Distance travelled: 64km (40km moderately undulating; 10km blissfully downhill; 10 km punishingly uphill)
Weather: 8 degrees C; everything except snow.
Set off round 9 for the first day of our adventure in misty rain. A bit of tricky traffic to negotiate for the first couple of km (especially fun give we were riding on the other side of the road) but once out of Tromso we travelled on either designated bike paths or quiet (ish) roads.
Our route largely followed the coast skirting fjords – which made navigation a breeze.
Spent the whole day feeling like we were part of a National Geographic shoot and pinching ourselves that we should be so lucky to be here – Scenery was wild and spectacular- crystal clear glacial green waters reflecting spectacular snow topped mountains, with quaint waterside cottages. Made the enormous climbs worthwhile- even in rain/hail, this place is incredible.
Once the sun showed its face, colours transformed
Had a couple of close encounters with reindeer along the way – with herds coming down from the mountains for the grass where snow has thawed. No bears thank goodness!
A few of the challenges today:
Sommaroy is an old fishing village – pretty, but also lots of oil and construction. – only one hotel and we are in it. Meeting up with a US and British couple for dinner who are travelling the same route.
David reading maps for tomorrow – in hostel type accommodation tomorrow so not sure if we will have wifi access for blogging.