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.

Monday 3 februari: a day of extremes

Kaamanen - Honningvåg: 377 km

Today we took the touristic route to Honningsvåg near the Nordcape. First we had to fill up the petrol so we drove to Inari. From there we took the smaller roads to Norway. It was beautiful! The sun started shining and then the reindeer appeared before the cars. The landscape was like a ferrytail, so beautiful.

We drove with five teams today. The pictures will tell more than words.

First reindeer

I have lot more pictures but it would be to much to insert them all.

After this great road along the border we entered Norway. We did some shopping their because of the motor engine cooking competition. So we had to buy the ingredients for the exhaust pipe chicken wings.

The border

The local version of a bike

A bit of oil leakage, where does it come from?

In Karasjok we also visited the Sami museum but is was closed. The shop was open though, so we bought a Sami flag and stickers. We also cleaned the snow from the back wheelarch. If it gets full and icy it will destroy al the wires when it starts melting. 

Not to much snow in it today

After this stop we continued towards the northcape. By this time the weather was still okay and the scenery beautiful.

We stopped at a petrol station to fill up the car and to prepare the chickenwings. They had to be on the engine for 150 km.

Preparing diner

Where should we put it

There it is

After everybody prepared their diner and installed it somewhere in there engine we continued our trip. Weather turned and snow started to fall. Also the wind got harder. It was pretty chalaging, but what do you want....... it’s the extreme. At some parts the wind was blowing so hard it blew our car almost of the road. Luckily Tanguy is a very good driver and he got us to the hostel safely. It’s hard to capture wind on a picture, but it was pretty hard.

There where four tunnels on the trip, it was a moment of rest, but getting up, out of the tunnel was hard.

At one moment the Christmas reindeer we have in the back off the car turned on 😳

We arrived save in Honningvåg and we had a look at our chickenwings right away. Unfortunately our’s were burned badly, but Jeff and Sien’s were cooked perfectly. So we still had something to eat. After we got installed in our room I had a nice warm shower to relax after the excitement of the last 110 km. 

Our chicken

Jeff and Sien’s chicken

At eight o clock it was time for the drivers meeting. We started with the traditional save drive drink and then we had to tell the bad news. Because of the weather conditions there is a big chance that we can not go to the norhtcape tomorrow. Heavy snow is predicted, so maybe we can’t even leave Honningsvåg tomorrow. Before today the road was closed for three days.

So we have four plans:

A: we visit the northcape at 11 and drive the 430 km to the next hotel after the visit.

B: we can’t visit thenorthcape and drive the 430 km to the next hotel right after breakfast.

C: we can’t visit the northcape and can’t leave Honningsvåg because of bad weather so we have to stay here longer.

D: we can’t visit the northcape and can’t take the road cause it’s closed, but take the Hurtigruten boat to Alta instead and go to the next hotel from there.

Tomorrow at breakfast we hope to know more.

After the meeting we shared stories until the aurora alarm went off. Some went outside to try to see the northern lights but there was to much city light here. The weather was nice and the wind was gone. Hard to imagine that there will be problems tomorrow.

Honningsvåg by night

Sien going to sleep in the car

The cars in front of the hotel

Now i am going to sleep, tomorrow will be an exciting day anyhow.

Goodnight and sleep wel