30.04.12 Got through to the manufacturer and was given sufficient advice on how to help myself and failing that how to set it all up so we can travel on anyway in a normal manner rather than the three legged tortoise.
Only problem with this was to find a gap in the weather permitting a bit of work out in the open under the beast. It finally came late afternoon, jacked it up and all that sort of stuff, got underneath and found on small spacer for the ball and socket joint was missing, further, much longer string of very rude words.
Tried to get back onto the SOS chappie but he’d taken a half day off to add to the May Day holiday tomorrow. So have to wait until Wednesday before anything happens on that front.
Switched to their plan B and that solved part of the problem but revealed another. No air in the rubber goodie on the front passenger side suspension. Even longer and more vociferous string of exceedingly rude words and put their plan C into operation. Net result is that now we have air back into the ballon, we can move around the island. Secondary plus point I am starting to get quite familiar with the pneumatic suspension.
The gale is so strong at the moment it stopped me from opening the van doors to get out.
Probably will not be before Friday now before we can think about moving on. The weather does not bother us as we were expecting it, and it is quite fun. Fascinating to watch the gulls soaring around in winds like this and at the same time they keep attacking the sea eagles flying over their nesting grounds. Breeding season is in full swing and there are literally millions of birds all over doing what comes naturally.
It is to be hoped that the weather puts up some interesting motives in the next few days and I can start taking some pics.
One good thing so far this visit to Andenes Camping I have got direct access to a hotspot on site instead of having to go into the town proper.

29.04.12 The day started out well woke up early as usual to find that overnight there had been snow, and in fact was still snowing away quite happily. Everything was covered and the van completely. Should not be surprised really as the thaw as such has not set in properly. Anyway after bring all of the water reserves etc., up to level before setting off on what was planned as two easy stages to Andenes on Andøya. This is where I spent my time tying to get Aurora photographs couple of years ago. Planned to have a coffee break at N 68°54'58.44" E 17°35'7.26" which is where we camped last year, after which we were going on a few kilometres to where we had noticed a better camping (wild) spot last time. Had hardly made a couple of hundred metres before the pneumatic suspension warning lights started flashing away like crazy. Oh Hum! First couple of stops did not show me too much but the vehicle started moving along like a three legged tortoise. This prompted another stop and then it was evident what the, or rather where the problem was, what came as a later discovery. The passenger side back wheel was raised to its maximum height and this was producing our rather strange motion.
This caused yet another change in plans and pushed on straight through to Andenes. Here at least we know the folks where we intended to camp and we had all of the likely facilities that we might need. Where we were along the way was middle of no where. Check the coordinates of the coffee break.
Two ferries and a torturously slow drive found us back at N 69°18'16.30" E16° 4'8.78" again N 69° 18'16.30" E 16°4'8.78". For me the third time, the second had been with HiC jr.,I. Check his photos from the place at http://hairyworm.weebly.com/beautiful-bugs.html.
Anyway to continue, I had texted the lady from the Whale Safari joint to check if it was okay as we are well out of season here and got her clearance and a contact number.
Fairly late when we got there so all I did was crawl under the back of the wagon, in a howling gale, there has been a massive storm blowing over the place for three days now and it is icy cold. There I was greeted by the loose end of the connecting rod between the chassis and the level sensor. Five very rude words, at least.
After that sent off SOS e-mail to the suspension system manufacturer and went to bed. The gale was so strong it was truly like being in a cockle shell on the high seas. It was bouncing the van around like a feather weight instead of its three and a half tons. Rather disturbed night but sleep came at some time or other.

28.04.12 This post is the first chance to bring the blog  up to date. Made one attempt along the way with the whatsit stick from Telekom and within about 10 minutes had about three messages interrupting me. I finally opened the third one and fell off my stool. They were telling me how much I had spent. Wish I’d opened the first one. Less than ten minutes cost me €60. Ouch. The blog is not worth that much too me and I’m more than sure no one else gives a monkeys.
So I’ve decided to write notes along the way and then cut and paste whenever I can find a hotspot.
Rest day. Slept late ish for a trip like this, easy breakfast before going into town for a Bank and to sample our first Norwegian Pecan Pastries of the trip and my first Statoil free hot chocolate drink. Really do fee; myself at home in Norway.
Planned out the return route and contacted Annbjørg of Andenes Camping and can use the facilities again. Brilliant!
As far as photography is concerned not a lot has happened along the way. All the nice birds I wanted to photograph wait until I get set up then fly off, and I’m not into a bunch of meaningless landscapes.

27.04.12 Last long haul up through the three country triangle and down into Tromsø to the site we have used before. N 69°38’50” E 19°01’00”
Nothing special to see on the way. Tundra, miles and miles of it. The temperature ranged fro just below to just above zero and it was either snowing or raining all day depending on the temperature. Everything is still under meters of snow and all the lakes and rivers are completely frozen over. So I guess the folks down south should not moan too much.
Plenty Reindeer everywhere.

