Couch surfing - Oslo

Well, I learned about Couch Surfing (CS) from Swedish cyclist met by Loch ness in the summer'07. Then I moved this idea to the drawer called "next time".  Then , while resting in Vandrerhjen I met this fellow cyclist: Hrvoje Juric* who recommended CS.
   This time I decided to have a go. I registered on CS and then started to spread my request. I had chosen my host profile as women my age+. Why not?  This time I wanted to do this way and I had done it.
Though from dozen requests only 2 came back as "maybe" and then through emails my host accepted my request. Searching for a couch was like fishing, you have to try many times and be patient.
    This way I met my first host, Rakel and her dog.(photo below :-)  )
I stayed for two nights, slept on the mattress in a small though cozy flat. We walked the dog, once even went to a nearby forest where by a shelter/hut made a camp fire with baked potatoes and corn, and a picnic interestingly flavoured sausage. Then we watched black and white movie: "Down by law" directed by Jim Jarmush.
To summarise my first surfing was positive experience.
Yet, another way to meet an interesting people.

*Hrvoje, another crazy guy to cycle to Nordkapp, this time from Croatia.

Train to Trondheim

I find this interesting, chatting to people. While riding for some time on your own, gives you chance to reflect, to have different perspective.
While being on the train gives me a chance to interact with you my spectators of a tiny sketch "my, myself and surly" Then I have a chance to tell my story and listen to yours.
When on the train to Trondheim I met Monike accompanied by a young French guy Nathan and intelligent young blonde girl which the name somehow evaporated from my mind. Though I remember some interesting facts, as she studied in Tromso and in the future would like to be a midwife.
It would be an interesting idea to ask someone to capture that moment with camera. We all seating on the train and having a lough, a good time.  Especially when we all had bursted with laughter when a conductor was giving short instruction to the young Frenchman how to operate the toilet door. "Open" and "close" .

MS Lofoten

Well, even my brother was having me enough ;-)  The time was right to move and hit the road again. This time for only 30km to the ferry port Risoyhamn. What a ride, what a beautiful morning! After some time the sun came out strongly. The ride became even more interesting when close to Risoyhamn I had  a chance to ride on the snow for the first time during my trip.
At the port I met for the first time M/S Lofoten part of the Hurtigruten fleet. She was still going strong despite her shaky hull. On the board I met some interesting people.
This fella is awesome, he walked across Norway, on his own for 140 days. Please meet Simon. Photo credit to Lillian :-)  a Norwegian girl who was part of my short self driven chit chat  moment, which I enjoyed extremely:-) 

Ribe (D) 29.08.2013

Some time ago, /29.08/ at the beginning of my trip I met Iza with her mum. Ladies were on coach holidays and at that moment when I overheard my mother language I simply joined in:-)
Even though Iza left her contact details it was impossible to contact her :O

Very close to the location of this photo I made a pit stop. According to Tobias* the building at some point was occupied by a bishop. Now it is a family house. The yard was so inviting with its tranquil atmosphere and stone tables made of ... Norwegian granite.
When I was leaving, Tobias brought me some apples from a garden. Which was very kind. Thank you amigo.

*hopefully the name is correct, anyway I know it was you and vice versa :-)

PS Iza, your email did not work

LF1 The Netherlands

On my first week of my trip I met this group of fellow cyclist pedaling along LF1 towards Haarlem (NL). When I heard my language I instantly joined in. We cycled for ca. 30km then we took this photo. Then I cycled along route LF1 and organised my camp somewhere in the forest.
On the photo from the left: me, Natalia, Maria and probably Lukasz.
This post is long time overdue, my apology:-)

By a train to Sweden

Lillestrom.
Would you believe,I've at I still hear that lady's voice over loudspeaker at the train station: Lillestrom!
The train is a great place to meet new people and  my beard might be helpful too.
While I was waiting for a train at the station, a tall and curious Norwegian guy started to talk. This way I met Trond.
At the same time, I met curious looks from Anike and her lady friend. Both you ladies was lovely to met:-)
Though I joined Trond, as he was having an interesting story to tell*.
Once upon time he decided to move to Nepal, so he sold the house. 
Unfortunately, soon he started new life he was accused by a local important figure of bribing people to become Christians. Then angry mob attacked his quarter, then arrested. For eleven days without contact with family or lawyer. Then sentenced for 3 to 6 years of which he served 109 days and then without a word he was freed.
Trond wrote a book describing all the story 

