By Matthew Harris (lambchopeindhoven).
On my cycle trip through northern Norway: described in my cycle blog.
I am cycling to Tromsø with a lump in my throat. Tromsø is why I am here on my bike at 4 am on beautiful Senja island. It is why I am here at all, cycling to the North Cape. Here last December with my parents, I fell in love with the place. I had to return. And, 6 months later, here I am. The road ahead twists and turns around the fjords of Senja and Kvaløya, and every turn is one turn closer to this beautiful town of the north. Tromsø: here I come!
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Tromsø is at 69°40′33″N and 300km north of the polar circle. In the summer, the sun never sets, and I cycle in the eternal light. In the depths of winter the sun does not peek above the horizon. For about 3 hours a day the sun approaches the horizon and bathes the landscape in the most beautiful deep velvet blue. In the south the sky turns orange: a sunrise that never comes.
The shortness of the dusk – the three hours before everything is plunged again into darkness – makes one focus. The next three hours will be lived to the fullest. For the next three hours, I will live in the now. Each day is intense, and each day here is oh, so beautiful.
In the winter I looked down over Tromsø at midday in the twilight blue. In the summer I stood in the same place at midnight, bathed in the midnight sun.
In the winter we went on a motorski near Lyngen. Waiting for the ferry at Breivikeidet was stunning. Everything so blue. In the summer, the rain had come. The clouds were threatening, and the place had lost some of its magic.
Then I headed north on my bike, away from the Tromsø region, into unknown territory for me. I was accompanied by some spectacular threatening clouds as I rounded the last fjords before the trek across the tundra plateaus.
And then across the tundra in the far north. The last stretch before the North Cape.
All cyclists going to the North Cape follow the same final road. Its barren beauty fills me with joy. But, the force of the elements make you to earn the last kilometres. This is the climax, and what a climax it is! A 7 km long tunnel that plunges to 212 metres below the sea with a slope of 9%. Acceleration straight down into the frigid depths. The teeth chatter, and the whole body shudders with the cold. Outside with the final approach, the wind is brutal and the slopes are steep. And it is cold. And it rains a bit. This is what the North Cape is meant to be like. A point at the end of the earth.
Humour me. Its not the most spectacular photo of Norway. Indeed, it is a photo that everyone takes at the North Cape. For the cyclist, it has extra meaning. It is the goal of the journey, even though the journey was the goal. This is the proof that I made it to the North Cape. I have seen some of the most beautiful parts of this country, and of Europe. And I am content.
I kept a blog of my bike trip. Maybe you are interested. Also I have made a short video of the trip. Thanks for reading my post!
Copyright: Matthew Harris (lambchopeindhoven)
Beautiful shots – the area around Tromsø is amazing… 🙂
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Thanks! Yes. Tromsø is one of my favourite places. And I have been fortunate enough to see it at its best!
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These pictures are magnificent. I was looking at a photography workshop in Norway this week. A five day trip photographing the northern lights among other things. I would love to be able to go. So much more so having seen your photographs.
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Hi Chillbrook. You really should do that. Even if you don’t see the northern lights, the deep blue of the twilight bathes the landscape in a surreal blanket of peace and beauty. Wonderful!
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Yes, thank you Matthew,
this deep blue twilight is a treat for sore eyes in deed!
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Vielen Dank, dass wir diese Reise mit Fotos begleiten konnten.
lg magdalena
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Danke Magdalena. Schön, daß die Bilder dir gefallen! 🙂
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wow geniale fotos
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Danke Carinzil! 🙂
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Und deine Welpenbilder zurzeit sind soooo schön! 🙂 Knuddelknuddel
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Traumhaft schöne Fotos, lieben Dank.
Mathilda 🙂
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Danke Mathilda! Norwegen ist auch ein traumhaft schönes Land!! 🙂
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You’re description and the fantastic fotos have certainly put (this regioon of) Norway on my bucket list of places to visit. Thanks for sharing.
Best regards from southern Texas,
Pit
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Hey Pit. Thanks for your nice comment! I hope you are able to see this part of Norway one day..