The picture below btw is in colour.

26.04.12 Having been woken so early we set of accordingly. After some discussion it was decided that as we had obviously come into mid winter almost to crash north through Finland and get into Norway ASAP, at least from experience the thaw should have set in up there. A check of the camping site showed that our planned route as shown on map two of my Travel section will not open until I’m nearly back home again. A shower and wee bit of home comforts does not go astray now and again. So the day turned into another mini-step for mankind and the hard working camper finished up in Rovaniemi.
Camped on the right just before entering town on a fairly large wayside parking area. Yet another salubrious camp site immediately in front of a parked tip bin just in case we got told off for blocking the area off. Again slept like a log. N 66° 29’09” E 19°01’00”. Which you will all know is 3’51” south of the Arctic Circle.
I know nobody is going to believe this but its the truth. Honest. In Finland saw a place name on the road pointing to “Ashol” Now I have put this into my TomTom and do not get quite close, nor could Google Earth find it. However IT IS THERE. HonestI I guess because of it’s implications it is normally kept secret as it must be where all of the Asholities we all get to meet during our distinguished careers originate. A fact that the Finnish folk would rather not be general knowledge.
Probably ‘cos it was a long day and twilight was approaching we either saw a one horned dun coloured Reindeer at the side of the road, or an Unicorn. Not sure which.
Had to run an obstacle course of hundreds of “Beware of the Elks” which literally litter the roadsides as well. Of course we saw no real ones would you believe?

25.04.12 Set off as planned as close to the coastline as possible only to find by about 11:00am that as lovely as it is it is really all the same and the major part can only be accessed by bicycle or by hiking in which is not what we are kitted up for, nor does it fit into the time plan. Hence next major plan change.
Cut west circled south of Riga up the coastline of the Gulf of Riga to the Estonian border then straight on to Tallinn. On this stretch thought if our luck is in might just connect with a ferry to Helsinki and get a place on it as well. Luck was in and we set sail at 21:00 and disembarked at 23:00.
Absolutely knackered and the first available parking place that was not too directly visible too the public eye was located and camp set up. Looking straight at the wall of a very ancient looking port factory type building. N 60°09’28” E 24°56’00”
It turned out to be very quiet during the night until 06:00 when everyone started to got to work.

24.04.12 Had an easy run of which half was on dirt and really quite bumpy. Was however more comfortable than their Polish relatives with asphalt surfacing.
Loads of Crane seen in the ploughed fields along the way.
Arrived at about midday and found the site, place called Vente on the Curonian Lagoon, to be exceptional. N 55°21’19” E 21°12’17”
Mega quantities of Swan and Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe again. Getting boring.

23.04.12 Easy enough day driving on secondary roads along the Russia/Lithuanian boarder to a place called Vistytis on the side of a lake in a nature reserve. One looks across the lake into Russia. The only camp site was closed so found a beautiful spot lakeside and camped there wild. Lithuanian boarder guards there in the trees watching the Russian ones when we arrived but left us alone and finally disappeared at knocking of time. N 54°24’03” E22°45’49”
Later in the evening a Russian Patrol boat buzzed past and landed on the lakeside opposite our camp to pick up two guards who appeared out of the undergrowth.
A large amount of Goldeneye and Great Crested Grebe to be seen again.

22.04.12 Set off for towards Lithuania with one more camp planned in Poland. Was using secondary roads to avoid the main drag through to Lithuania and Belarus. Most of the trip was fine but had trouble second guessing the TomTom which kept sending me down dirt tracks in terrible condition and going nowhere. Well, in our direction really, but given the condition of the secondary roads dirt roads are not advisable. After a dodgy start got quite good at figuring out when it was about to drop me in it, but even so had two really bad stretches which could not be avoided.
Landed on a site near Gizycko right on a lake at the top end of the Masuren. Run by a Glaswegian and his Polish spouse. Talking to him he was saying that in the winter is the best time and I can believe that. N54°02’16” E 21°41’53”
Saw a couple of pairs of Goldeneye and a large number of Great Crested Grebe. The Storks make a tremendous noise as the twilight sets in. Also could hear the hollow booming sound of Bitterns but had no sighting as it was too dark.
Close to the camp was a really large Beaver Dam, and one kind fellow swam by to show himself.
Along the way driving across we spotted two foxes, on separate occasions, chasing mice in open fields.

21.04.12 Travelled down to Orle and all the other villages on Yuri’s list which formed the Brocke’s family seat. Orle is the largest but it should be noted that as one passes the sign marking the beginning of the village you can see its twin marking the end of the village!
In one of the villages there was a Nazi Concentration Camp but no sign of it now. Have to do a bit of research later.
The Family Schloß was more like a fairly large Country Gents home. Either way had some luck managed to find a door into the cellars which was open and could not resist a sniff around. A complete ruin and had to watch my step in the upper floor and did not dare to go into the loft. Got some good pics for the good lady though and should be good for a peck on the cheek.