Northtour - Norway (4)
The FV98 was a wonderful road which didn't get to an end. At a time I had driven over the mountains and a sight out to the fjord Lathipahta opened.
The ground sinked to sea level. It still was a very lonesome way to Lakself.
Also the weather became worse. But this was no compromise like what expected me later on.
I liked this region very much but it was not as exciting as the landscapes on the road FV98. Before I reached Olderfjord I have made a breakt to get the panoramic view. The trees in front of were still bared and the mountain scapes in the background give a amazing picture.
The target for this day was not quite clear. The North Cape seemed to be to far away to me but when I arrived in Ollderfjord I decided to drive on. The way led on sea level at the fjord than several times up and down the mountains and because the North Cape lies on an island I had to take a tunnel of 6.8km (4.2 miles) length and 212m (232 yards) under the sea level. The gradient was 10%. And there were many tunnels to take.
The weather fitted to the panorama and the virginity and wilderness. But then the sky was crowded by clouds, wind was coming up, then a storm crossed the land. The same time the road rose over the mountains again. The side wind power were so hard that I had to drive nearly diagonally. From time to time the blasts became harder. It was not easy to lead the motorbike on the street and I had to reduce the speed significantly. This way on the island of the North Cape might be compared with the FV98. And if you think nothing can live up here you're wrong. Here I saw reindeer in their winter furs and they did rarely stood out from the ground. Unfortunetaly I couldn't get them on a photo or clip.
The wobbling to see in my next video while driving is caused by the hard wind blasts. From minute 6:20 I was on the last free part of the way to the Cape. There I became extremly vehement and I thought that I could real problems on the way back if the strom stayed as strong.
On my journey I collected all the bills. But here at the cash desk the storm blew me the paper off the hand. The cashier told me that the storm would rise more to wind strenght 9 or 10 and earliest from 4 a. m. it should ease again. Okay, I was here at first on my second target.
The storm grew up harder and the sight became worse.
Unfortunetaly the wind has bold my motorbike over. Straighten up the bike was only possible without the luggage. So I put it beside. When I put up the motorbike the storm was blewing my round seabags over the parking place - and the bags were stoudly filled and heavy. I ran after, was able to get them and layed the bags down at wind protected location.
Again I have had back luck. The luggage was save and I thought about putting the bike also to the protected place. I went back and before I could reach there was a hard wind blast and kicked it over again. Outcom: the glass of the head lights was broken, the handlebar was warped and there was a scratching while turning the steering wheel.
It looked like there were a technical problem with the steering head bearings. How bad. Long time later I found that the kocking plate was warped only. By the way the wind shield is scratched too. Schame. At this point I have to say thank you to a motorbike technician from the south of Germany who was here with his motorhome and fully equipped tool box. He gave me a helping hand and had some good tips for me!
At the pead of the Cape the storm grew up and was heavier than before. Now here follow two together cutted clips of my cameras. It was nearly unpossible to stay hands-free in the blasty wind.
The day was finished at this place. I was not able to drive back the road with this storm. So I discovered the center of the North Cape with all of the presentations and took several coffees and snacks. It never went dark and my feeling for the time was completely lost. At 1 a. m. the center closed.
Because of the heavy blasts I couldn't think about building up the tent. I didn't also want to loose the sleeping bag by blowing away. I searche a wind protected pont and let the storm go over me. What a eventful and beautiful day!
The data to day 10 (2018, May 19th):
Km-Stand (mileage): 51,644km, 428km (266 miles) driven
Refuel: 348km, 15.67L, 292NOK = 30.83€
Overnight stay: -
Eating, drinking: 336.01NOK = 32.40€
Entrance fee North Cape: 38.- €
Souvenirs: 535NOK = 51.59€
