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Rain. Cold (not freezing like yesterday). Little wind, and what the was was a tailwind. With better weather forecasted from midnight onwards, I’ve stopped in Lakselv – the largest town for 100s of km, to sleep and have another midnight start.

Day 44. 66km. Olderfjord – Lakselv. Map and gpx.

Cycling in the rain is no fun. Grey skies, low hanging clouds, fjords shrouded in mist. While cycling, I am warm enough. When I stop, I throw on all the warm clothes, but still, the dampness creeps in.

Some excitement when I was overtaken by a herd of Porsches and other cars of light speed. They pulled over to the side of the road, one of the guys threw off his clothes and went for a naked swim in the fjord.

If I had done that, I never would have warmed up again. It was rather amusing to watch. Apparently it is not that cold in the water.

The countryside is not as barren as further north and the coast is not as steep. There are trees, and it all feels less severe.

During a lunch break in a bus stop shelter, I checked the weather forecast. From midnight on it will be sunny with a few clouds. Much nicer cycling weather. What better than midnight cycling in the sun on the Sværholt peninsula – the most remote peninsula in Norway?

As I cycled further, my decision became clearer. It was miserable cycling in the rain. I stopped in Lakselv at 14:30 and took a hotel room. Dinner (or is it a second lunch), a bit of shopping, and then sleep, sleep, per chance to dream.