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Norway 2007: The North |
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Tuesday 5th June: Birtavarre - Nordkjosbotn (96 km) |
Norway is about 2600 km long but it is not a wide country.
At Nordkjosbotn, where we ended the day, it is only about 30 km from the ocean to the Swedish border. The narrowest point is at Hellemobotn, south of Narvik, where Norway is only 6 km wide.
Norway also shares borders with Finland and Russia.
Early morning light on Kåfjorden
The junction of the E6 and route 87, north of Nordkjosbotn
Karen's diary:
We keep expecting rain, but it doesn't come. As we rode out of the little Kåfjord the famous Lyngen Alps ahead of us were smothered with evil, black rainclouds and we feared the worst. But as we rode along our little road, staring up at frozen waterfalls and a majestic sea-eagle wheeling overhead, the black clouds blew away and once again the overcast sky became steadily bluer. However, we had other punishment ahead - a fierce, buffeting headwind all the way to the end of the Lyngenfjord. The scenery was great - big, snowy mountains all along - but it's hard to look at the scenery when you're just concentrating on staying upright and turning the pedals. We're also having doubts about our new, 'anatomically designed' saddles. We're both extremely saddlesore and struggled to get through the day. I really hope we toughen up soon. Brian's cold seems a little better but now he's developing chilblains.
Anyway, at the end of the fjord we crossed a little pass to the next fjord - a lovely, gentle climb through luminous green meadows set between towering, rocky peaks. There are dandelions and buttercups everywhere, and flocks of very fat, round sheep. Even the lambs look like barrels on legs.
When we arrived at Nordkjosbotn we decided to stop riding because the wind was still fierce. We have rented a cabin so that we won't be disturbed by the wind or the heavy traffic. The town has a bank and two supermarkets and the streets are perfumed with the odours of deep-fried food. The campground is pleasant and friendly and there are views of sharp, dramatic mountains.