Stage 4 from 12.9. - 18.9.2022

Stage 4 from 12.9. to 18.9.2022

After a visit to the Swiss Café in Mounio and a tour of the great photo gallery of confectioner Thomas Achermann, who, unlike us, has already captured many beautiful Northern Lights as well as moose and reindeer through his lens, we continue our journey northward. We use the Northern Lights Route towards the border with Norway, always along the FIN/SWE border river Muonionjoki through the beautifully golden-colored tundra to the border town of Kilpisjärvi, where we settle in at the campsite for the last cold night in Finland.

The next morning, we leave Finland and drive to Norway, into a completely different landscape: deep valleys, waterfalls on both sides of the road, mountains with glaciers and snowy fields, magnificent views along countless fjords. We drive straight to Tromsø, the city also known as the gateway to the Arctic Ocean. We explore the city, which was not destroyed during the war. First, we visit the Arctic Cathedral, the famous church impresses with its special architecture and is well worth seeing. We reach the city center of Tromsø via a great bridge, with its mix of old wooden houses and modern buildings that fit together perfectly. There is also a ship from Hurtigruten in the harbor, which also makes a stop in the city. With a cold wind blowing, a mulled wine in the city is very welcome.

The onward journey takes us repeatedly on small roads through tunnels and over bridges along lakes, fjords, and rivers, in rainy, cool, and windy weather. We stop in Harstad at a campsite right on the shore of Vägsfjorden. We have decided to take a detour to the Vesterålen island group, which is north of the Lofoten Islands. We actually wanted to go to the island of Andenes for whale watching, but had to realize that these tours are only offered until September 15th. However, we still make the detour over the island group, especially as the weather has improved. After a ferry ride from Kengnes to Flesnes, we reach the Vesterålen island group via a bridge near Sortland. We explore the various islands, the views of the open sea are magnificent. In Straume near Bø in the southwest, we find a small campsite right on a small lake. We have the place all to ourselves and enjoy the peace and the views of a lake with swans and ducks.

Today, the sun is shining again in the morning, so we drive through a tunnel that is currently under construction. The passage is only possible at certain times and only as part of a convoy. We leave the Vesterålen Islands and soon reach the Lofoten Islands, crossing the Hurtigruten postal ship along the way. The Lofoten Islands welcome us with sunny weather and splendid views of the jagged mountains. We find our overnight place in Lyngvärstranda, beautifully located right on the water.

Today's tour takes us on various hidden paths around the island of Gimsøya to Leknes. This larger town is, so to speak, a hub of the Lofoten Islands with various shopping opportunities. We also replenish our supplies before heading to the southern tip of the Lofoten Islands, to Å. We make a stop in Reine, a pretty, typical Lofoten village with many picturesque corners and just as many tourists... In Ramberg, we settle in at a campsite right by the sea, at night it's windy and stormy, our motorhome is really shaking, but everything holds up and everything is watertight.

In the morning, it is still windy and it has rained a little. The mountains all around are shrouded in clouds, creating a special atmosphere. On our way, we make a detour to Nusfjord, a small fishing village with many old buildings and fishermen's huts. The village is even listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a detour that is really worth it, as it offers a beautiful insight into the houses and facilities of a Lofoten village, even if it is partly designed like a local museum. After the visit, we drive straight to Lødingen, where we want to catch a ferry to Bognes at 3 p.m. This crossing saves us a "detour" via Narvik and about 300 km of driving distance with the motorhome. On the way to Bodø, some campsites are already closed due to the season, but we find a beautiful place located by the water in Mørsvikbotn, where we settle in for the xxxth time.