Mad dogs …
Everything has changed. Gone are the thousand lakes and the endless forests. Gone too, if temporarily, are the midges. We have crossed into Norway, into snow-capped mountains on the edge of the sea.
The 200km trip north from Lakselv along the E6 and E69 is spectacular, at one point diving deep beneath the sea in a 6km tunnel – exciting in a car, not so pleasant for the many laden-down cyclists heading north for world’s end.
The objective was Nordkapp via Honningsvag, a town we last saw under deep snow in December. By coincidence MS Finnmarken is moored at Honningsvag quay, the ship that brought us here over Christmas, as is P&O’s Arcadia, the ship we travelled on to the US, the Arctic and the Med. As a consequence the town is echoing to the sound of English accents and so is Nordkapp where the dreaded cruise tour buses line the car park.
Seven months on the snow has gone from Honningsvag and it looks a little rough around the edges but then most towns are improved by their winter coats. This first image of MS Finnmarken contrasts with the version shown here:
It is a long haul to Nordkapp and as you climb through cloud there is a sense of achievement on arrival. This is soon followed by disillusionment at the exorbitant entry fee – like Land’s End, Nordkapp is now a themed experience but having come this far we feel obliged to cough up. At least there is a statue which recognises our irritation – “No Kimi, I will not tell you again, it is just too darn expensive!”
In all the +1000km we have journeyed to the far north, I had not seen one UK registration plate until this appeared in the car park at Nordkapp. Only mad dogs and Englishmen would go out in the land of midnight sun in such a device – good luck to them, a fine adventure.
The snow-capped mountains come in the next post.
northumbrian : light 
Thanks for the mid-day (here) escape. Such lovely, spare beauty. Haven’t been to Norway since the 70’s, but I remember its beauty.
janet
A pleasure Janet, glad you liked it – and in colour (mostly)! 😀
A fascinating collection of images. Love that Morgan – still manufactured and they have a dealer in Norway!
Many thanks – they do indeed still make them(at a price). This one was at Motorcycle Live last year – https://www.polaroidblipfoto.com/entry/5002215
A contrast to the previous year when it was done out in Gulf colours!
love your shots – and the quality of the light. Thanks
Many thanks Maureen – the light that never dims (at least at this time of year)
Looks like you are having an amazing time!
We are thanks Sue – quite an adventure 🙂
Absolutely fantastic photos, Robin. Love the flowers in the boots. Is “themed experience” the politically correct name for “tourist trap”?
Many thanks Julie – actually ‘trap’ is exactly right – if you don’t know what to expect, doing a u-turn at the entrance would not be an easy manoeuvre.