woensdag 5 februari 2020

Tuesday 4th February: almost to te north cape and just in time at the hotel

Honningsvåg- almost the Northcape- Sørkjosen: 431 extreme km


Today we planned to visite the Northcape with the 11:00 hour convoy. We already knew their was a  change the gate would not open after yesterday’s bad weather and today’s predictions, but we refused to not give it a try. So around 9 everybody started waking up their cars and we went on our way to the most northern part of Europe.


It snowed a bit last night so we had to clean the cars from the snow. And then it started to hail also.





But we got on the move, came a long way and almost made it. Weather was pretty bad and a hard wind was blowing over the Artic toendra, the road was slippery and going up. All the perfect conditions for an Extreme ride. We were going pretty good until that one hill, we didn’t made it up. So I put my spikes under my shoes and got out of the car. Icy wind was blowing hard, but we had to get the car moving again, so I pushed until it was going up by itself again. And then I walked after it until Tanguy found a place save to let me back in without getting stuck again. While I was walking up after the car a small avalanche came down. Luckily it was small and I was save but it made me realize how fragile I was walking their in this harsh but beautiful part of the world.
I reached the car safely and Tanguy and me put on the snow chains on. When I was safe back in the car, Gert-jan phoned us that he spoke to the snowplow man and their was no way anybody was going up the northcape today. So we turned around and started the trip to today’s hotel in Sørkjosen. 
first part of the way back was amazing, sun shining hard wind blowing and beautiful scenery, 😊 

 










In the first tunnel we stopped to take the chains of.



We after the tunnel we found a nice spot for a coffee and toilet break on the way.







Toilet 🤔


After the break we drove on, enjoying all the beautiful tings we saw outside. Wind was blowing prettyhard and the road was a bit slippery, but nothing we couldn’t handle.


We had some petrol for the cars and sausages for ourself before turning up the Artic Highway, E6.
Some say it is part of worlds most dangerous roads, but it is also one of world’s most beautiful roads. It just depends on who you ask.








And then it got dark and weather turned, the wind started blowing even harder and it started snowing hard. We could see much so driving was very challenging, but also gave a great kick.


It is so hard to capture the weather on a goto, but believe me, it wad bad. Snow was falling so hard that their were jo tracks left to follow. I had google
maps opened to instruct Tanguy were the curves were because he couldn’t see the road at all.
But we made it save to the hotel just to find out the road was closed right behind us. Three teams were stuck behind the barrier and didn’t make it to the hotel. 




Picture made by one of the teams.
Luckily they found a place to spent the night, and saw the northern lights!!!
We enjoyed a nice diner in the boring hotel and went to bed without seeing Borealis.

Local fish specialty for Tanguy

Salted lamb for me.
After dinner we had the drivers meeting and the save arrival drink. We new the other three teams were save so we could say Hölökynkölökyn. Tomorrow we see how it goes with the road and weather and decide how to react. 
But first a good night sleep.