Saura active rest

My time at Saura slowly is reaching its end, at night I've planned to board a ferry "Hurtigruten" to Tromso, then I pedal on.
Meanwhile I do enjoy Saura as the sun shines strongly, found a straight long dirt road which starts by red "fjosa" the through wetlands, castle grid, this part takes me a half an hour to run and another half to run back. Yesterday, I run even further, passed the cattle's grid and run til reached a shade of local mountain and back. Open water and mountains in the distance an you run and run, catching every sun rays on the way and fresh air. For me it is a  joy to breath deep and loud.
You can shout as much you want. Instantly you can feel that your Endorphins level is going up:-) *
I even introduced my friends to geocaching game, which was fun. I need to underline that, both of treasures were found by Sylwek who was first time geo hunting:-)

*no photos taken while running as I left every gadget right behind me

My brother

Lucky me that I have brother, though at the beginning our relation was  rough. Now with time and distance which sets as apart, brotherhood which I wish everyone.
Last but not least my brother is getting married, what a story and I am to be best man. Now only I need to pedal faster to be by the altar right behind my brother. Hence my trip by train to save some time otherwise I spent Christmas on the road. Interesting prospect, I need a spike winter tires. Just!

Saura

"Home sweat home" at my brother's quarter. My and Surly still are recuperating here well. For are start, delicious scramble eggs on the bacono. Yummy. Then small BBQ with my friends organised in a "fjosa" then we moved indoors. Delicious, mouthwatering grilled meat and just symbolic amount of stronger stuff - vodka. Somehow I'm not keen on drenching, myself with "water of live", eastern European style. Surly not.
Car tours around Andoya, during which my friend Sylwester aka Sylwek showed me his "woods", the primary school, work place etc. 

Met Lena, my friend's partner and I had a chance to chat for a while as guys went to work. Played with younger son Jurgen as the oldest son went with grandma to visit a relative. Funny story as I guided Lena and Sylwek, some decade ago through "Warszawskie ZOO". More likely Lena would have some photos from that time. Just ask:-) 

Henningsvær

Contacted my boys, they will pick me up along the way.
Why not meet somewhere interesting, hence klatrecafe in Henningsvær. Found some shelter in a local shop as the heaven started to sprinkle everything around. Sent dozen of postcards, would send more as they were so beautiful, just my address book run out of new ones. When cafe open at 6pm I just moved in. Funny, somehow I understood that was hiking shop, cafe and school all together and opening time was slightly strange was for me. Local business pattern, saying that I was lucky to find this cosy place open as I travel out of the season. Tell me more.
Matteo, who run this evening a catering side of the business offered me a traditional fish dish. Could not resist as the warmth from a fire place was highly influencing my mood:-)
Then my boys arrived and we chat for a while while trying my first local beer. Packed my Surly and set off. Direction Saura.

The sign

For some time as I cycle, especially when I pass this roadside stick, I have this thought of winter, and cycling throughout and my chances of survival. Norwegian are gearing up for winter. What about me?

The red thin line

I strongly believe that thin line exist between bravery and stupidity. Strongly driven I decided to reach "Whale beach" in my sandals and when I reached the ridge and lost my bearings. It hit me! I crossed the line, which in my case was red thin line as my body was trying to tell me something by splashing red Dullux on my face. Lucky me.
I  had done my descent which was a challenge on its own rights then soldier on in my sandals through marshland to the mountain hut, where I left Surly. Adventurous, yes. Though, at any point there was no need to scramble a rescue helicopter team.
The day has not finished for me yet, decided to reach with Surly, yet another sandy beach. Where I could play with refreshingly cold water, have a strawberry jam waffle right on the beach and scribble some notes on postcards. My play time was cut short when I look over two bridges and off you go. The weather had changed rapidly, ominous clouds, gusty wind, patchy rain. At some moments it was so hard to move on, as I need to pedal on the way down. Luckily managed to post my cards and reach my camp, where at least I new someone and could ask for help if need it. Lucky me.
***
Thought of that day: you need right tools for a job in that case boots, Danek boots! Good guide is welcome too:-)
***

PS It was good walk for my sandals as I washed them thoroughly:-)

Along 815

I left heavy and rainy clouds behind me and cycled along 815 what a wonderful ride it was. At some point went out of beaten track as you do when exploring the surrounding area. I pushed my friend up the hill, cycled through rocky path to find view spot. The place was beautiful to stay overnight, just that draft on top of that hill. I pedal on. Found yet another interesting camping  spot. On rocks, shelf like, overlooking fjord and last but not least no wind. At night from time to time full moon gave me company. In the morning, low flying jets created such a boom that I couldn't resist and wake up. What a tranquil view, sunshine, autumn in full swing.
Carried on along 815, at some point I noticed bicycles repainted and attached to lamp posts. Then close to the road on the backyard behind trees was a silhouette  painting I suppose. I cycled by. Then after some distance I had decided to go back and check it out, as excuse I would asked for a tap water as I indeed was running low. To my surprise my host and his "guard" dog let me chat for a moment, then my bottle came back full and as extra my host brought a tin. Which I tell you, was consumed with the pleasure and strawberry jam too. Definitely I need more iron:-)

