Arctic Circle Return 2015

[ssicarman]

At least the amount of snow you are seeing seems to be elevation dependent. The lower you are seems to give less snow. Not to mention the further south you have been the less snow there has been. So the assumption is going to that from here on south you will get less.

[XCovlov70]

At least the amount of snow you are seeing seems to be elevation dependent. The lower you are seems to give less snow. Not to mention the further south you have been the less snow there has been. So the assumption is going to that from here on south you will get less.

We are hoping that is the case as our stay in Norway will be shorter than planned thanks to some totally inaccurate information provided by the Norwegian Tourist Information Office on a couple of campsites who no longer exist!

It seems that the information has never been verified or kept up to date so we now have 6 days 'free' while there is nothing else in the area or even close by, so we will be heading back down south.

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

A mixed day in Gamvik & Mehamn!

Woke to a clear day and decided to go over to have a second look at Slettnes Fyr which is a lighthouse at the most Northerly Point you can drive to on Mainland Europe.

So off we go firstly to Gamvik…..





20Km and you are there…..







Then through the village, and take a left turn for Slettnes passing these 2 houses that have burnt down!….





Bird watching station but not sure what it was before as they don’t normally have an orange dome on top!....



As we then see the lighthouse up ahead….





With a visitor information plaque…..



Then a plan of the layout of the site….





Old Staff dwelling, as now the lighthouse is automatic & unmanned.....



Another Old Dwelling which has now been turned into a Summer Café …..



The radar scanner which with the high winds here has been tied down on each corner….



Had to stand on a bench to get the next pictures of inside the Machine Room and look through double glazed windows as the old backup Power Generators are still in place but no longer used …..







Next was the Boat House which has places for 4 boats….



The boats must have been wooden construction as the rails in front of the double doors were used to bring them out on their trolleys, as 2 of the old axles are still in the concrete channel…..



They were then pushed down to the quay…..



Then lifted off the trolley and lowered into the water with the crane….



The view along the coast on a blustery and cold day……



As we then head back to Gamvick....



We pass the Museum which was not open this time but was on our previous visit and it was fascinating inside with all the different exhibits …..



Then we see this Sauna down by the sea…..



As we then get just outside the village this Reindeer crosses in front of us and notice the lack of Fur on the Antlers…..



Then heading back to Mehamn the scenery lent itself to some really nice panoramic pictures…..









As we then get back to Mehamn….



Then back on the campsite with the view across the harbour….





A short while later we got a nice surprise as we looked out of the window of the ‘TinTent’ and had to be very quiet as we drew back the net curtains!…..



The antlers on these two visitors were still covered in the Fur and seemed to be much thicker than the Reindeer we saw in Gamvik….





After a coffee and a comfort break we set off on a walk into Mehamn as the weather looked nice, and the temperature was up….



As we did the first of the 2 flights took off from the airport…..



Walking down the road we pass the place were Cod Fish heads are hung to dry out before being packed to be sent South to make Fish Soup….



While the Cod Fish Body is dried, then packed to be sent to Italy & Croatia as ‘Bacalau’ which we understand when it is then bought it is soaked in water which brings it back to a consistency which is very close to when it was caught…..



While just on the outskirts of town is another of those old American cars….



At which point it started snowing with little round snow balls, so we turned around and headed back to the campsite as the snow came down faster and heavier.
As we finally got back the clouds and snow had moved in and this was now the view across the harbour…..



We should be back on the road tomorrow on the return to Tana Bru but will have to see if the roads are open in view of the weather that came in today and wasn’t expected!….

[Da Tow'd]

good stuff I'm sure glad the heater works
your pictures remind me of my neck of the woods in the winter
everything is getting green around here now
Hank

[XCovlov70]

good stuff I'm sure glad the heater works
your pictures remind me of my neck of the woods in the winter
everything is getting green around here now
Hank

So are we very glad the heater works, especially after yesterday afternoon and last night as you will see after this!

I just wish we could get some of that green stuff to show up around here as it would also help out the two Reindeer who are still here looking for food around the 'TinTent'!

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

12 hours in Mehamn

Today is supposed to be the day when we start our journey back but the last 12 hours have put a question mark on ‘If’ we can get out as there are 2 sections of road that have Snow Barriers and we have to find out if they are down and the road is closed, meanwhile this is the reason why….

