; 6.78 km long to a depth of 212 metres below sea level. I took some photos with my waterproof camera. What a joy. After the tunnel, the road to Honningsvag followed the coast. Very picturesque and still in broad daylight.

The last 25 kms was up on the tundra. It reminded me of Patagonia, with the wind and the desolation and the rolling hills. Each valley had a big lake. There was a little ice about, but not much.

It was a good road, the E69, all the way to the top. I was surprised to see the size of the building for the tourist centre. It was huge. There is a gatehouse, too, to collect your entry fee; 235 NOK (Norwegan Krone) for a two day pass. (I suppose someone has to pay for the centre and the road.) I took the obligatory photo of me standing with the globe. There wasn't much of a queue, not like at the Fin Del Mundo, Tierra Del Fuego, at the end of Ruta 3 in Argentina. It was very windy and most people were inside the tourist centre.

As I did not have anywhere to stay yet, at about 9 pm, I rode to the little town of Skarsvag about 13 kms south and found the Kirkeporten Campground. The receptionist lady from Utrecht rented me a little hytte (cabin). She's been here for 10 years after finding Utrecht too busy.

At about 11:40 pm, I rode back to get the midnight photo in the sun, but it wasn’t to happen. It was overcast and drizzling. I will try again tonight. I spoke to another motorbike couple at the campground and they said that only about 7% of people see the midnight sun.

I sitting inside the campground guest diner and writing this and it’s warm and comfortable. I’ve just been outside to my hytte, about 30 metres away, and it’s cold and windy out there. I can feel the chilling wind go right through my clothes. Brrrrr.

I am now waiting for 11:30 pm to see if it’s worth another trip to the top. I’m not going again in the rain. “Been there, done that” I’ll wait for another day.

Anyway enjoy the pictures. I have 99 photos to show, so they will be on 2 Posts.
I’ve had an enjoyable and memorable ride to 71° 10’ 21”, at 00:00:22 on 8 July 2012. TTFN.