Tønsberg – Oslo – Bodø. 1997
On the 7th of July 2012 I set off from Bodø (just north of the polar circle in Norway) and cycled north to Nordkapp (the North Cape). It was been 15 years in coming: stage two of the cycle trip to the most northern place in continental Europe.
In 1997 I cycled in Norway with Ed from Tønsberg (just south of Oslo) to Bodø – just over the polar circle. The trip took us through blistering sun (!) and through pouring rain. Mountains up. Mountains down. Races against time to make it from one ferry to the next. At the polar circle crossing, the scenery opened out into a beautiful tundra expanse with thick, ominous clouds, and a landscape patched with snow.
We didn’t have long, and sometimes took the fast (busy) road rather than the pretty, quiet, meandering road. We had a flight to catch in Bodø. The diary I kept of that 1997 trip refuses to be found. I still have my maps and my photos.
After the cycle trip I went on a 10 day hike even further north, on Svalbard.
arctic-cycler.com 
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Hi, i’m planing to start my cycling trip from Croatia to Nordkapp, but first i will climb up (with bicycle) on “Stelvio pass”, and through Switzerland start to Nordkapp. Can you tell me what was the time (date) when you start your trip? Is there any camp places “on the road” or you can put your tend wherever you want?
This year i cycled around the Europe (about 6000 km), and if you need some information about it, please ask 😉
Hi there.
It sounds like a nice trip you are planning. I think the best time to cycle up in northern Norway is July and August. If you want to cycle in 24 hour sun, maybe July is better than August. It is probably a bit too cold earlier than that.. So, leave early enough to be at the North Cape by that time.. I stayed in camping grounds and hotels. There are enough of them on the way. I prefer staying there so I can have a hot shower. In Norway, you are allowed to camp anywhere you like (as long as you are not directly near a house), although that is then without the shower.. 🙂
Where did you cycle in Europe?
Matthew