Norway Fjords with motorcycle :
Day-15 : 18 July 2016  Monday
from Bodo>>>to Namskogan :-Total distance : 435 km


After the breakfast at the Hotel Bodo I packed all my stuff into the cases of my motor bike. There was little rain (not heavy) and I put on my rain gear at the balcony of the hotel right at the pavement of the street. Meanwhile, I watched the Technical Service people who came with their van in order to take the Harley Davidson bike from the Hotel side. An elderly couple were accompanying the service guys. There should be a technical problem with the HD bike.

I departed from the Hotel and took the direction to Fauske. The road is wide and smooth and is like a high way. It is approx. 55 km to Fauske. I bought fuel at the entrance of Fauske and stopped there for a few minutes for rest. Then I took the direction to the south. Rognan, Nordnes, Storjord. meanwhile, the road was good but the weater was cold. There was no rain though. Getting closer to the Polar Circle Station the surrounding ambiance was cruel and cold. The road took me to approx. 730 meter up the sea level. It was real cold nature. When I came to the Polar Circle Station which I saw on my left hand side I rode inside and parked my bike in order to rest. There were a lot of tourists resting and shopping in the souvenier shops. I also bought a T-shirt for my son. The café was not really attractive and I did not take coffee even I would like to have one.

After a rest of half an hour, I continued my ride in the direction of Mo i Rana. Around 13:30 I saw a nice restaurant/motel on the left hand side of the road. I stopped there in the wide parking lot and took off my rain gear. I decided to have a lunch here. The small town is called Bjerka and the restaurant is Bjerka Kro AS. When I was trying to take off my rain gear
a nice Norwegian guy at late sixties started to talk. He was waiting for his wife. The gentleman was working for a chemicals factory here around and was buying big bags from a Turkish manufacturer in Istanbul. For this purpose he was travelling to Istanbul once a year.
We talked a few minutes while I was getting ready to go inside the restaurant. I ordered a steak with salad and a Coke. After the meal I went to my bike in order to depart. I took the road E6 to the south. I rode to Korgen and then to Mosjoen. The road conditions were very good. The sky was also open and the weather was good. There is an obvious change after passing the Polar Circle downwards. The meadows and the nature was also more green.

My ride was well. The road took me down to Nord Namskogan. It was approx. 18:30 when I passed the gate Nord-Norge and right after this I saw a Camping place on the left hand side at a steady water side. It was Namsen river and the Nyheim Camping with wooden cabins and areas for caravans. I talked with the girl at the reception and she offered me one little wooden cabin for 120.-NKR fo rone night. It is maybe 1/3 or 1/4 of the price of a regular Hotel. 

Nyheim Camping

My little hut

There is only one bed, one very little fridge and a chair inside the cabin. I changed and went out. I took some pictures and walked to the next fuel station in order to buy some food and some drinks. There is nothing to eat and drink in the Nyheim Camping area.
I bought potato chips, some biscuits and a bar of chocolate. I also bought water. These were all my dinner for tonight.

Namsen River

When I came back to my cabin I tried to prepare my Arvento road tracing device. It was not working because of some water leakage inside the protection.I tried to dry it with the hair drier which I borrowed from the girl in the reception. But the attempt was not successful and I decided to disconnect it from the bike. 

The weather was getting colder and I switched on my electrical heater in the cabin. It was enough for having a warm little hut to sleep. I slept well in my little hut. Good night !!!

Norway Fjords with motorcycle :
Day-14 : 17 July 2016  Sunday
from Tromsö>>>to Bodo via Narvik :-Total distance : 550 km
The breakfast at the terrace of the Hotel St. Elisabeth was good. The weather was cloudy but the view over Tromsö and the sea was spectacular. The glas covered breakfast hall at the terrace was one of the best places in the hotel building.

After finishing my breakfast I put my stuff into the cases of my motorbike. It started to rain.
After putting on my rain gear, I departed at 09.00 o'clock. I took the direction to the South. My plan is to overnight in Bodo. The route goes through Narvik. I reached there around 12:30. The roads are well paved. Even in the rain the tires are grasping the road very well. 

