Oldies and Coldies

Last night was totally starry, but without the northern lights. We froze for a while 🥶 but then gave up. The cold really takes its toll on you.

This morning we want to buy some motor oil at the petrol station shop as a precaution - it doesn't open until 11am (!)... So we only carry on with a liter of reserve oil - refill the oil twice - there won't be a petrol station on the way until around km 100. 30 km before that, red control light again, no more oil, park and stop! What to do? Stop someone, drive 30km to the gas station, buy oil and somehow return... The lot falls to me!

Wilfried stops a car, the friendly Finnish man can't speak English, but is willing to give me a lift. And here we go. 30km of meager conversation, gas station, buy oil, and now? I ask the nice lady at the cash desk if she knows anyone who can take me back. And as helpful as people in remote areas tend to be, she knows someone and calls them. The man arrives in a van with two dogs jumping around excitedly on the front seat. He motions for me to get in. I open the door, squeeze into the car and the next moment the little white dog has made himself comfortable on my lap and the big one has put his snout on my shoulder. So we drive the 30 km back to the car.

We top up the oil and drive to a small mechanic in the village. Unfortunately he doesn't have time, not tomorrow either, maybe on Friday... Good advice is expensive! Tomorrow we have the husky tour, still about 50km away, it's already paid for. We fill up the oil again and drive to Hetta, where we will have our husky tour tomorrow. We are advised to go to a workshop which is another 80 km away. We decide to spend the night at the campsite in Hetta today, go on the husky tour tomorrow and then drive to the workshop in Muonio with more oil. We'll call them and make an appointment on Friday at 2 p.m.

Thank God the engine works perfectly, we “only” lose oil - not in torrents, but it drips constantly. This more likely indicates seal damage... 🙏

It's around -20° all day and even lower in the evening. The locals also moan and say this is completely abnormal. The temperatures will last about another week.

I'm glad that I have my thick down sleeping bag with me - it's calming even though it's quite warm in the car thanks to the electric heater. You never know what will happen...

In any case, we won't be able to observe the Northern Lights outdoors today! We are the only guests at the campsite who are allowed to use the sauna and then off to our sleeping bags!