Made it, Ma! Top of the World!!
With apologies to James Cagney, i’ve always wanted to use that line…..
Actually Nordkapp is just the most northerly point you can reach by road on the European Mainland, it’s just 19 degrees south of the actual top of the world, the North Pole.
The drive from Alta to Honningsvag and on to the Nordkapp led us through some increasing desolate landscapes: technically described as tundra with bogs and very little vegetation more than knee high. Some of it reminded me of the more barren parts of the Pennine Way, such as Bleaklow Fell. Here’s a vid to give you some idea – bear in mind there’s no roadway along the top of the Pennine Way!!!
We also came this rather lovely waterfall, it’s beauty compromised by all the construction equipment engaged in building a new tunnel to replace the absolute shocker we had managed to survive by driving at 25 mph, along with the locals who seemed equally terrified…..
Huge excitement for me, sad little man that i am, i actually saw some real live Reindeer today!!!
Initially what happened was that i almost ran into one: I spotted a small VW coming towards me seemingly stopped and wondered what that was all about. At the last minute i saw the large male Reindeer on the other side of the road that the VW had stopped to avoid. Took some evasive action myself to avoid hitting the creature, i was pretty badly shaken!!!
After i had calmed down a little i did a u-turn and drove back to get some pics, by which time the animal had moved off the road.
Quite a few of these small fishing communities along the coast: some of them inhabited by the Sami who are the only folks allowed to herd Reindeer which they combine with fishing to eke out a living.
Each winter the roads get torn up by the weather and Norwegians spend the short summer getting them back into shape: so these traffic jams are pretty common this far north.
The main purpose of the pic is to show you more hardy souls sunbathing [temperature 26c] and sea swimming.
Didn’t fancy it myself!!!
Here are a couple more pics, including the inevitable bridge!!!
The ‘final destination’ of the Nordkapp itself very much put me in mind of John O’Groats and Lands End, although a little more stylish than either of those ‘end of the road’ UK destinations. Not a complaint, folks, I know it’s a cliche to say that these gigs are about the journey not about the destination but in this case that’s an absolute truth, especially given the magnificence of the Norweigan landscape. Here are a couple of pics of the Nordkapp:
On the road back from the Nordkapp to Honningsvag I was rewarded with exactly the video i wanted to be able to share with grandchildren Martha, Max and Edie!!! These female Reideer and their offspring are using the snow patch to cool off in the ridiculous summer temperatures we have been enjoying up here in the ‘frozen north’!!!
Having been somewhat underwhelmed by the Nordkapp, today’s brief visit proved sufficient so all day tomorrow will be spent in the around Honningsvag preparing for the long journey south through Finland which starts on Saturday! Quite looking forward to it – some steady motorway driving will make a change from all those hairpins and tunnels, although i will miss the ferry rides….
Watch this space!
Tony's Geriatric Adventures 