PPR-32 26.04
Start: 06:00    Finish: 19:40
Total km., for day: 334,5
Camped at: N66°58’52” E15°18’55”.
Up and about bright and early, suns coming up nice and bright behind the mountains. Drove slowly out the way I came in, no other way. Started snapping iPhone pics to try and give a rough idea of what’s to be seen, as my Bro asked why I’m not posting any images. The scale of the scenery of the landscapes is such that I’ve three main reasons for not doing so:

1. I’m not very good at it.
2. One alternative is to make panoramas, which I hate and you finish up with a wide skinny image, at lest I do anyway.
3. The only way to do the place justice is with a large format 8”x5” camera. Disadvantages of this way are the gear is big and heavy, and so is the price. Can’t really justify that sort of cash, plus the lady back home might just not turn out to be so understanding if I came home with a piece of gear like that.

Lat year one of the photographers I met on the Lofoten, a professional, had been talked into buying one at the Photokina Trade Fair in Köln, thats the big Imaging one that comes around every second year. He got a good reduced Trade Fair price he said, €55,000 he paid for it but that’s serious brass. Lovely bit of gear though.😋
As soon as I get a connection I’ll post the few I’ve snapped. Thanks for the comment Bro.
Once you get out of this little bit of paradise it’s back on the E6 towards Fauske and it is a terrible road. The Norway version of a motorway.
I did manage to find an interesting diversion about a third of the way there. It is possible to dive off to the right onto an old B-road which leads to Styrkvika. It’s a dead end like so many of these diversions but worth it and with views to I’m not very good at it. home about. Fortunately it is not necessary to drive the whole route out as there is another little road that sneaks back onto the bloody E6 and into Fauske. After changing my plans so many times my friend Mette made time of from work and took me home for a meal and oh boy I was also allowed to use the shower. She served up a scrumptiously delicious fresh caught cod, served piping hot out of the oven. Beats the hell out of my cheese, garlic and onion sandwiches We had until 19:00 when she had to get back to her day and I metered the bit to the bottom of the route up over the Arctic Circle and parked there. Same place I was at on the way in, the one where all the Truckers leave their motors running all night.
Had toyed with the idea of sleeping up top then decided, as usual, discretion is…..! Don’t really know why but this bit up and over always gives me a special kick.

PPR-33 27.04
Start: 06:30    Finish: 17:58
Total km., for day: 456,5
Camped at: N65°04’59” E12°05’17”.
On the road by bout 8:30, in Mo i Rana at 10:45. Wonderful going over the top, was about 9:15 when I hit it and the sun was quite warm by that time, but even so the van was showing a road temperature of -6, so I’m glad I decided to sleep at the bottom of the hill last night. Then on to Mosøjen, where I took another break on the camp site I used on the way up to use their connection and made the last post from there.
From there the plan was to carry on down the E6 until the junction with the 76. About 35 kilometres down this I had spotted  couple of buildings that I wanted to photograph. After which I was going to camp up, some nice spots there and proceed tomorrow. But someone must have moved them, I’m damned if I could spot them and by the time I gave up and accepted that the mighty mouse had cocked it up again I was almost in Brønnøysund where I wanted to call tomorrow to stock up on gas cartridges for the cooker.
Ah well methinks get the gas and head down towards the ferry at Vennesund and camp up. No camping possibility and in no time at all where are we? Anyway the ferry arrive more or less immediately and across we went. From there it was only eighteen kilometres to the same spot used on the way up. Which is where I write this update.
Should have known it was going to turn out to be an odd day. Last night as I was getting ready to turn the van into a bedroom I managed to cut my finger, no idea how, perhaps too much starch in the sheets. Not wanting to put blood all over the place, so with a great deal of care, love and tenderness I applied a plaster to the damage. Couldn't think why the plaster wasn't working until a check showed that the reason was quite simple. I’d applied it to the next door finger. On that note goodnight. 🤐
The idea tomorrow is to head to the Trondheim area to arrive about Sunday to see my friend before continuing on my rather erratic way. lets see what actually does happen.

