I went North

[Hovmod_imp]

Day seven: Lofoten flyby
Senja - Fauske (400 km)

I know. For a day dedicated to eating miles, 400km isn't that impressive, but hear me out: It's coastal Northern Norway. Remember the day one post, where I chose the Sweden-Finland option to shorten the ride? This is the reason. For long stretches of the coast, you can NOT use normal factors to predict your progress, because it may not be that far, but it is super wrinkly. Same thing applies to the west coast further south, distances aren't what you're used to. You need more sleeps than the number of kilometres suggest.

The first 60 or so kms I'm still on Senja. My hosts had already left for work when I woke up, they start ridiculously early. So I point my CB north and take in some of what Senja has to offer:





I did a true touristy thing for this picture, I just stopped right there and snapped it.


On the north-west corner of Senja lies the tiny village of Gryllefjord, which is (I need a thesaurus) very pretty.


There are a few ways to continue the journey from Senja, and two of them are ferries. The most popular of those ferries leave from Gryllefjord three times a day, for a ninety minute passage to Andenes at the top of the very pretty island chain of Lofoten. I picked this option, and came to town an hour before departure. Wonder where a significant portion of all camper vans on the planet are in the summer time? They're waiting for the ferry in Gryllefjord. This goes on through the entire village. It's ALL a ferry queue.



The French lady who was in the very first camper van in the queue for the 11:00 ferry had seen three ferries leave without her the day before.

Bikes? Go right to the front and embark first. Nice. I was in town for less than an hour.



Leaving Senja:







Andenes is host to one of Norway's largest air force bases, and includes a (at least partially) non-military rocket base, where we among other things launch satellites. It's quite big and I'm going to stop saying that it's extremely beautiful because it can't ALL be, right?

No pics. I just pushed on through Lofoten, where all the rest of the camper vans are. No pictures can do Lofoten justice, and I have to say that despite the amount of camper vans (and their cargo), despite an acquired taste for tourism derived income (they charge for everything), I have to recommend Lofoten. It's absolutely unique.

Of course, if you're still reading this, another mountain panorama won't make much a difference, but here:


I have to take a break. The Lofoten leg of my ride ended around 4PM or so. I'm having another unphotographed gas station burger while I'm waiting for the next ferry, which I absolutely know is the right one, and I also absolutely know I'll be on it. I'll finish this later. There are clouds ahead.