1997 bicycle trip

Norway

Finland

wilderness hut

The route:

• flight to Rovaniemi
• by bicycle along Ounasjoki
• Unarijärvi - Maunujärvi - Kaukonen
• Kittilä - Sirkka - Tepasto
• Raattama - Peltovuoma - Enontekiö
• Palojoensuu - Karesuvanto - Haapavaara
• Kalkkoaivi
• hiking to Kutukoski and back to Kalkkoaivi
• by bicycle back to Haapavaara
• Peera - Kilpisjärvi - Norwegian border
• Skibotn - Kåfjorddalen - Guolasjavri
• Kåfjorddalen - Olderdalen - Skjervøy
• by coastliner to Hammerfest (overnight trip)
• by bicycle to Skaidi - Havøysund
• by coastliner to Kjøllefjord
• by bicycle to Mehamn - Gamvik - Mehamn
• by coastliner to Vardø(overnight trip)
• by bicycle to Vadsø
• by coastliner to Kirkenes
• by bicycle to Svanvik - Skogfoss
• hiking to Saimikoia and back
• by bicycle to Hauge
• hiking to Føllvannskoia and back
• by bicycle to Vaggatem - Øvre Pasvik National Park
• hiking to Ellenvannskoia and back
• by bicycle to Vaggatem - Hauge - Skogfoss
• Svanvik - Bjørnevatn - Neiden
• Finnish border - Näätämö - Sevettijärvi
• Kaamanen - Inari - Haapakoski
• Menesjärvi - Karvaselkä - Pokka
• Taatsinseita - Pokka - Nilipirtti
• Kiistala - Pilopirtti - Peurasuvanto
• Sodankylä - Tanhua - Lokka
• Ylä-Harju - Marivaara - Ylä-Harju
• Ruuvaoja - Kuttusoja - Tulpio - Hirvikaltio
• Pöytösvaara - Naruskajoen tammi - Kieppi
• Naruska - Kelloselkä - Salla
• Kallunkijärvi
• hiking to Aihkipetsi and back
• by bicycle to Hautajärvi - Karhujärvi - Joutsijärvi
• Kummunjärvi - Kemijärvi - Vikajärvi
• Rovaniemi
• flight home

Here are some photos (max. 800x600, JPEG):

Some facts:

• total distance: 3.000km
  • thereof gravel roads: 1.000km
• total time: 32 days
  • thereof cycling: 25 days
  • thereof hiking: 4 days

Technical problems:

• loose low-rider
• loose gearwheels (front)
• broken bearing (front hub)
• loose crankbearing
• dry bearing (back hub)

My bicycle has done more than 30.000km now and the bearings obviously have reached the end of their life-span.

Other problems:

• The norwegian coastal route "Hurtigruta" is known to operate daily, but this summer one of the boats has been at the docks. This wouldn't be such a problem if the local ship agent would inform the waiting people that there is no ship today. But obviously that would be too much trouble... The port was Mehamn and the name of the agent is NORCARGO.
• Traveling in northern Finland/Norway after the main season implicates that most campingplaces, hostels etc. are closed. If you like a warm shower once a week, you should better bring it with you...

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