All the best from Eindhoven, the Netherlands! 🙂
Matthew
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Fantastic scenics! That looks amazing!
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Thanks Phil! It was an amazing trip.
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Looks like a nice, long, beautiful trip!
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Thanks June! I’m glad it was a long trip! 🙂
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I am so eager to see Norway one day and your gorgeous photos made that all the more intense. What a beautiful land and your photos capture it magnificently. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks Jennifer! I’m glad I could share some of Norway’s beauty!
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Danke sehr für deine schöne Zusammenstellung!
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Bitte bitte. Cornelia! 🙂
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Kjära Matthew,
en underbar vacker serie.
Gratulerar så mycke med maratonlöpet i Eindhoven, I’m impressed!
Ha en fin dag,
Annalena Buchdame
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Hej Annalena. Tack så mycke. Jag har springere maratonlöpet i Stockholm ochså. Jag gjöre det i 2005. Mycke bra. Stockholm är vackert! 🙂
Ha du en fin dag ochså!!
Matthew
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Du overrasker mer og mer Matthew.
Du har vӕrt overalt og kann svensk og er en svӕrt habil løper, syklist og fotograf. I nødvendigvis i den rekkefølgen, men dog…
Nå venter vi spent på ditt nye prosjekt!
🙂
Dina og bokfeene Siri und Selma
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Jag tala bara lite svensk.. Men svensk och norsk är lätt att förstår när du tala tysk och hollandsk..
Min nye projekt är att gå på sykel från hemma till Nordkappen.. 🙂
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Jag tala bara lite svensk.. Men svensk och norsk är lätt att förstår när du tala tysk och hollandsk..
Min nye projekt är att gå på sykel från hemma till Nordkappen.. 🙂
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Thank you, Dina, for sharing this post. The landscapes are stunning beautiful and I found the article very interesting too. Ciao, Francina
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Thanks Francina! I’m glad you liked the entry!
Matthew
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You’re welcome, Matthew.
Ciao, Francina
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Thanks Francina,
I’m so delighted Matthew has become a part of our blogging family. He has spent a lot of time and effort on this two posts, not only on the bike! 🙂 and it turned out so great.
A big THANX to you, Matthew!
Dina
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Very nice blog!
http://www.thefashiondreambyfc.wordpress.com
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Thanks! 🙂
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What an exciting and difficult road trip! Thank you Dina for your first hand account with fantastic photos of the landscape that is Northern Norway. You live in a beautiful country. Eddie
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Thanks Eddie. I was honoured to be able to go on this trip in one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I’m glad you liked it! 🙂
Matthew
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you’re welcome Matthew
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Lieber Matthew,
ach schön auch mal Bilder vom Winter zu sehen. Ja, es ist ein magisches Land. Das Licht malt (macht) die Magie und genau das hast du bei deinen Bildern so wunderbar zu nutzen gewusst. Ich danke dir sehr für die Fortsetzungsreihe deiner Reisebilder und sende dir herzliche Grüße nach NL aus dem schwarzen Walde
Frau Blau
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Lieber Frau Blau,
Das ist so schön im Norden. Das Licht. Da die Sonne so lange beim Horizont bleibt, hat man so schön tief blaues Licht. Es macht ein Magie im Landschaft. Traumhaft schön!
Viele Grüße zum Schwarzwald zurück!!
Matthew
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I want to go to Norway!
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Me too! Again!
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Then you should go…
🙂
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Both of you…
🙂
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My goodness, Matthew, you are brave dealing with the distances and elements. I need to know if you came across trolls and if they were helpful to you. I can’t believe you didn’t had any help cycling such distances and fighting the harsh elements. 🙂
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Hi Paula. I passed a troll garden on Senja. There were trolls there of all shapes and sizes. Other than that, the trolls remained well hidden. Maybe they were working in the background! 🙂
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Well, Selma is working on a post about the trolls, watch out for them, uuuhuu….
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Wirklich PHANTASTISCH !!
