Nordic Summer Paradises - Part 2

Via the E6 to the Troms region

+++ June 9th, 2024 +++
9:30 a.m. - as usual, the time to continue our journey. From Røssvoll Camping we continue to our next stop, the Arctic Circle, continuing uphill to 671m above sea level. On the western edge are the tracks of the Polar Express. Arrival after 69km around 10:20 a.m. Nuki has fun in the snow.

From here the sun will no longer set for the next few days.
A few souvenir purchases and we continue shortly after 12:00 p.m.

About 8km further we reach the small rest area Semska. In the middle of the stone desert there is a watercourse that runs through the barren rocky landscape before it descends again to around 60m above sea level, 136km further north, past Fauske.

We make a short stop at the Moan rest area shortly after 3:30 p.m. before continuing to Drag to the ferry.

7:00 p.m. - We cross over to Kjopsvik, ferry time about 45 minutes. Beautiful views along the way.

8:10 p.m. - Just a few kilometers further, we can't quite believe it. A gigantic, pointed and steep boulder stands in front of us, directly in front of it a nice rest area. It is the Stetind, imposing and majestic as it stands there.
We spend the night here and are completely alone.

+++ June 10, 2024 +++
7:30 a.m. - It starts a little earlier today. A breakfast break at the Storaya Efjord rest area through some tunnels. Another great view from this small island, which is connected to the E6 via bridges.

08:50 a.m. - Continue past Narvik. We stay on the E6 and leave the fjords up towards Bardufoss.

11:30 a.m. - We are in Gratangen and look down into the fjord from a hill near the hotel. War monuments remind us of the past.

11:50 a.m. - We reach our destination, Solbakken Camping. We are alone at first, but the place fills up later. In between we drive to the nearby "Sir Henri's Waterfall". Imposing and refreshing.

Senja

+++ June 11, 2024 +++
9:10 a.m. - Departure from Camping Solbakken.
After a short stop at the Kabe dealer Lians near Bardufoss, we continue past Finnsnes and Senja.

12:00 p.m. - Arrival at Senja Camping. A great facility, very quietly located on the lake. We have a friend here...

1:00 p.m. - Visit to Storforsen with a view towards Svanfjell. Stones can be so beautiful. Unfortunately only rain for the rest of the day.

+++ June 12, 2024 +++
9:00 a.m. - Departure for the round trip around Senja. The weather is poor, some stations remain obscured in fog.

11:00 a.m. - We reach Bovaer Beach. A great view opens before us. An old hut on wooden stilts decorates the beach and makes us curious.

1:30 p.m. - in the north of Senja we find Husoy, a small island docked to the island of Senja itself.
A tiny little place, at the northern end we come across a small lighthouse on a hill.

6:30 p.m. Another short detour in the evening to Kaperskaret, an area similar to the mountain region around Jotunheimen. Behind the tunnel there is a small serpentine descent with a waterfall that trickles down the steep curve.

Nordland - Vesteralen

+++ June 13, 2024 +++
9:30 a.m. - We leave Senja and drive back to the mainland through Finnsnes. Our route leads through other small islands, Andørja and Rolla.

11:30 a.m. - We rest at the Mjosundbrua, the connecting bridge to the island of Andørja. There is little traffic here and the views are magnificent. We let it sink in.

1:00 p.m. - We are now on Rolla. Time to take the ferry again. Here at Sorollnes harbor the next crossing is at 1:45 p.m. We wait and look around again before crossing to Stangnes, a journey time of 45 minutes.

4:00 p.m. - We are now on Hinnoya and taking a short break at the Oterberget rest area. The place looks quite inconspicuous as you drive past, but it's definitely worth a stop. The view of the fjord impresses us.

5:00 p.m. - We arrive at our next overnight stop, Gullesfjord Camping.
The complex is located directly on the Gullesfjord and is surrounded by partly snow-covered mountains. The square is currently still undergoing major renovation work. It will be exciting to see how the facility will change after the renovation.

+++ June 14, 2024 +++
8:50 a.m. - Today we set off a little earlier than usual. Our destination: The island of Andøya.
We drive to the northern end of the island and park our team at Camping Bleik.
A wonderful, picturesque backdrop lies before us. Almost snow-white fine sand lies at our feet, in the background there are jagged mountain peaks that tower over everything in the background like crowns.
We stay here for two nights and continue to look around the island.