PPR-34 28.04
Start: 06:30    Finish: open
Total km., for day: open
Camped at: N°’” E°’”.
Interim update for todays date, early up, sorted out Norwegian and Swedish Toll Payment data and set off. Warning light, driver side headlamp had also resigned. So Namsos was the next big place on my southerly route and know it has a VW Dealer. Which is where I’m sitting waiting for a replacement. They are pretty good throughout Norway, foreign registration so overtime I have need it they have come up trumps. Ask me to repeat that after I’ve had the bill. Can’t be that expensive, can it?
Never mind it is law to drive 24/7 with dipped headlights here and it’s probably cheaper to get the bulb than pay any fines.

​

The above are just a quick hodgepodge I've thrown in to demonstrate what I'm having to put up with. Click on them as usual for a bigger image.
Gotta move on for today, I'll try and add some comments to them next time to relate them to the posts above. 

PPR-24 18.04
Start: 07:00    Finish: 13:15
Total km., for day: 120,6
Woke up and a nice snow storm was having its way with us. Campsite is a bit exposed so I packed up and headed for the Hotel, parked there, had breakfast and posted the latest blog entries.
Decided to take the chance and head for Sortland which is to be my last island of this group having swapped everything around. Bit of an epic with all the snow and my tyres. Conditions certainly had me doing the brick thing. Still made it without problems parked up at 13:15.
After the obligatory cocoa at CircleK, filling all available water containers I went up to look at the Campsite, but no access all snowed in. Found this spot on the Quay in Sortland centre looking across the fjord at the mainland. N68°41’37” E15°25’01”.
Had a good lunch and settled down, have to admit the drive wound me up a bit. Cauliflower, Pea soup and a Pear. How’s that sound.
Had a look around the Mall and stretched my legs a wee bit. Found that the Mall has internet so thats fine too.
 It’s just fine here so I shan't even bother with the campsite, can use the baby change room and toilet in the Mall to change my nappies.
Now I’ve sorted out the sleeping and keeping warm bit I’m sleeping like a baby.


PPR-25 19.04
Start: 06:00    Finish: 17:30
Total km., for day: 199,9
On the go at the usual time and set off out to the North west corner re-visit the places I was in 2013 along the route where I had the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the ditch. Passed that, no problems I’m pleased to say.
First stop Nyksund which was a small remote fishing village until 1975 when they all got up and left it deserted. Ghost town until about the 90’s when private folks started moving in again. Really interesting and good images to be made.
Just before getting there I had to do an emergency stop as near as make no difference, a Sea Otter would you believe, shot out of the undergrowth on the mountain side on my left, dash across the road, down through the scree, had a last look over its shoulder at me and off into the sea he was. Beautiful creature, would have been devastated if I’d done him a mischief.
From there out again and up to Langenes. Pretty little church there, fairly ancient which I wanted to re-photograph as last time, as so often, I cocked the images up. From there around the corner into Stø for a loo-see. It has grown an interesting camp site since I was last here.
Great views from here all along the west coast of Andoya all the way up to Bleiksøya which is sticking out there all by itself.
On the way back I took the loop out through Asvȯg which apart from the last third exiting through the mountains was all rather tame.
Then to top it off did the loop that leads out to Eidsfjord and round back to Sortland.
Turned out to be a long day but bright and sunny for almost all of it.
Was so enjoyable I treated myself to Bacon and Eggs and hard bored the other four to eat along the way somewhere.

PPR-26 20.04
Start: 07:00    Finish: 19:00
Total km., for day: Revised to 371,3 see below for reason
Pretty disturbed night because of the wind, but everything is fine and dandy.
Off to get the old rusty vehicles on the road to past Holmstad and also re-do the loop around Hadseløya which is the home to Stokmarknes and Melbu.
Noticing a large number of Bitten all over.
Anyway another successful day. Will camp on the mainland at a picnic area looking back over to Sortland. All tanked up and stuff so can move on first thing in the morning.
Going to see what the way up to Tromsø is like, if its fairly good will head for Senja, if not turn south. Weather forecasts are hopeful anyway.
Right, post this, quick wash and brush up in the Babies Room in the Mall and over the other side we go.
Weather looked so good revised plan and headed of straight away after posting this and landed up at the old German gun emplacement on the fjord leading up to Narvik. Camped at N68°27’15” E16°42’42”

​Next post whenever I can.