Johnny

What a start. Johnny Cash on the local radio:-) 
What you need more? Sunshine, radio and your 2 wheels all in the living room. Getting spoiled:-) :-) :-) :-)

Ramberg - day 1

Drizzly start in the morning - Moskenes, gentle ride stopped by the road works, where a young man, crew member pointed my attention towards sea eagles. Magnificent. Then only became better and better, When stopped at the beach - Ramberg, decided to take some photos. What a sand, water colour and you now what? Campsite nearby with one tent already pitched. I could not resist, was the time to book in.
Leaving an erected tent and excess off my luggage allowed me to enjoy the view. I followed my "map " and tried to circumnavigate a mountain. I even missed the moment when the tarmac disappeared, then even dirt road had its end. I soldier on. Many times I carried my bike over rocks though cycled where ever possible. Then after some time I calculated my progress and decided to do U-turn, otherwise could be left stranded on the rocks til next day. Surly not.
To my satisfaction the return was rapid and I cycled to my camp with breakfast idea on my mind. Yes! Scrambled eggs!
At the campsite met my local guide, Anita and somehow we could talk and talk. With the little help of my guide, some ideas where born, where to go and what to see.

Sunday morning

Time to do something extra and take my yellow running T-shirt from "sweatshop" Hopeful that no speeding ticket* for me running on the road is waiting nearby. Only what to wear, sandals?

Ha, that was for long on my mind to run in Saura, 1hour run would do for me:-)
Vitamin capsules do the wonders to my body , no more red flag from my nose.
My BMI need to be corrected as I left  some of 5kg behind.

I might ask SweatShop for sponsoring as my yellow T-shirt sports their logo all over the country.

Now time to rest, time for a nap
*read - a fine.

Photo below: Pawel aka Mlody and Aga after 7 times 5k run :-)
Photo: me     ©dnk202

Ferry to Lofoten

The ferry arrives at the dock by midnight, with lights on, clear sky and calm sea appears as mother-spaceship docking. For a moment Northern lights are visible. Two French girls joined me for a brief moment as we all sought shelter from a wind playing strong in the harbour. The ferry arrives in Moskenes by 4am, I found a shelter on the deck of a local coffee shop, whereas girls soldier on into the darkness, assumingly towards nearby campsite.

Train2Bodo

The train, well, usually I just pedal though this time, the climate and my time window is slowly closing. In order to spend some time with my brother and childhood friend, whom I haven't had seen for a decade. The journey took me through middle part of Norway, on the train I could chat with locals, learned about Styrkeprøven, a race from Trondheim to Oslo, 500+ km more than 24 hours. I met someone who was a part of some time ago. Wow! That is a ride. Then I had a chance to talk with Torbjorn Lie, who offered to be my host if I were nearby in the future. OK, Lie you have written your details, open and very positive, well memorised move:-)
Strangely enough the train developed some malfunction, hence the photo of the locomotive and we were allowed to stretch legs on the platform for some time. What a relax when you compare with the saddle. Then like in the book "Why don't you fly". No why?

Train ...

Well time to sleep:-)  as I'm getting spoiled with the at , my brother's quarter.
More about a train and ferry, Lofoten, Ramberg and kite runners later on as tomorrow* is today.

* "Tomorrow is today, only tomorrow"

Trondheim

Well, the crew and all passengers left the platform only me and Surly. Drizzly night and no location to set a camp, interesting night. I'm leaving the station and cycle along the harbour. Then a sign, an open gate fencing a construction site. The floor is even and covered with cling film, in some places paddles and water drips. I'm finding a polystyrene and night spent as Lechu*. Then on Sunday morning only a foreman came a round to sprinkle newly laid floor. Time to move on and discover their city, though from their saddle.
By the famous Trondheim's bicycle lift chatted for a moment with Cyprian, a traveller from Romania.
The lift was so easy as it looks when you watch it on YouTube, the gravity puts the strain on your crouch. With all my panniers on, impossible. Quick decision. Panniers off. Ready. Steady. Go!
Hard, the right foot is overtaking you. Reached the top. OK almost, the last 2meters left out. Then only we were watching some kids having fun with the bicycle lift. Time to move on, to find a camp location, in the city it is slightly harder to do rough camping. My spot, at the end of marine, by a railway bridge. Then you feel through your bones every train passing by, lucky enough Waterloo it was not.

*Lech Walesa during strikes spent nights on a polystyrene, early 80`s Poland.

Along river Otta

When left Lom, U-turn and I am heading to Otta, for some time mountains are left behind. Camping by their river... Otta, where camp fire gave me a company til midnight.
When reached Otta, I found a shelter at the  station, where dampness had limited access.
Shortly afterwards, a new plan emerged. The train. Which was in 2+hours, would take me to Trondheim. What a brilliant idea. Only bikes on the train can travel when booked in advance :O My conductor at first would not take my machine to my disappointment.
All on board, direction Trondheim.