Saura

My second stay at my brother's, where I could rest and recharge myself for the next stage of my trip. The wedding of my brother. Which is held in Radom /PL/ at the beginning of November.
I felt lucky to have a chance to rest at the same time I felt bored. Not much to do. I listen to a radio which very often played interesting songs, went for run which was fun. This time cycled and measured exact 5km and I had run it back and forth. While heavy of rain clouds were drenching nearby peaks. Lucky I was dry hence interesting photos:-)

This time I had a chance to spend more quality time with Sylwek and his two sons. When I first met them, they were camera shy. This time it was the opposite. The older one, at some point was given a chance to
learn how to take photos with big camera. When I came over they even were calling Daniel! Daniel! While playing on the trampoline:-)

Last but not least, this time I met Teresa and Harry and all of us met at the dinner then we came for a beer and something stronger. My all favourite were waffles with strawberry jam.
This evening I could watch recordings of Teresa's work with schoolchildren. Interestingly enough, young Norwegians while performing had sang in Polish. That was something to look for, a positive surprise:-)

MS Nordkapp

Decided to take Hurtigruten, back to Risoyhamn , a short ride from Saura, where Michal and Sylwek leave.  First attempt to board a ferry at Honningsvag failed as the ferry aborted its plan to dock due to the side strong wind. Me, back to hostel. The next morning the whether was promising and the harbour was so calm. I left Honningsvag still a sleep and boarded MS Nordkapp. The journey was steady and quiet though more than 24hours on board reminded me of journeys made in the past across Atlantic on board once popular ocean liners.

Lubowicz clan

I mentioned already Beata, witty maid from a hostel. That Saturday night I had a pleasure to meet a whole clan Lubicz leaving in Honningsvag. I met Mariusz, husband, earlier in the church, then there were brothers with wives and children. For me it was a pleasure to gather together, almost like Christmas. The table was always full of good food. Cakes, gherkins, marinated fungi  all delicious and there was a vodka. Which is a must on a Polish table and refusing to drink at least one shot is lack of respect for the host.
We all enjoyed good company, even camera shy Beata had very good moment as you could see on the photo below:-)

Honningsvag

  Well, it's been long time when I wrote on my blog. It is right time to catch up and do my homework as the ferry will reached Gdansk on Saturday 1pm.
  Honningsvag, I have very fond memories from that town, up the north. All of them include Beata, very witty maid from a hostel who lives there with here family. It was Beata who mentioned about a mass for Catholics organised in local church and the same morning she had invited me to visit her family at the evening.
  The church in Honninsvag has peculiar history, at the end of the WW2 it was the only one building standing in the town, as the Nazi soldiers flatten the town. The church provided a shelter for the survivors.
Then it is me going for Sunday mass organised on Saturday, midday.
Walked there briskly to be on time. Pull the handle. Locked! Once more locked. Then I walked on to first floor,  to double check. Nothing. Decided to write in a memo book and leave. Then someone opened the whole door. I'm in. Apart me and priest Piotr /Peter/ handful number of believers. To help with the mass I volunteered to read from the bible. Which was interesting experience, as when travelled I had thought that I could read it loud.
Then I strolled the main street of the town, found this interesting cafe, so called kulturhus, "Perleporten". Interesting, my woollen hat was seen there for the last time.
I discovered a local restaurant too, "Polar Sans" where I was recommended a dish of cod tongue. Which I was happy to consume as the fried meet was so delicate, yummy.
  

N 71°10'21"

Friday 04.10.2013. Honningsvag. The weather enourmosly improved, quiet and  relatively warm for this latitude at this time of the year.
Left behind excessive gear at the hostel and loaded  just one rear pannier. Its only 34km to the ultimate cycling destination - Nordkapp.
After 4 hours of patient pedalling I reached my destination. To receive a standing ovation from fellow tourists travelling by a couch which overtook me couple times. 
By the skin of my teeth! The tourist centre was soon closing. Enough time to scribble handful number of postcards, warm up with tea and a jam sandwich, to chat with friendly crew and some late visitors.
Now is the time to head back. To face the weather. Rain everywhere. *Rain* nothing else lifts your spirit as sloshy boots.
Slosh, slosh!