As we heard and saw the Hurtigruten Coastal Ship come into Mehamn we had to be quick to get a look as it doesn’t stay long in any of the places it calls into….



Meanwhile…..this was the view yesterday from the campsite which is a previous picture repeated…



While this was earlier today after a couple of snow showers one of which was quite heavy….



Then this was the view we woke up to this morning after another dump of snow last night!



So now we have to wait until at least 12:00 to see if it’s possible to travel over the mountains…..

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Return trip from Mehamn to Tana Bru

After kicking our heels for a few hours in glorious sunshine till a cold breeze started we finally got the OK from looking at the Norwegian Traffic System that told us the road was clear with some slush between Mehamn and Tana Bru so at 14:30hrs we started the 117 mile trip back ….

So here is a montage of pictures from that trip with not much comment….

Goodbye to the view across the harbour in Mehamn as the snow was again melting…..



Up past the airport, turn left and start to cross the Winter Wonderland scenery…











As we came around this downhill bend….



This view opens up in front of us which we both think is wonderful….





While going over the next mountain after the climb we see this piece of kit in a parking area which we think is a remote weather station sending information back about the road and weather conditions…..



The high build of snow on each side of the road was from the snowploughs as they cleared a section that went through safety barriers across a small bridge….





Food hunting Reindeer….















Interesting house as the roof went all the way down to the ground…..





Winter Ski-Doo camp is still there but not as many units now…..



Then we get back to the 3 Miles of ‘Roadworks’ where the surface is getting worse and the potholes bigger…..







The sign says 50Kmph and you are lucky if you can get between 20 & 30Kmph with the condition of the road, any faster and it’s like permanent vibration!!!



While the icicles have all but disappeared…..







No sign of the Road Construction Crew anywhere…..









More Cod fish drying out naturally….



Then as we come to the last section before Tana Bru we pass this church….



While the sign for the church on the other side of the road says….



A couple of hours after we got into Tana Bru it started to rain and has been on and off for the majority of the night, while after some input about our plans to go over to Kirkenes we have once again changed those plans as there is a possibility of getting stuck there for some time, so we are now heading to Karasjok which is the Sami Capital in Norway, which is South and slightly West from here….

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Tana Bru to Karasjok

I have to admit that after making the trip from Tana Bru to Karasjok at this time of year, the colours in the following pictures of primarily Black & White have not been in keeping with the scenery of Finnmark/Norway when we have been here on previous occasions.

Having said that the lack of growth on the Silver Birch Trees has been the prime reason for the lack of colour, as the green from the Conifer trees has been more noticeable ….





Look closely and you will see a Sauna House with a thick black line a short distance away which are the steps going down to the River where you go to cool down!!!









Finally the green colours of the Conifer Trees as we enter Karasjok…..



Tomorrow we are hoping to be able to register and join a tour of the Sámediggi (The Sami Parliament) building that looks spectacular from the outside….

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

A day in Karasjok

On the campsite with a nice view across the river ….



While this large mound of very sandy soil, was dug out to allow the construction of the campsite owners new house & reception…..



This is the new house, which has to be finished and moved into in less than two weeks from now which is the start of the camping season in Norway!!!





Off on our way into Karasjok Centre we come to…





While the information signs will make the pictures clear…..



















While here are the reindeer who live in the building on bad days, having a lazy day outside…..



Next up was this church….



While it was closed up, it was also difficult to even see through the windows as the gap between the panes of glass in the double glazing was around 4 inches, so also no pictures.
Having said that the temperature here at one point last winter went down to -41C!



Making our way back towards the Sami Parliament building for our tour we pass this plaque of two expedition members who went to Greenland….



And statue of the members….



Then a little way further up the road is the plenary building of the Sami Parliament….









While inside is the commemoration plaque signed by King Olaf
at the inauguration of the Parliament while underneath are pictures of each group of Parliament members who serve for a term of 4 years before elections are again held….



While here is the picture of the 39 Parliament members (19 Ladies & 20 Men)



Meanwhile, down the main hall is this rather intriguing sculpture which you are left to decide yourself what it represents….