Wir sind arg begeistert …
dm und mb
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Danke danke!! 🙂
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Toll. Schöner Text und passende Bilder dazu. Bin regelrecht mitgefahren. Danke.
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Danke! Ich freue mich, dass den Eintrag dir gefallen hat!
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Jealous! I’m hoping this summer or the next I’ll be biking highway 1 around iceland!
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Wow! Iceland is an amazing place. I did some hiking there, and drove around highway 1. It will be a very different experience for you cycling there. My favourite place there, though, was the peninsula in the north west. This peninsula is off the highway 1 main circuit. Hornstrandir is an amazing place for hiking – incredible landscape and no people or sign of people. Check it out if you have a chance! And all the best with your trip!
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Fantastic scenery, great blog. Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks Casey! I’m glad you liked it!
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great, great, great – breathless am I, enjoying this wonderful pics. Midnight sun. Wintertime – every time different …
thank you very much, matthew!
and dina too, of course!
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Wow! Thanks Sophia for your wonderful comment! 🙂
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It is always so wonderful to finally return to a place you love and have special feelings for. Thank you for sharing it with us!
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Yes! I was really excited to return to Tromsø. Now I would be equally excited returning to the Lofoten islands or Senja! All so breathtaking!
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Ich verstehe alle “Wahnsinnigen” sehr gut, die die Welt mit dem Rad erkunden. Man erlebt die Welt mit seiner Natur wie in einem Rausch. (Manchmal ist es aber doch sehr anstrengend. Die Natur. Mit Wind und Schwerkraft). Gratulation von mir.
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Anstrengend, aber dadurch auch schöner. Und intensiver. Ich liebe Fahrradfahren!
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I’ve never seriously considered going to Norway for vacation before, but this story definitely changed my mind. Now the only question to solve – how to fit it all in one lifetime…
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Enjoying life also helps you to live longer. Keep traveling and enjoying the ride (of life). 🙂
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Wir kennen die Gegend und finden, du hast super die typisch nordische Stimmung herübergebracht. Von den Buchfeen Siri und Selma herzliche Grüße, Masterchen ruht sich gerade in der Schweiz aus – wie es sich gehört 😉
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Hi Siri und Selma. Danke danke! Und auch an Masterchen viele Grüße!
Matthew
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Das sind phantastische – atemberaubende Aufnahmen! vielen Dank fürs Mitnehmen auf der “Tour” .. 🙂
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Every photo looks like Alaska. Even some of the names pop-up as Alaskan surnames, specifically, Atla. Super cool post, thanks.
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Highlight 3 : Skirting the northern coast on Austvågøya on the Lofoten islands on the way to Fiskebøl. Majestic mountains, fjords and serene tranquility.
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Beautiful series of photos.
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Stunning shots Dina. Added to my must see list! 🙂
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Beautiful shots and what a fantastic landscape
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Traumhafte faszinierende Lichtstimmungen, wunderbar eingefangen. Die Winterbilder mag ich besonders.
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Normway is so amazingly beautiful!
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I obviously wanted to say Norway, but this tricky-cheeky keyboard!
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Beautiful photographs.
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Amazing photos, what a beautiful area!
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wow, this is so beautiful! thank you for taking me on a journey through a landscape that is a polar opposite from mine on the equator! i thrive in warm weather, though this post makes me reconsider dipping my toes in your beloved northern latitudes! the photos are incredible. thank you.
lisa/z
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Absolutely awesome photographs, Matthew. I’m no biker and it doesn’t look like a trip that lends itself to walking in Winter, when you took your preferred photos. Lovely to travel with you.
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Ooooooh, Norway is such amazing place. Following you now 🙂
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Norway oh so beautiful, whenever I see pictures or videos of Norway or the whole arctic circle area
I feel it has some divine vibrations,I always feel it is the land where you feel you are heading into nothingness, it has an appeal like the Himalayas & Tibet, everywhere you feel nothingness, it is the land of the Yogis, you feel the emptiness within.
Beautiful Lapland, I love it
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