Along E69

The night I spent at the Olderfjord Hotell Russenes Camping  where warm shower and dry accommodation done wonders to my spirit. Before setting of I stopped at local shop where I had good and lengthy conversation with a fellow traveler though business inspired. We said goodbye and I left. Direction North.
So far so good, cloudy sky though no rain just my nose started to play a bit. However, this could not  stop me now as ahead of me was a lengthy ride along E69, almost 100k which was well above my daily limit. With every kilometre I pedal the land was becoming barren, the weather unwelcoming and at some point even forbidding ride. This did not stop me either as long my lovely woollen insoles were dry I could carried on.
At the front of of Nordkapp tunnel, a sign, which informs you about possible fog in the tunnel. My first loud thought: Great! Fog is what I need now. I became familiar with the length of tunnels in Norway and this one is undersea. Well, just 7km of peaceful ride, the tunnel became a tranquil place, an oasis if you like from ranging elements outdoor. At some point I had an idea of staying overnight in the tunnel. Crazy one.
Stopped at the end of the the tunnel, where I could rest for a moment and fueled by strawberry jam and orange juice I had looked a head.

"The future is bright" I had tought. I was already above my daily limit. Darkness, rain and mighty howling wind left limited choice. I cycled on. Wrapped up in my waterproof gear, donning my helmet which gave me somehow strong safety feel,  as I faced the element. Not for long. First blow. I'm in the ditch! Then learn to "ride" against strong wind. Rode on the "English side" of the road and when the mighty came, I bowed.
This evening, I bowed so many times as it was only way to calm raging wind.
Then another tunnel and I rode in to the night, in the distance simmering lights of Honningsvag.
I followed a sign "Vacancy", like on the thread, which lead me to a place called   Norske Vandrerhjem.

Match

Gust 1 : me 0

First touch.
I'm in the ditch.
What a bitch.

|I'm OK, just|

Difficult night

I hit the road and left Alta in the afternoon, to pedal in the  rain. Then up the hill on and on, the became dark and I pedal on, just to blinded with super powerful halogen lights. Hardly any spot suitable for camping. Then I found those strewn hyttas, marvellous.
My enjoyment did not last long when I went around to find out what was a location. The hut was long time ago abandoned, found a newspaper dated 1988, some shoe there and there. This place did not send positive signal at any moment even then I camp outside and used as a shelter the grim thoughts started to pour in. What a night!

King of the road

Big thumbs up to the  lorry driver who as only one slowed when noticed me at the distance and was rolling just enough to pass each other without any spray during today's rainy weather. I'm impressed with your professionalism.

Alta museum

Invited by free top up of morning coffee decided to go sightseeing. Left my Surly parked just outside by the main entrance to the museum. This subject needs more research with Dr Google as I had a chance to see, to touch and listen just an tip of iceberg of knowledge.
In addition, the site with the rock carvings is UNESCO enlisted.

"to jump after Wirkola":-)

View from my window

Usually, when possible I face my tent to the East or where land permits  , then in the morning I have interesting view through my "window" . To start my day:-)

The weather

Started with clear sky and the sun helping you take interesting photos, then those evenings when you in the valley permanently in the shade all day long temperature hovers above zero. The worst time of the night is around 5am, your feet a painfully cold. Then is a first jump outside. I found a solution for cold nights, a woollen blanket does wonders and woollen socks apparently Alpaca :-)  That Sumi hat looks cool and protects my brain from freezing :-)
On the other hand when is raining the temperature rises slightly to that point that you feel your fingers. Just hard to take any photos and the land is so bare and unwelcoming.

Tromsoskiogsykkel

Early morning and I boarded the ferry to Tromso, found some quiet corner where I let my body rest all the way.
In Tromso found a local, proper bicycle shop  /www.tromsoskiogsykkel.no and  I geared up for a rain. I would like to add that that I was extremely pleased with your customer service, young man just forgot your name. (please contact me and I correct that:-)

TV interview

To my surprise I gave an interview to a local TV, though I didn't get from the beginning the right name of the channel. Alright, must be Philips. That's global. Wow, I'm getting famous. I knew that I am part of this so called ... Louder please oh yes Showbusiness :-)