Approaching to Narvik there is a town called Bjerkvik. It is 30-35 km from Narvik and is located at the sea side (Ofotfjord). The view of the road approaching to Bjerkvik is very nice. I did not stop at Bjerkvik and continued to ride.

If I do not mix, there is a bridge construction across the bay of the fjord. It is almost finished. I rode all along the fjord bay. Narvik is a port city. There are a lot of ports and piers at Narvik. In order to exit the city there is a long tunnel under Narvik. Vehicles are using this tunnel in order to go to South.

I have always the problems of my country in my mind. The coup in Turkey and the probable proceedings of it are causing head ache.I am trying to analize it with limited data and without having the real time information. It is causing questions in my mind.

Just at the South exit of Narvik I sat in the fuel station Circle K. I bought fuel for my motorbike and a coffee for me. I sat outside on a wooden bench and ate one of the sandwiches I had prepared in the Hotel in Tromsö.

The weather is still not clear. Sometimes it starts to rain sometimes it stops. I followed the route in the direction Bodo. Right hand side of the route is looking to the Ofotfjord. The road is close to the sea and the view is very nice. After Ballangen the road starts to climb to the hills. Approx. aftre 6-7 kms I stopped at the left side of the road. There was a romantic and calm view on a field which had been harvested recently. I took some pictures.

Just after Ballangen.

After riding one more hour on the E6 road, I came to the town Skaberget where from I took the ferry to Bognes. I waited for 10-15 minutes and then the ferry took us to the other side in 1/2 hours. It costs 66.-NKR. I had been in Bognes around 15:20.

From the ferry from Skaberget to Bognes.

Sometimes I rode along the fjords but most of my trip was on the hills on the green nature. It took around 2,5 hours to the city Fauske. At Fauske I took the direction to the West to the city Bodo. It is around 50 kms. The road is wide and well paved. It is almost in high way conditions. There was some rain though. 

When I arrived at Bodo I searched Hotel. I asked two-three hotels but it is too expensive. 
Then I sat in the lobby of Radisson Blu and used their Wifi to book a hotel in Bodo.
I succeed to book Bodo Hotell for 700 NKR. The Hotel is very close to Radisson Blue.
I moved there and made check-in. The hotel was right in the corner and my room had got good view. I took off all my stuff and laid them on the radiators and furniture in order to get them dried.

After having some rest in my room I went out for seightseeing. I walked through the streets
which are well arranged in perpendicular manner. I came to the sea side and to the port.
There are a few old time boats and traditional vessels.

I took some pictures of the port and the boats. Then I saw a very nice restaurant/bar having view to the port. I sat there. The food was very nice. I ate sea food and had two glasses of white wine. Around 23:00 o'clock I walked back to the hotel. Including mine, there were 5 motorbikes in front of the hotel. Most probably a am not alone as motor biker staying at the Hotell Bodo.

Entrance of the port and the Restaurant/Bar Building

Norway Fjords with motorcycle :
Day-13 : 16 July 2016  Saturday
from Alta >>>to Tromsö :-Total distance : 305 km

After the wonderful breakfast at the Hotel in Alta I departed around 09:00 o'clock. The sky was clear and blue and the weather was nice. I took the route all along the fjord and in a short time (after 10 kms) I reached to a nice view point where I stopped my bike and took some pictures.

The road conditions are perfect and the view is attractive. I crossed the bridge. 

10 kms on the south of Alta

After riding for more then 1 hour I stopped at the hill looking over the fjord. It was just after the town called Storslett. While I was resting there, a group of Chinese cyclists came and stopped around me. It is really great job to climb with the bicycles.

 At the  front  extension of the hill there was  a pair making camping there.  Meanwhile, two french families came to the parking site with their motocaravans. I had to leave. 
I reached to Olderdalen where I took a ferry at 12:40. I bought a coffee at the Kiosk at the pier and  talked with the guy there. He is a German guy and living here for more then 15 years. I ate also one of my sandwiches which I had prepared at the breakfast in the Hotel Thon in Alta. The ferry costs 84.-Krones and takes to  Lyngseidet in 40 minutes.

