Day 37 - Norway, Country # 15

Day 37 Monday September 19

Today we achieved a milestone of traveling 10000+ kms on the trip. Starting at 8 am from Rovaniemi we drove to Honningsvag in Norway (country # 15)

At around 10 am the temperature dipped to 5 deg and it is still drizzling at regular intervals. Due to this we need to take frequent bio breaks and hot tea breaks. We had an early lunch at Siida, Inari.

 

Tea break beside a lake

As the weather is getting colder we can see the trees are shedding their leaves. Trees have a funny way of getting ready for winter. Unlike people, who bundle up against the cold, deciduous trees sense the receding sunlight of shorter days and commence to get naked. And then they stay that way all winter long.

We say goodbye to Finland and across a small river bridge lies Norway. We are now in a different time zone and gain an hour. Within a few kilometres we are driving along the shores of the Barents Sea, which is a part of the Arctic Ocean. Driving very close to the sea and traversing over hills and tunnels, one of which was 7 kms long and 200 metres below sea level, we reached our hotel, Scandic Bryggen, Honningsvag at 7 pm. Technically it is 8 pm from where we started in Finland so we have been on the road for 12 hours today.

A small bridge separates Finland and Norway

Entering Norway

Honningsvag is like a one street town. Shops shut by 4 pm and restaurants are closed by 6 pm. We got some yoghurt and fruits from the supermarket and the food packets that AO has brought along came in use, the hotel allowed us to make the ready-to-eat chhole, daal and rice in their kitchen for dinner.

Post dinner we had a Tête-à-Tête with the Pamechas. We have been traveling together for more than a month now and sharing our family stories and travel experiences is heartwarming and a great way to connect.

Today's stats:

Santa's Igloos Arctic Circle, Rovaniemi - 8.15 am

Tea break 10 am - 10.30 am - 161 kms

Lunch at SIIDA, Inari 12.30 pm - 1.30 pm - 160 kms

Diesel break in Norway - local time 2 pm, Gained one hour - 43 L

NOK 984.27 EUR 98.31 INR 190 per litre - 117 kms

Tea break 4.30 pm - 5.15 pm - 138 kms

Hotel Scandic Bryggen Honningsvag 7.00 pm

Traveled today 676 kms

Total distance 10169 kms