Nordland I

In total I drove about 590 km in the last two days. The weather is ok, temperatures were between 15 and 19 degrees, hardly any rain, little wind. Only the clouds hang quite low. From Grong in the Nord Trondelag area I followed the coastal road Fv17 (Kystriksveien), which is said to be one of the 101 most beautiful routes in the world. There are actually beautiful views, small settlements alternate with beautiful mountain ranges, it is slightly winding up and down, about 400m difference in altitude is the maximum and there are also typical Norwegian tunnels and ferry rides. Some ferry lines have been free since mid-August, and the Norwegian government uses state funds for this. So I made good progress. I also drive a few kilometers on roads that are not paved. They remind me of Iceland, but at the same time they could be in other northern regions of the world, like Alaska or Siberia.

At Lona's I stop at a bridge and look around. Then I spot fish in the river. They are quite large and a few kilometers further, during the lunch break, local elderly gentlemen explain to me that these were salmon. Great, I should have... But where to put it then. I'd rather do the catching fish on another trip ;o)

In the town of Mosjøen, a room awaits me in an old Norwegian townhouse on the ground floor. This is how I experience first-hand how it is to live in this type of house. The city center is generally well preserved, many old buildings, modernized inside, but nothing has changed in terms of size and outer skin.

I've been on the road for 5 weeks now. My sense of time has become even more relaxed. The tight rhythm of everyday life has fallen away and I usually sit on the bike with a relaxed, broad smile. Somehow "living" feels a little different, but it's hard to describe how. Today, for example, I felt like I was a flying dragon that had beautiful iridescent scales and is now gradually losing them. troll effects?? 😉

From Mosjøen I move on, looking for the Fv17 again to drive along the coast. I love that very much. I find it very attractive to be surrounded by the sea, the bays and the sea air. Even temperatures below 20 degrees do not bother me. Among other things, I stop again at an old structure of the Atlantic Wall, this time it was blasted into the bare rock. Even a hospital tunnel was under construction but never completed.

At the ferry terminal in Kilboghamn, I unknowingly arrive at exactly the ferry departure time and rejoice at my luck. Then I supposedly miss the exit - but it was only the stopover. I'm happy again, what a lucky day. The captain then added the icing on the cake with the announcement from the tape that we were about to cross the Arctic Circle.

The first night in the Arctic Circle is approaching, and I spend it in a small holiday home complex in Jektvika, which is still managed by its builder.