View from the ferry

After embarkment at Lyngseidet I rode 15 kms to the next ferry station callled Svensby. This ferry took us to Breivikiedet. This one costs 66.-Krones and departed at 14:00 o'clock.
It took around 30 minutes. After the ferry I rode around 45 kms. I was just on the other side of Tromsö.There is a Shell Fuel Station close to the white building which is a church with modern design.  Tromsö is a city on an island and a long bridge is connecting it to the mainland. The fuel costs 15.22 Krones/liter. Roughly 1.60-1.65 Euro/liter. After crossing over the bridge I arrived at the town Tromsö and I found my Hotel St.Elisabeth. I had booked the Hotel in Alta and it costs around 55.-Euro. It is a well furnished old building having a nice view over the sea. The building have been used as a hospital operated by the church but is already converted into a hotel. The surrounding area is very safe for parking motorbikes.
The hotel St. Elisabeth is located little bit outside of the city centre. It takes 5-6 minutes by walking to the centre.

Looking from the Tromsö Island to the main land.

I went out from the Hotel around 17:00. There was a little rain. I moved my motorbike to the little shed just in front of the hotel. I walked to the seaside. There were a few passengers from the cruise ship walking in the streets. The port of Tromsö is clean and neat. 

Bay of the city

One of the streets close to the sea

I walked through the streets. It was raining softly. There is also a modern looking glas building which is the Public Library. Adjacent to the library I saw at the corner a bistro called Bardus. It is at Cora Sandalsgate 4. It was looking cosy. I enterde the bistro and sat down. First I decided to drink a wine there. But I felt happy and fine so I ordered something to eat. I ate shellfish soup and as the main dish I took Cod fish. 

Public Library

After the dinner at the Bardus Bistro I went down to a street close to the sea. I saw  a few bars on both sides of the street. I sat down at one of these bars and took some beer. There were a few people in the bar as well on the streets. 

Then I started to walk to my Hotel. It was 22:00 o'clock when I came back to the hotel. I drank a coffe in the lobby and I talked with the girl in the reception. She was a nice and young girl. She was working temporarily in the hotel and she had aimed to go to Oslo to study nursary. Later on I went to my room to sleep.

View from the Hotel St. Elisabeth

Norway Fjords with motorcycle :
Day-12 : 15 July 2016  Friday
from NORDKAPP>>>to ALTA via Hammerfest:-Total distance : 350 km

When I woke up in my room in the ground floor, I looked to the sky. Depending to the weather I would decide for making another visit to Nordkapp. Regrettfully, the weather and the sky was not promising. So, I decided to ride to Alta which is the city in the Northern part of Norway. 

I went to the breakfast hall on the first floor of the Hostel Vendererhiem. The breakfast banquet was not bad. As soon as I finished my breakfast I sat at the computer desk there in order to book my hotel in Alta. There was a continueing problem with internet connection 

with my own notebook and Iphone. I couldn 't manage to get connected to the internet.

After the breakfast I put all my stuff to my motorbike. The wind was blowing strongly. There was also a rain sprayed with the wind. I put on my rain gear and departed from the Hostel.

All the way down to the tunnel and then from the tunnel exit to Russenes I took wind from side and the rain was also terrible. The wind, sometimes, was trying to blow me away from the road.

When I came to Russenes and Olderfjord I made a stop at the same coffe shop and I bought a coffee. When I turned to the west direction the wind and the rain became acceptable. The road conditions are well. 

After 20-25 kms I saw the  sign to Hammerfest. It was something around 11:00 and I took the route to Hammerfest which is one of the cities in the North. There were some construction work on the road. In some places I had to ride on the gravel. The road became better when I came to the sea shore on the left. The view to the left over the sea is wonderful. There were a few groups of raindeer at the side of the road.

Backround Hammerfest

In the centre of Hammerfest

In front of the town house.

I parked my motorcycle in the center close to the port. There were a lot of people on the streets. I recognized a market place on the street to the port. I looked around. Hammerfest

is a port city in the North of Norway. The gulfstream is touching this part of Norway and the sea never freezes. The economy is based on fishery. Herring is the most common fish.

