Hurtigrouten, Hammerfest and Alta

My third sticker. This is going to make me smile every time I will look at it, e.g. when driving to work in a suite in Frankfurt in a month. The thing is, that my main client had called me last week that he needs a person for an upcoming project. The request seem to fit quite well to my profile.

 [subsequent entry - Dec, 2016: yes that was the case, and I am working again since 5 month]

The dining room of the Vandrarhem (Youth hostel) in Honnigsvåg. This used to be part of the fish factory that is still next door.

From Honnigsvåg, I took the Norwegian Mailboat Hurtigruten to Hammerfest

These are the stops of Hurtigsten.

From Hammerfest, I cycled to Skaidi where I med with my former route.

 And from Skaidi though pretty rough nature back to Alta

The view from my camping site about 5 km east of Alta.

Pretty early, I was at the airport - to have enough time to prepare all the things for the flight. Including drying the clothes that had become a little wet at the rainy way to the airport.

My plane home. Good-bye ... until the next trip...

Reached the North Cape

after some rest days in Östersund, I was ready to continue on the E45, the Inlandsvägen further North. I had most f the time nice weather. Here, I crossed the lake Ströms Vattudal.

The day length was getting close the their maximum (Midsummer) June, 25th of 2016. This is one of the main events in Sweden. At the local ICA supermarket, the salesman gave me a nice present.

  Actually, these pralines were pretty good.

Crossing into Lappland

Another highlight was the jump over the Arctic Circle. It was already one of my last days in Sweden.

And just here, somewhere in the middle of nowhere, I discovered a nice Café with very friendly traditional dressed young ladies.

At the border Pajala / Kolari (about 30 km between these two), I crossed into Finland. Good-bye understanding the local language (på Svenska - I have at least a little knowledge)

And it gets even more remote. Which I like - to some extend - I like to ride in the pure nature - but I like to talk to people. That's why I always use all the Cafés on the route. Especially as the distances here get close to 100 km.

The best friend of any Scandinavia Tourist...  ...got em...

From the landscape, you can tell: I am in Norway now. The south through Finland was only 220 km long.

East of Alta, the first sight of the North Cape:

And here it comes - the famous tunnel under the ocean. About 7 km long and minus 212 m under sea level. I had myself a banana and took it slow. For me, that is just the best way to approach it, especially the ascend on the last 3 km.

On July, 05th 2016 1:30pm, I reached the North Cape. It is my third time, I cycled from Frankfurt up to this iconic landmark in Europe. And, I guess, it hasn't been the last time...

Östersund & into the wild

I follow my way was up North at the coast. Many small islands make a very pretty and varied companion.

From time to time, I need to fill up my energy storage. The 'bensin station' is a good Place to Do that:

But then, as one of my bad habbits are sweets - I saw that sign, just after frukost (breakfast):

M A R Z I P A N - I could not help, I needed to stop for some godis

Because I like to get in contact with other people and to train my Swedish language skils (and because it is comfortable), I stay a lot in vandrahems (Youth Hostels). Here is the vandrahem in Sågen. Actually, it is an old trainstation. 

I am now North of the Vänern lake. It is becoming really lonely. Villages are rare and I need to plan ahead in terms of food. Talking about places, that are needed: It is the time of the European Football Championship EM 2016. My iPad helped me a couple of times in a small shop w/internet somewhere in nowhere. 

Next stop: Mora - known for the Vasaloppet (The Vasa Race) and the Dalahäst - the Swedish horse.

I hat my second beer, a couple of days ago on one of these lonely roads.

I am having some restdays in Östersund and will continue North!

Skärgården - Skagerrak

AFrom Ystad, I stayed in the South-coast. Very old oval standing stones needed to be discovered by me.

I drove a little bit North in the Skågen East-Coast, but decided to cross over to the very promissing West coast. On the way, my first beer had been 'reached'

West-Coast Tylösand near Halmstad. 

My first restday was in Göteborg. The Vandrahem (Youth hostels) are nice, but pretty expensive. Göteborg City wanted 130€ per night!!! Normal YH charge about 42€. Still a lot. 

Now I am in the swedish archipelago (Skärgåtan / Schären). On of theses things why I love Scandinavia. 

Kommissar Wallander

Made it to Ystad, the town of Mankells Wallander.

The Police-Station:

His fovorite Café:

I had one of these tourist trap Wallanders - but I liked it!

Now, I will Continue North.

Baltic Sea

I made my way to Schwerin with is incredible castle

The roads are more calm in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern. Nearly every road has a cycle path. Some areas are quite remote. 

As the prices for "my fuel" are quite high in Scandinavia, I stocked up before Sweden. 

(actually, the whisky prices on the ferry are not that cheap)

The early ferryboat leaves Rostock Überseehafen at 8am, which meant for me getting up at 5am. From my Hotel, only 10km away from the Harbour, I made the early start. 

Currently, I am on the ferry on the baltic sea. 

„ich hab' rübergemacht”

The day full of sunshiene yesterday  ended at Uelzen with it's beautiful Hundertwasser train station. 

Today, I crossed the River Elbe, that used to be the border between East- and West Germany.