Monday 10 February: even more snow

Hetta / Enontekiö (Finland)  - Alta (Norway) 295 km

Today we had a joint breakfast to start the day, and we congratulated Claire on her birthday. Het boyfriend put up balloons for her in the breakfast room, very lovely.

We had an easy start and first headed back to the shop with the lovely lady to get Lenneke her own Kuksa. 

I bought myself some really nice gloves, and after saying goodbye to the nice lady we drove off. 

The nice lady saying goodbye to Tanguy 

My new gloves

The route for today was quite borring on the map, from Hetta is was 211 km straight on. But the snow and trucks made it challenging nevertheless. 

The road was very small and trucks refused to leave the centre of the road, leaving us only a very small stripp to pass. At one time we had to keep very right again for a truck and we drove trough the fresh snow. After the truck passed we heard this noise like our drive shaft was broken or we had at least a flat tire. So Tanguy got out of the car to have a quick look. On first sight we didn’t see major damage so we slowly drove a little further to a safer place. There we had a better look. Somehow we scooped a whole bunch of snow into the the motor area under the hood. It was everywhere and probably causing trouble. We had to take the wing of to get most of it out. The snow also ruptured the wing which probably caused the noise. 

Snow everywhere 

After we cleaned out the snow as good as possible and put the wing back in place we continued the trip. The bonking sound had gone, only the steering wheel now makes a squeaking noise when we turn. So probably there is still snow in the steering system. Hopefully this won’t cause problems if it starts freezing again.

We entered into Norway again. 

Bit of shitty picture due to snowstorm 

Weather stayed bad bur surroundings where great again. We passed more reindeer and the landscape changed every few km from flat tundra to mountains and canyons. Great to see so many different worlds in one day.

Tundra

Mountains started

Our place for tonight exists of smal 4p cabins. There is also a firehut so Tanguy and I made our diner on open fire in the hut. Very romantic.

We had cream potatoes with salmon and reindeer 

Dinner was very nice and after the drivers meeting we ended up with a lot of people in the firehut. 

Driversmeeting 

Social time in the hut

Sunday 9 February: a nice trip and a great evening

Kurravaara - Enontekiö 290 km

Today we started with breakfast in the restaurant followed by a little walk on the lake. They build a snow village there with igloos and a fireplace. Really cool. 

Leaving the campsite was the first challenge, it was a small, slippery road full off hills and curves. The first few drivers got stuck so then everybody was carefull and waited untill the one before him got up the hill. So it took a while before everybody was on the main road, but it was a great start of the day.

Waiting our turn

Once on the mainroad we continued and had a lovely tour.Today we stayed on the main raids, which doesn’t mean its less beautiful. We saw reindeer again, they tried to outrun our car and reached a gop speed of an impressive 40 km/h.

There was also this truck who drove of the road, these tings happen, and another truck who stopped beside him in the curve, making the situations really dangerous. We managed to pass because the 2CV is really small, but I don’t think other cars could. 

And of course we crossed the border of  Finland again. Just before the border we posted some cards, they had Swedisch stamps so we were right in time.

We also visited this really nice shop full of Finnish stuff and a really nice lady selling it. Tanguy got a very nice sweater, real wool. I bought reindeer paté. And we got free coffee and donuts. But only for two minutes.

My most favorite shop in Finland 

After the shop we drove to our camp for tonight. 

We had the driver’s meeting first.

After that we went to our cabin and Gertjan and Lenneke joint us.

Tanguy and me got a lovely cabin with sauna and a fireplace. I went to the sauna with Lenneke and jumped into a ice-hole to cool down. In the meantime Tanguy started our Fire-box and we eat sausages on the porch. It was a real Finnish night to remember. 

The dog really liked us.

Our cabin

Me in the ice hole

Diner time 

Now it’s time for bed, the sauna made me quite sleepy, so goodnight to you all. 

Saturday February 8: a beautiful trip 🥰

Jokkmokk - Kurravaara 262 lovely km

This morning we said goodbye to the extreme teams and took of for the first classic trip of the raid. Because the distances are much shorter and weather cleared up, we decided to the a longer route over smaller roads. 

But first we had to find a please to change the gearbox oil because the gearbox started to make some noise and we smelled some oil. In The upper countries there are petrol stations with heated workshops which you can use for changing oil and minor repairs. Normally you pay a little amount for the usage, but they liked us so much that we could use it for free.

it turned out to be a good decision to change the oil, the oil that came out was really foamy and there was a lot of little pieces of metal as well. For now we are okay, but back home I think we have to revise the gearbox thoroughly or replace it.

The plug of the gearbox with all the metal pieces on it

Doesn’t look like it, but this is oil 

Taking the longer route was also a good decision. The road was beautiful white and quite. We saw reindeer and lovely landscapes and scenery. After al the days of bad weather and the long last drive we really enjoyed today. 

We came trough some small villages, stopped to pee and to take a lot of pictures. Now hurry finally.

Before going to the cabins we did some shopping. We wanted to buy some beer and wine but that is not possible in a Swedisch supermarket, and on Saturday the official liquor store is closed. So just Whisky, Beerenburg and Jagermeister tonight. 🙈.

The road to the cabins was a nice suprise at the end of the day. White, small and with hills, love it.

We celebrated the first save arrival in fromt pf pur cabin and then Some of the teams cooked their own meals, some enjoyed a simple but good reindeer stew with baked potatoes in the restaurant. 

After diner we had an outside drivers meeting regarding the next day and then went to bed real early.