We think our luck was in as we got to meet the Mayoress of Karasjok (Anne Toril Eriksen Balto) as she was coming out of a meeting at the Parliament building, while she is not a Parliament Member she was attending a meeting of the council there and was happy to talk with us for a few minutes and have her picture taken…



While this is the view by reception and the library which is open to the public, and our Guide (Anders) proudly took us to show us a book in the Sami Language with cartoons inside about Donald Duck!







As we then started our tour with Anders making our way to the Plenary we got this view of the rear of the library….



Then the outside of the Plenary….



While in the corridor are these gifts from different people or organisations that have been given to the Parliament and are in glass cases on permanent display…









As we got to the main corridor into the Plenary we are shown this picture which was found eventually in another part of Norway of one of the members of the first Sami Council in 1917…



With this description alongside the picture…..



Ground floor and cannot get into the Plenary….



So we go upstairs where the view is better, and gives us a clear view of the semi-circle of the seven seats at which the Parliament Members representing the seven regions sit when sessions are conducted….



While again the picture on the main wall which is repeated on the other side of the wall, is what you make it, and we thought of the Sami Lavvu (House) with the fire in the middle and seats etc around the outside of the fire….





Tour over while at a different angle the building looks like the mouth of a Shark or Whale with protruding teeth….



Then taking a walk across the bridge to the other side of the river this is the view looking back….



As we then see the ‘Intercity Cargo Bus’ (Passengers in the front section, cargo in the rear)….



While someone must still love ‘Barbie’ as we just found her Caravan!....



Then we spot the campsite and the new house that has got an uninterrupted view across the river…..



Back on the road and into Finland tomorrow, while this afternoon at some point in time the Fridge/Freezer in the TinTent ‘died’ on the 230V operating side!

While the Gas operating side is OK as we have something like a 4 hour trip tomorrow we are hoping that the 12V operating side is OK …..fingers crossed!

[XCovlov70]

Arctic Circle Return-2015

Karasjok - Inari

With the failure of the Fridge yesterday while using the 230V Mains Supply, on top of everything else, we are beginning to think that somewhere along the line this trip was jinxed!

So after making sure that the Gas operation of the fridge was OK, it was with some apprehension that we set off this morning hoping that all would be OK with the 12V supply while hooked up to ‘Flamenco Red’ as the next stage was a 4 hour run .….

Out through the gate of Karasjok we go….



Then we start to travel alongside the river where the water is very low as in Summer they have pleasure boats travelling up and down while now you get to see the sandy bottom on one side…..





Not long and we are at the border crossing back into……



Into the area of Lappi, the district of Utsjoki and the village of Karigasniemi…





Then through the Stop/Go lights of the Customs Post and the Speed Limit sign for travelling through villages in Finland…..



Then it was the ‘Open Road’ which was rather like a Roller Coaster Ride on the fairground with the ‘Humps’ set a bit further apart!.....



Souvenir Shop with an interesting wood carving outside…..



As we then come into Inari & a view over a small part of Lake Inari where they keep a ‘Seaplane’ but it must be in a shed somewhere for the winter as it wasn’t on the lake!....



The next picture is the signpost in Finnish and then underneath in Sami for the Sami Cultural Centre in Inari which is also the Sami Finnish Parliament building….
Go on see if you can pronounce the words…….



While here is the building….



Then just inside is a poster with a Language Lesson for everyone…..



With a plan view of the building…..



While at the side of the Library in glass cases are some of the items that would be worn/used by the Sami people who live in the area…..











After getting a few items from the local supermarket we made our way to a parking place at the side of Lake Inari for some lunch and a very pleasant and quiet afternoon/night stop with a nice couple of BBQ’d Rib Eye Steaks for dinner as the relief at finding that the fridge worked OK on 12V as we were rolling along….









As we looked out over the lake we could see 3 ‘Star’ shaped cracks in the ice.
They had occurred as ice had been formed, then the lake drained and the ice hit a submerged rock which then forced the ice up and cracked it, which must be some force as we understand that even here it is over 12 inches thick!





Around 22:30hrs just before it started raining I looked out of the window and saw a mist travelling across the lake which was really weird as it was not low cloud, and it was only on the lake…..





Short trip tomorrow as we go back to Ivalo River Camp for another stop there….