I walked  and then I sat in a restaurant in the pier and ordered a delicious pizza. 

After the lunch break I walked to my bike and departed for Alta. I rode back on the same route to the E6 junction. On the junction I took the route E6 to southwest. Untouched nature 

was romantic. Riding further to south, made the weather better. Closer to Alta the sun was shining nicely and heating me up. I did not make any stop even my fuel was going less and less. I decided to buy fuel in Alta.

It was 16:30 when I stopped at the Hotel Thon Vica. Thon Hotel Vica is just at the side of the main road and there is a neighbored fuel station where I bought fuel before registering in the hotel. The city Alta is located at the side of the Altafjorden. There is also a river with the same name ending at Alta. Solmon fishing is very popular. I paid approx. 90.-Euro for one night including breakfast. Privat parking is free.

After resting a little bit in my room I went down and rode to the Alta Museum. Alta Museum is famous with the rock carvings from the very old times of the humankind. 

...taken from Wikipedia ....

"The World Heritage Rock art Centre - Alta Museum is located at Alta in Finnmark, Norway. Norway.^[1]

World Heritage Rock Art - Alta Museum is located in Hjemmeluft, a small bay on Altafjord near the Arctic Circle.^[2] Alta Museum is northern Norway's most-visited summer museum, with more than 1,000 visitors each day.^[3] It presents exhibitions on local culture and historic industries including the nearby prehistoric rock carvings that form a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The museum is situated at the site of early settlement of Finnmark dating from around 11,000 years ago.^[4][5] In 1973, the first rock carvings in Hjemmeluft were found. To date over 3000 figures have been registered here. The museum opened in June 1991 and won the European Museum of the Year Award in 1993.^[3] "

View to the West from the Alta Museum

View from the Alta Museum

On the way back to my Hotel I turned to the right where there is a natural park at the bank of the Alta river. I parked my motorcycle there and walked at the bank of the river. I saw people who are camping and fishing. The weather was sunny and the sky was clear. 

Fly fishing in Alta River.

Alta City 

After I have returned to the Hotel I decided to take dinner at the restaurant on the base floor. The restaurant of the Hotel is one of the recommended food places in Alta. I ate deer meat and also a salad. It was tasty but expensive.

Dinner in The Restaurant Thon Hotel Vica : Deer Meat

During the dinner my Iphone took some messages from my friends in Turkey. It was the moment in Turkey !! The "coup" had been tried unfortunately. I stayed long time connected to the messages of my friends and I talked on the phone to my family a couple of times.

Watching the international news channels I tried to sleep.

With Motorcycle to NORDKAPP-Norway
Day-11 : 14 July 2016  Thursday
from Inari (Finland)>>>to NORDKAPP (Norway) :-Total distance : 422 km
TOTAL DISTANCE from ISTANBUL to NORDKAPP : 4,715 km

After a nice breakfast at the Hotel Kultahovi I started to pack my stuff and prepare my bike for the ride to the North. I departed around 08:50 from the parking lot. I bought fuel at the fuel station which is just at the corner to the main road, a few hundred meters from the Hotel. The road is flat and straight. All surrounding nature is green. 

After 33 kms I came to a junction to the left. It was 09:12 and I took the direction to Karasjok which is a Norwegian city on the way to Nordkapp.The border between Finnland and Norway is without any procedure. It is only 100 km away from Inari. On the Norwegian side the road follows the Karasjohka River. The flatness of the earth surface is changing in Norway and curves are getting more.

In Karasjoki I visited an open air museum. It was a historical village of the Sami people.Sami are the native people of this part of the world.