PPR-18 12.04
Start: 08:00    Finish:
Total km., for day: Zero all on foot
Slept long and deep, sound of the surf perhaps. It was a wee bit parky once I crept out from under the covers but the van soon warms up. Bright, sunny blue skies, and for here, relatively no wind.
After sorting myself out took myself on a fair long walk into the village Maryland where this road ends. All very pleasant with wonderful views, just got a bit icy on the walk back to the van, way was had come under the shadow of the mountain.
Back at the van just in time for lunch, which I unfortunately had to make myself. My first cooked meal this trip (own cooking that is), spinach accompanied by a delumptious chunk of Reindeer Salami, can recommend it absolutely. Just hope it doesn't cause Santa problems later this year.
On the walk caught sight of an Eagle soaring way, way up. Only second so far this trip, guess I’ll see a lot more once I get to Andøya. Which reminds me of an little story I forgot to mention on the way. Add it at the end of this PPR.
Been trying desperately to get a decent signal so that I can call No.,2 Daughter-in-Law who has her birthday today, lovely lady she is. Walked a way back out of this dead end in the hope of getting one, also no luck anymore than climbing half way up the mountain out back of me. Finally work but terrible signal and reception.
Rest of day to be easy catching up on notes, reading etc.
But before closing for the day my little story:

My Little Story.

On the way up, I think it was on the 3rd. April I was trundling along and had to grin, it was fairly early still, and I drove past a house at the wayside, where else would it be, and there was a  reindeer campy enjoying its breakfast grazing contentedly on the owners lawn. Nice sight I thought as I drove on.
Two or three kilometres further along I burst out laughing, I think the Reindeer I had just seen was the herds scout out front sussing out the lie of the land when he found the blokes lawn and decided to take a break and have breakfast. Anyway I meander, now at the side of the road I passed the herd heading his way, could have been anything up to hundred reindeer in the herd and they were closing on the scout at a fast walk.Oh methinks if they get to the scout and decide that his patch of lawn really does look tasty then the owner of the place was looking at having to lay a new one. Cannot think that plus/minus a hundred reindeer having breakfast on your lawn cannot be good for its health.
Thats it. Thought anyway amused me, but then they tell me I’m a bit twisted.

Which reminds me, have seen reindeer, deer but no Elk yet, apart from the roadsigns warning of the danger of them crossing the road.

PPR-19 13.04
Start: 07:45    Finish: approx 14:30
Total km., for day: 65,7
Very windy as usual but bright and sunny, almost too bright with all the snow that is still around.
Start moving up North again today, first day of Norwegen holidays, Maundy Thursday I believe. Didn't get out of van until after my breakfast and morning ablutions. Got straight back in, bloody hell it was freezing.
Went into Unnstad, where I had thought of staying, but changed my mind immediately on arriving and left again. Reason it was chocker block, wait for it, Surfers!!!! Doesn't bear thinking about. From there into Leknes to top up with diesel and grab a cocoa and on to Eggum. Very removed and essentially uninhabited apart from a small village.
In 1942 to 1944 Adolf and his mates built and operated a Radar Station to keep track of convoy movements in and out of Murmansk. Which reminded me just how far North I have reached. Must have been a bit refreshing for the guys stationed here through the winter. It is now and its mid April.
Camping here is free I found out on calling a number to say there were no envelopes to put ones “Honour payment” into. Out of season he told me, stay as long as you wish.
N68°18’24: E13°39’02” for those as is interested.
After lunch and reviewing my living area had a couple of brainwaves and I think I now have the ideal solution for all of the necessary stowage. Like the first trip in the T5, we battled with space and the rubbish we had tried to pack in to discover didn't need it in the first place. Like that trip it all gets thrown out of the van we are starting to look professional again.
Great walking area, which I took advantage of before calling it a day.
Must be some ginormous rabbits around here judging by the size of their droppings. Maybe get to see some later.
No rabbits appeared.

