What an awesome day. Night cycling alone in the sun on the Finnmarksvidda and following the Alta River down to the final big plunge to the coast. Arctic-cycler is happy cycling in the Arctic.
Day 38. 205km. Leppäjärvi – Alta
Posted: July 15, 2013 in Cycling, Finland, NorwayTags: Cycling, Finland, Norway
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Day 37. 90km. Karesuando – Leppäjärvi
Posted: July 14, 2013 in Cycling, FinlandTags: Cycling, Finland
Today was a day of cloud watching. Spectacular light and dark contrasts over the Finnish arctic landscape. I’m back on the campervan pilgrim trail. Night cycling is called for.
The mosquitos vs Matthew. Through the night and the day I was pursued. And eaten.
I’m out in the sticks now. And not, at the same time. There are villages and holiday houses. I’m on the only (main) road. Although it’s not busy, it’s straight, long and boring. I miss those quiet forest paths.
Day 34. 171km. Kalix – Pello
Posted: July 11, 2013 in Cycling, Finland, SwedenTags: Cycling, Finland, Sweden
Today I was caught in a time warp. I passed 4000km since my start in Eindhoven and crossed the Arctic Circle, where I suddenly grew 16 years younger and met Ed (who cycled the first 60km of my 4000km). Ed also looked younger.
Cycling on and on. The next village. The next forest road. Headwind, tailwind. Beach. River.
Today I stopped. And listened. Silence. The background whoosh of the wind. A bird cry. A plop in the lake. And then silence again. Beautiful.
A tail wind makes it all good. It was a grey day but I liked it. Made some kilometres and met some lovely people.
Headwind and roadworks. The conditions make such a difference and today was a slog. Forests, lakes and sea. Harder to enjoy them today.
Boat trip with company to Umeå. The best forest road yet. My first hostel that kind of didn’t exist. Didn’t stay there. Camping ground near the coast. Beautiful day. Sweden.
Day 29. 124km. Kristiinankaupunki – Vasa
Posted: July 6, 2013 in Cycling, FinlandTags: Cycling, Finland, Kristiinankaupunki, Vaasa, Vasa
Wind. Slow. Kilometres crawl by. Irritation.
Wind drops. Side roads – forest road, meteor crater road, sunny entrance into Vasa. My last day in Finland for this part of the trip. A sunny exit.
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