.....this part is taken from Wikipedia :

The Sami people (also Sámi or Saami, traditionally known in English as Lapps or Laplanders) are an indigenous Finno-Ugric people inhabiting the Arctic area of Sápmi, which today encompasses parts of far northern Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia. The Sami are the only indigenous people of Scandinavia recognized and protected under the international conventions of indigenous peoples, and are hence the northernmost indigenous people of Europe.^[8] Sami ancestral lands are not well-defined, and span an area of approximately 390,000 km² (150,000 sq. mi.),^{[citation needed]} which is approximately the size of Norway, in the Nordic countries. Their traditional languages are the Sami languages and are classified as a branch of the Uralic language family.
Traditionally, the Sami have pursued a variety of livelihoods, including coastal fishing, fur trapping, and sheep herding. Their best-known means of livelihood is semi-nomadic reindeer herding. Currently about 10% of the Sami are connected to reindeer herding, providing them with meat, fur, and transportation. 2,800 Sami people are actively involved in herding on a full-time basis.^[9] For traditional, environmental, cultural, and political reasons, reindeer herding is legally reserved only for Sami people in some regions of the Nordic countries.^[10]

.......thanks to Wikipedia

Open-air museum of Sami culture

Sami Village

Kitchen hut of the Sami village

It was around 11:50 when I reached to the Norwegian city Lakselv. It is a small city and most of the buildings are located on the side of the main road. I wanted to buy fuel and to change some of my Euro notes into Norway Krones. Keep in mind !!! It is almost IMPOSSIBLE to change money in Norway. Even the banks are not helping for this purpose. I visited a bank branch in Lakselv and they declined to sell Krones to me. The only way to have Krones is to draw money at the ATM. But DO NOT be pesimistic !!! Someone may pay with credit card everywhere and for every amount.  

I bought a small glass of champagne (Moet & Chandon) in a liquor shop. In Norway, alcoholic drinks are only sold in monopole shops. Then I departed for Nordkapp. The weather was rainy and I had my rain gear on.

I followed te route all along the west bank of the Porsangerfjorden. The view is very romantic and greyish. The water is less due to tide. There are a few huts distributed on the bank. I passed the towns Igeldas, Kalvik, Kistrand and Olderfjord and stopped at Russenes at the shop Lind & sons. I drank a coffee and bought a few stickers for my motorbike.

In the direction of Nordkapp the people on the road is getting more. This is a touristic route.
getting closer to the island of Honningsvag the routes are getting curved. The weather was windy and rainy. There is a underwater tunnel for passing to the Honningsvag. It is a long tunnel (maybe 4,5 kms). The naked surrounding earth is very alone and romantic.

When I came to the T-junction close to Honningsvag I took left branch n order to proceed to the Nordkapp. It was approx. 15:30 o'clock and it is fine to ride to the North. The distance is roughly 30 kms. The road conditions are good but the weather was terrible. Foggy and windy  weather caused me to slow down. There was also rain with wind which was hurting my chicks when I opened windshield of my helmet. 

15 kms before Nordkapp, view to the Northwest.

The temperature was around 8,5 degC when I reached to the Nordkapp. To enter the Nordkapp facility I paid approx. 27 Euro. There are lots of tourist buses and many cars and bikes who were visiting. It is a good job to collect money.

Just in front of the main entrance to Nordkapp

At the Nordkapp

Ready to celebrate at 71 deg 10min 21sec

The wind was very terrible outside. I took some pictures and then I walked to the building.

It is warm inside but very crowded. There are a lot of tourists from the Cruise Ships which are in the port of Honningsvag.

After one hour I decided to ride back to Honningsvag where there should be my Hostel I am going to stay for one night. I had arranged this Hostel on the internet maybe 2-3 days ago. It is very complicate to find free accomodation in tis area. The prices are also very high. The weather was much more terrible on the way back to the town. It is mostly downhill but the side wind was pressing me to the left. 

Finally I was in front of the Vandererhiem Hostel. It is located 3-4 kms away from Honningsvag and almost at the junction to the Nordkapp direction.I paid 65.-USD incl. breakfast. They gave me one room on the ground level close to the WC and shower. The room was enough big. 

After resting for half an hour and having shower I took my bike and I rode to the city Honningsvag. There is a big Shell fuel station on the way. I filled my tank. 

This city is popular with fishery and tourism. Beside these two things there are also military bases here around. Especially the entrance of the city was smelling like a fish market.

Main part and port of the city Honningsvag

One of few restaurants in Honningsvag: Good for crab soup and sea food.

In the parking lot of the Vandererhiem Hostel.