Nordkapp Reflections and Advice.

So you are thinking of going to the Nordkapp. Great. It’s a brilliant trip. When I was thinking of going, I tried to find some first hand information on what to expect but didn’t really have much luck on the “tinter web” so here’s a few thoughts on my experience to help you with your planning:


1. Don’t go without an engine. There were a lot of cyclists and frankly that looks like hard work to me, especially on the way home.

2. We didn’t experience any rescue services but I think fettling your kit to ensure reliability is a good move. Breaking down in the middle of nowhere would not be fun. RAC rescue or equivalent covers these countries so buy it!

3. The E6 through Norway is fantastic. There are however a lot of road works and due to the topography, you tend to get routed through the building site so take extra special care.

4. The roads we experienced through Norway are brilliant – challenging, loads of bends, great views etc. The roads through Finland were super dull but very quiet. Swedish roads were somewhere in between.

5. Some tunnels are modern. Some frankly are not. Beware of those. Don’t go screaming into dark tunnels. They have bends, poor lighting, bumping surfaces and are narrow.

6. Norwegian bend markers are different to UK’s but are consistent. Learn them early in your trip as you can rely on them later. Finnish signs seemed more hit and miss so take care. Bend markers in Sweden seemed to operate on the basis that at the speed limit, the bends aren’t an issue. Consequently some pretty tight bends were not marked. Take care.

7. The infamous issue of mosquitoes is sadly a reality. In Finland, we got savaged by them despite have repellent. We had no problem in Norway – maybe their mossies are friendlier. If you broke down or had a puncture in the Finnish north it would terrible. They surround you in seconds and seemed to be all starving. Personally, I would avoid the area in the heat of the summer and pick a different route next time.

8. Hotels or huts? Both are fine. Even in the peak season, places could be found even arriving in the evening. The huts are basic but fun although I am too soft to stay in one every night so mix it up with hotels. Hotel standards even at the lower price range are good. Be sure to have breakfast – it’s excellent and a million times better then your average UK cheapie hotel.

9. Speaking of money, don’t go to Norway if you are poor or if your credit card is max’d out. Its super expensive!! Actually, hotels aren't too bad but food and drink requires a second mortgage. Sweden, Denmark and Norway have their own individual kronor. Finland is euroland.

10. At the Nordkapp, there is a visitor’s centre with a café, shops, etc . Tee shirts were £20. Just 20 miles south they were £15. At the junction of the E6 and the road to Hammerfest about 60 miles south of the Nordkapp, they were £11. Do you get the idea? The Nordkapp is expensive.

11. Its £8 on the toll road in and another £8 out of the area per person. On top of that, it’s £26 per person to actually get onto the Nordkapp itself…..this doesn’t include a free tee shirt or a cup of tea.

12. Having paid all that, stay awhile and eat the sandwiches you made at breakfast as packing up! The weather is very changeable and if it’s bad when you get there, 30 minutes later it might be nice. Hang around a while and enjoy your sandwiches.

13. I have crossed the Arctic Circle in Sweden, Finland and Norway. The visitor’s centre on the E6 in Norway is the best. Don’t miss it.

14. Petrol is no problem but we tended to fill up regularly rather than wait until empty. Most are pay at the pump which is easy and fast. One chain however, (QF I think it was called) doesn’t take any credit cards and you have to be a member. Some are unmanned so practise early on using the pay at pumps which are in Norwegian but nevertheless easy.

15. In the summer its 24 hour day light. Remember to sleep. That sounds funny but it is weird how you can keep going. Take eye masks.

16. Some roads are pretty tight. Very big trucks use these roads. I suggest you treat them with the utmost respect and keep out of their way. Take care on the many blind bends on these narrow coastal roads. On right handers for example, forget your advanced biker training and keep tight to the right and adopt a reasonable speed. These truckers drive as if they are on a mission!

17. Reindeer spring out from everywhere. It’s no joke. Rudolf and his mates have no road sense and he has lots of mates. There are warning signs everywhere. Believe them. This is not like the health and safety mad culture in the UK. There really are suicidal reindeer out there!

18. And finally, remember to stop now and then. Enjoy. Chat to people. Savour the moment. You may not ever pass this way again.

A Right Proper Ride

Ok, so I promised I would tell you a little about the Nordkapp or North Cape as it is sometimes called. It seems to me that as a biker, the NordKapp is a magical destination. It is in the Norwegian municipality of Finnmark and is the most northerly point you can reach by road in Europe. Now that’s pretty special.

At a latitude of 71 degrees, 21 minutes and 10 seconds it is a long way north. I intend to buy a tee shirt celebrating this latitude assuming I make it that far! I’ve read that they sell T shirts with 71 degrees as a logo. I want one! The Nordkapp itself is a cliff some 1000ft (ca 300m) high and of course in June when we are going, it will be bathed in sunlight 24 hours a day. Ok, I might be being optimistic as it could be overcast, raining or even snowing but you know what I mean. We will be well past the latitude where the “midnight sun” starts in the summer so it will be light 24 hours a day.

Actually the most northerly point is the neighbouring headland of Knivskjelloden which stretches a further 1500 meters north. However, it is not accessible by road and is an 18km walk from the Norkapp. Forget it. I am a biker not a walker!

A story about the Nordkapp which inspires me is that of Richard Chancellor. This English explorer rounded the North Cape in 1553 whilst trying to find a north east passage to the India and the Orient. Of course, he never found one but eventually somebody found the north west passage. I leave that for you to check out.

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Now, trying to put it in perspective just how far this trip is, Hull is 52 degrees, 40 mins north. That’s 52 degrees north of the equator. Not sure where Hull is? Shame on you. Ok, London is 51 degrees 31 minutes north. Gibraltar is 36 degrees minutes north so 16 degrees away from Hull. But as I mentioned early, the Nordkapp is 71 degrees north which is 19 degrees north of Hull. Following me?

Another way of looking at this is to consider that Gibraltar is 1837 miles from Hull by road and the Nordkapp by the route we are planning is 1942 miles.

Finally, if you feel compelled to know (although frankly there isn’t much more to know but I find more when I get there, I will let you know) you can check it out at:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordkapp

And there you have it. It’s a “right proper” ride!

The General Idea

It has been on my mind for a few years to ride a motorbike to the Nordkapp. Now it's time to actually do it. Is it the ultimate ride in Europe? Possibly. I have ridden all over Europe and done a few trips in the USA. A few years ago, my friends and I rode up to the Arctic Circle and that set my mind rolling on the idea that going all the way to the "top" would be fun. But checking this idea out made me realise just how far it is - it's a long way!

Planning is progressing so more details on that later but for now here's the rough plan. Get bike. Pack. Set off from home (Walkington in East Yorksire). Ride, eat, sleep and ride some more. Get there (in June). Take lots of pictures. Have fun. Ride back. And share my experiences with anyone interested. I might even raise some money for charity but more of that later.

So this first blog entry is the official start. In the next entry, I'll tell you a little about the Nordkapp.