8:00 p.m. - We drive to the nearby Kleivodden rest area. The road here leads around the rock with a tight curve. The coast impresses with its stone formations combined with the magnificent panoramic view of the sea.

+++ June 15, 2024 +++
9:30 a.m. - we set off on our round trip around Andøya, counterclockwise.
9:45 a.m. - First stop: The Hestvika viewpoint. In a rocky bay we find a hidden place with a nice panoramic view. There are a few sheep walking around, grazing here. We stay here for about an hour.

11:15 a.m. - The Borhella rest area is located southwest of the island. Here too, the rock formations next to the lighthouse are the main attraction. A short walk here also takes us about an hour.

1:10 p.m. - after a small off-road passage we reach Hvit beach in the south of the island. Although there is a campsite, we seem to be almost alone here. Here, too, we notice the fine, white sandy beach, which forms a great symbiosis with the play of colors of the water and the mountains in the background. Here too we come across a typical lighthouse. After almost an hour we drive on.

2:15 p.m. - After another drive along the small roads to the southeastern side, we stop at the former point of the "Experience Andoy". A small jetty from which tours obviously start. What is particularly interesting is the view over the water to the neighboring coastal sections and their mountains. What a view !

We drive back to Camping Bleik and end our tour for today.

Lofoten

+++ June 16, 2024 +++
9:30 a.m. - We depart as usual - we leave the island of Andøya. Our destination: The Lofoten. Until then, there are some stations that will leave us speechless.

11:50 a.m. - our first destination for the day, the Skagenkrysset rest area.
We look at the adjacent bridge, the connection between the islands of Langøya and Hadseløya. 30 exciting minutes with fantastic views.

 12:25 p.m. - just a few minutes later on the other side of the bridge: the Borøya rest area.
Here, too, we are amazed at the prospects.

1:20 p.m. - We arrive at Melbu ferry port. Here we want to cross to Fiskebøl. The ferry arrives at 1:45 p.m. and the crossing takes approximately 45 minutes.

5:05 p.m. - Immediately after the ferry docks, we drive through to Hov Camping on the Lofoten. A whopping 23°C and pure sunshine pamper us and we enjoy the views all the way to our destination.

The campsite is located directly on the beach, similar to Andenes / Bleik. A riding stable is part of the complex, and a golf club is next door. Occasionally a few riders come past the beach.

+++ June 17, 2024 +++
9:30 a.m. - We start our first day of excursion to the Lofoten. The focus is on the sights south of our campsite.

11:00 a.m. - Skreda rest area. A panoramic view of the water lets us dream again.
Interesting little houses stand by the water. Great architecture that, as always in Norway, fits fantastically into the landscape.

11:50 a.m. - Brunstranda, just outside Flakstad. There is a picturesque campsite right on the white beach.
We walk along the water and enjoy the ambience again.

1:15 p.m. - There's no end, the next stop is another dream. Hamnøya, a small fishing village nestled picturesquely in the mountains of Lofoten by the water.

2:10 p.m. - The southernmost end of the Lofoten that we can reach is the village of Å. You have to see it, you have to be there. We look at the last tiny islets beyond that are no longer accessible to us.

5:10 p.m. - Return to Nusfjord. A small town southeast of the Lofoten Islands in a secluded location.

+++ June 18, 2024 +++
We start our second day in Lofoten at 9:00 a.m. Today we are focusing on the part north of our campsite.

9:40 a.m. - Henningsvaer. Another impressive place, which is particularly impressive due to its unique stadium, a football field embedded in the sea water all around. But the place is also ideal for shopping.

1:15 p.m. - Further northwest is Storholmen. Very quiet location, very few people come here. Impressive panorama lies before us.

2:35 p.m. - Back on the way to Hov, we stop at the Austnesfjord rest area. We reach the hill via a wooden staircase and wooden walkways and look down on the great surroundings from above.

4:00 p.m. - shortly before Hov we pass Gimsøystraumen and another striking bridge that has embedded itself in the landscape. Fantastic, we end our last day in the Lofoten.

Here is the first part

Here is the third part