PPR-20 14.04
Start: 08:00    Finish: 15:00
Total km., for day: Zero all on foot.
The last time I had such a still, quiet and peaceful night was camping out in the Whahibi Sands in Oman. About the loudest thing was my breaking.
Still bright and sunny, but until the son appeared from behind the mountains it was very Brass Monkeyish.
Went for a great hike between the foot of the mountains and the sea in the direction of Unnstad. I stopped just four kilometres short, so all in all it must just be over ten. The way by road was just over forty.
Looking NNW from here across the intervening sea the mountain range that runs along the  North coast of the Vesterålen can be seen. This is my next direction and it looks even chillier than here, not just snow capped but snow down to the shore. Find out when I’m there, which should be in the next few days will I not?

PPR-21 15.04
Start: 06:00    Finish: 16:45
Total km., for day: 362,6
Wow that was one heck of a cold night, at 04:30 I had to capitulate and join the trucks. Switched on the heater.
On the go early and into Leknes to stock up on a bit more grub and water. More than necessary, only a cup full left in the main canister, water bottles were empty and had a 5 litre reserve canister left, so I couldn't have stayed out there any longer as no water to be had.
In Svolvær I stopped to see if I could get onto a descent connection to no avail, but I did get a fright, a sudden “Low Battery” warning flashed up. On thinking about it though it has been really cold since I landed on the Lofoten. Combine this with the pretty exposed campsites I have been all in windy and cold locations, which combined with the comparatively little driving I’ve been doing I suppose it’s not surprising that the battery has been taking a bashing. I had a battery check run during the van service a week before I left and it passed A OK.
Anyway I figured the route I had chosen for the day should be just about enough, but as things turned out the drive was more than long enough to top it up. The route was north up the E10 from Svolvær, about fifteen Kilometres, to a little place named Vestpoolen where I planned to turn west. The route then follows a small B road until it hits the coast then follows it around to Fiskebøl which is on the route 82 which joins back up with the E10.
The idea had been to find a nice quiet and secluded wild site and stay there, didn't work out because not only is the entire route the best part of the Lofoten that I have ever visited, and this was the last are of such after the number of previous visits I’ve made, it turns out to be a local (as in Norwegen) insider tip. There are no official camping site on the whole route and the few, very, spots that offer up any sort of possibility were literally parked up, door to door, Norwegen campers. Put an end to that well laid plan, didn't it not? By the time this became evident I had arrived in Fiskebøl and I thought to hell with it, nothing special or feasible, camping wise, between there and Sortland so onward ever onwards. Doodle of a drive, it’s all along the E10 so in no time at all the bridge across the Fjord to the town of Sortland appeared around the corner and I decided what the hell, and drove through to Andenes on Andøya. I had originally planned the other way around but it’s as long as it’s short, pick up Sortland and the Vesterålen on the way back down, makes more sense as well with the Easter holidays going on.
That little saga explains a long day. 360 km., at home will normally take approximately three and a half hours, but up here you can double it and that is more or less what it took, seven hours. But loved every minute of it. Trouble up here is to remember to look at the road every so often.
Anyway I’m currently at N69°18’13” E16°03’55” and give or take a few, very few, minutes, will be until Tuesday morning.

