Nordkapp (North Cape) Norway

I was up and at it early, leaving my Bed and Breakfast in Finland and riding up toward the North Cape. I knew it was going to be a long ride. Everywhere along the route there were reindeer:

This part of Finland is called Lapland. It is the home of the Sami people who herd reindeer. There is a lot of them to herd. They eat them and make clothes from them and use them to pull sleighs in the Winter. This area has a lot of lakes, although not as many as in southern Finland. After about three hours of riding I came to the Barents Sea. Had to stop to take a picture:

I was just getting ready to get back on my motorcycle when Peter and Esther pulled in behind me. They were out exploring and were going the other way, and they just happened to see me parked there. Small world. I had not seen them in days.

They were on their way to Alta, Norway. It turns out that is my destination tonight too. But first, I want to get up to the North Cape (Nordkapp in Norwegian). Peter and Esther had already been there, but I had a long way to go before I was there. Time to get back on the road. And a bleak road it is. I am in the great Northern Tundra now.

It seemed like I had been riding for hours when I saw the sign for the North Cape.

There are very few gas stations up here, but the road is nice, much nicer than the road from the Arctic Circle to the Arctic Ocean in Alaska.

Nordkapp must be very popular because there were a lot of motorcycles, cars and tour buses there. The big visitors center has some movies to watch about changing seasons, and some displays about World War II activities, but the big thing to do is get your picture taken at the globe of the world.

I was at the North Cape for a couple of hours. When it was time to leave the sky was turning dark and I could tell I was going to be riding in the rain soon. I have two hours to go before I will be at the hotel in Alta, Norway. I didn't much like the idea of riding in the rain. Thank goodness for the Midnight Sun. I could see okay, but I was worried about the herds of reindeer that seem to be everywhere up here. Maybe the rain will keep them off the roads.

I was absolutely exhausted when I got to my hotel. It turned out to be deep in the Norwegian woods; much farther from the town of Alta than I had thought it would be. You never know what you are going to get when you book on-line. It was a nice place, though, and I was glad to have a warm and dry room.

A nice meal of Reindeer stew and a shower, and I was ready for bed. Tomorrow I plan to ride south along the mountain chain that splits Norway and Sweden -- that is if the weather is nice.

Goodnight.
Ron