Crossing the Arctic (Polar) Circle, and Coastal Route 2

20 June 2015.

We are enjoying the coastal route immensly! We were to cross the Arctic ("Polar") Circle today, but we kept stopping to enjoy the view! 

Don't you love those little red huts? They were traditionally used as fishing huts, where the fishermen processed the catch and then slept upstairs for convenience. Nowadays many have been converted into cabins for renting to tourists. What a lovely place to stay for a holiday! 

Then when we were just 10km from the Arctic circle we found the best-ever camping spot! It was only 4 pm but we couldn't pass it up. 

Official sunset and sunrise times here are 7 minutes apart, and of course it doesn't get dark. 

So it looks like the Arctic circle crossing will be tomorrow morning. 

21 June 2015, mid summers day. 

We have just crossed the Arctic, or Polar Circle! We are on a ferry from Rødøy Fjord (where spent the night) going northwards to Jetvik. Because we crossed by ferry and not road we can't go the kiosk which exists to sell souvenirs of the crossing as well as a stamped certificate to prove that we have crossed the circle. So here is our proof! 

Today is midsummer's day, so tonight the sun will not set at the Arctic circle. The midnight sun is visible here for 25 days. 

Just over the circle is the Svartigen Ice Cap and glacier. 

While we're looking at it a Norwegian turned up and said that last time he was here, 10 years ago, it came down to sea level. 

So now we are continuing northwards, still on the spectacular coastal route. 

Coastal Route, E17

19 June 2015

We are currently driving the "Coastal Route" also known as E17. This is a 650km scenic drive along Norway's west coast, crossing fjords, taking ferries to offshore islands, and occasional bridge or tunnel. The scenery is quite spectacular, and quite varying too. Some parts are fairly flat, others very steep granite cliffs. 

One of them is pink, no doubt due to its pink granite ("serpentine") composition. 

There are hundreds of islands visible from the coast.

Have a look at the islands showing on this map. This shows part of our track today. It includes some of the islands, which we reach by vehicle ferry. 

The weather is beautiful today, with just a little wind to keep us short of ecstatic. We have met people in motor homes returning southwards, discouraged by the run of bad weather. We have seen more motor homes going south than northwards -a fact we find quite pleasing! One of our destinations is the Lofoten Islands, -along with hundreds of other motorhomes at this time of year, we are told. So we are hoping the recent weather will result in a little less congestion there. 

And we have seen our first MOOSE!

This dopey little fella is one of the very hairy old breed of cattle they breed up here. Cute?

This map shows our track for the last couple of days. And yes that is the Arctic circle just to the north. We should cross it tomorrow! That is breathtaking to me! I in fact I don't think I know anyone else who has crossed the Arctic circle!