PPR-22 16.04
Start: 07:00    Finish: 16:45
Total km., for day: 123,5
Another bitterly cold night but resisted the urge to put the heating on, was however well packed up in various layers of thermal long johns and even more thermal undershirt, followed by various layers of fleece goodies. Still bloody cold though. Not complaining though, my choice and it is all more than worth it.
Got my act together relatively slow and had the pleasure of being able to watch an Eagle while eating may cornflakes, he was obviously digesting his breakfast, sat on a boulder about ten meters off the beach, which I am almost camped on if you check the coordinates I gave yesterday. (Knowing my SatNav they will probably put me further out to sea than the Eagle, but its all relative, innit).
After all this excitement into town on the Marina for an Image that I spotted yesterday, (downloaded and checked later and will have to do it again, was snowing lightly which makes it all spotty).
From there, down the inland east coast route going south, north doesn't work. On this run saw something I’ve never been lucky enough to witness before. Again on a boulder just off the beach, four Eagles all sitting virtually shoulder to shoulder, so to speak. Naturally I stopped and had about two whole minutes to observe them. Of course then one got pissed off with me a did a flyer and his/her fellows all followed one after another. Best bit was still to come though, about two clicks further on there were three of them again. Only three because the fourth didn't have room, the three were literally scrunched up next to one another. The fourth I spotted a bit further down on his own rock. Have to take the big lens tomorrow and see if I can manage some images. They will surely be in the same area again. Pretty much creatures of habit in that respect.
last time I was up here the locals told me they have, or had, five resident pairs and early in the year they get some coming in from down south. One has been tracked as having come from Mecklenburg Vorpommen in Germany. They are gathering for the Puffin Feast which is due to start pretty soon. There is a very small island just of the west coast at Bleik, named would you believe, Bleiksøya, where they nest every year. They reckon that each Eagle takes at least one in the morning and one in the evening and the breeding season is from early May until first week in August if I’n not mistaken. So work it out, on average there are at least fifteen pairs of Eagles gathered here for the period. Lotta Puffins dontcha’know.
Anyway I went about halfway down the island to Å and then cut across to Nordmela on the west coast again and treated myself to homemade lunch followed back to a slow poodle to my starting point.
Decided to stay until Tuesday lunchtime, there’s a nice little Coffee shop cum Backers there and they serve luverly cocoa, and BIG ones. Also have a good internet connection, or at least they used to, and I’m hoping to make a post.
Tomorrow repeat image and hope to catch some Eagle pics.

PPR-23 17.04
Start: 06:30    Finish: ?
Total km., for day: ?
​Once again hell of a freeze night, but I've cracked the problem, made a small modification this morning and we shall see tonight what success I've had.
Ah well I'm sure I've said this before, "best laid...", as I got out of the van the first time to rearrange the van to drive and see if I could get the Eagles on the other side where I was yesterday, noticed some movement out of the corner of the eye and there the buggers were. No point in even trying to get the kit out, just enjoy the moment. They soared directly overhead for a short while, one landed on a rock in the sea out of sight. Not long after the other three set off around the point to Bleiksøya, where the Puffins must be already after all.
Perhaps tomorrow.
After that I took off for a drive but soon gave up because of the snow. Pretty heavy. So I parked up here in front of the hotel, so little going on its closed! Over Easter? Thought I'd see if the connection that I knew was there, was good enough to allow a post. So here we are. Post this now and update tonight.
​Heading for Sortland tomorrow.
After posting I went back down to the Marina as while I was playing about with the blog, it had stopped snowing and the sun had come out. The result is the image below. I think from it one can see that it definitely that time of year. Do a quick check and you will find they are paired off exactly. Either both on the nest or the one close by. The two on the right in the centre of the image are either still thinking about it, sulking or waiting for the weather to change?

PPR-16 10.04
Start: 07:30 Finish: 18:15
Total km., 135,8  for day
Great, quiet sleep, then into Ramberg to the site I stayed at for the whole period here last year and say hello to the folks that run it.
Tootled around and ID'd some images I want to make on the way out tomorrow before moving on. 
Camped at N68°05'01" E13°11'19" great but hell of a wind going through the gap.

PPR-17 11.04
Start: 08:00 Finish: 19:00
Total km., for day: forgot to take a note, probably about 30
This will probably be my last chance for a week to get a good enough connection to post.
Did my Easter shopping in Ramberg as from tonight I'll be as far away from civilisation  as possible until after Easter. They include Thursday in the holiday period here.

So HAPPY EASTER to all who read, especially family,friends, and doubtfuls'
Take care everyone.