Sunday 2 February: snowy roads

Naruska- Kaamanen 438km

We took the long road

This morning after a good breakfast we left to Inari, for our next stop on the way to the Nordcape.

We decided to take the longer but more adventures route, the belgium team joint us.

In the morning we stopped along the road, Sien en Jeff from the Belgium team made us some fresh delicious coffee. 

After the stop we drove further toward Kittilä to take a right turn just before we reached Kittilä onto the 9558 I think, towards the 955 to Inari. We once drove a very beautiful small road and we still try to find out were it was, this wasn’t it, but still a very nice smaller road. 

Soon the snow got deeper and the road way not cleaned. As we were in the frond we had the honor to make the track. Draakje was up till his belly in the snow and struggling to clear the way. But Draakje an Tanguy did a great job and got us save to the end of the road. At one point the front window got al condensed at once, it was because of all the snow that Draakje was eating. But we turned up the heating and opened the windows, that solved the problem.

Condensed window

Belly in the snow

Snow under the hood 

The track we made

At the end of this road we turned up the “bigger” 955, but it was not much better. By that time we also needed to fill the car up, but no tankstation in site. We stopped to ask someone and she told us we just passed one. We turned around and yes there was

This coffee bar witch three pumps out of our sight.

We stopt for gasoline for the cars and coffee for ourselves.

We found out that the place was also famous for being the coldest place in Europe ever measured.

After the stopt we started the last part of todays trip. We passed reindeer, with I didn’t see, but Gert-jan and  Sien did. I did see some nice bird though and got a nice picture of it.

Spot the bird

We got to the hotel tired and satisfied. At the hotel we found out the some of us were staying in cabins 3,5 km away so we skipped the drivers meeting. We had the save drive drink for those who wanted to come over though.

Then we had something to eat and made cooking instructions for the next day. A receipt how to cook chicken wigs on the exhaust of your car. So thar will be tomorrow’s challenge.

Translating the receipt.

Now it’s time for bed. Tomorrow we go to Honningsvåg, near  the Nordcape.  almost there.

So sleep well and till next time.

Saturday 1th February: minus 16 on the polar circle

Taivalkoski - Naruska 222 km

Today we drove from our hostel in Taivalkoski to this former borderpost in Naruska. 

But first the was the crank-start competition, it was won by our german team Tim and Nils 👍🏻. 

After that we took off. In Taivalkoski we first visited the oldest shop in Finland to have a look. 

It is a nice shop with traditional things, but we didn’t buy anything this time.

After the old shop we visited a modern shop to buy the things for the Polarcircle ritual and then drove off to be at the polar circle at three. We hit the coldest temperature until now, -16,3.

On our way to the pole circle we had a little d-tour past a restaurant with a dutch owner Gert-jan knows. He wan’t there but we had a coffee brake.

Then it was time te get to the polar circle, and because we didn’t seem any reindeer yet Tanguy and me dressed up in our reindeer suites just before the polarcircle.

On the circle every we had the ritual with the Sürströming, great group, almost everybody eat it and nobody vomited 🤮.

Gertjan was in his garbagedag outfit for this.

And offcours there were the traditional pictures with the polar circle sign. We have a Christmas card ready for next year now.

After this we were on our way to Naruska, an old bordercrossing with russia. On the way there we wanted to change the oil in the car, but al the garages were closed, and as temperatures are getting warmer we decided that maybe there is no need to do it. So we drove further north.

It was a nice road with lots of snow. The hostel for tonight was a former school in the border crossing village. We slept in the former library and classroom. Well actually the others did, Tanguy and me slept in the former teachers room, finally some privacy, except for the lack of curtains.

That night first it was sauna time, fiest the ladies and afterwards the men. And we had to cook our own diners. We had some salad and pasta from the other teams and our own sausages.

Diner

The dragon duck was a gift of the raid teams as thank you for our work and effort.

After diner there was the save arrival drink and the award ceremony of the crack-start competition, followed by a very nice evening in the former gym. 
There was a pooltable so we ended up shooting some balls and having some drinks. 

Winner of the crank-start competition 

The price

A bit later as normal we turned to our beds after a full but pleasant day.