15. 6. 2023 - 69 km / 634 hm Reine - Vestvågøy

At cool temperatures with high humidity we leave the picturesque town of Reine today. The drive along the coast is quite easy and smooth.

During our coffee stop at lunchtime, we are informed by our AirBnB host that he cannot provide his accommodation as requested. What now?? After a few mails and a phone call, we cancel the reservation and find a new place to stay barely 100 meters away. The support of AirBnB is great and the owner is also obliging, we get within a short time the assurance that the paid costs will be fully refunded. "Our" new Rorbuer is well equipped, is located directly on the sea with a clear view to the water - what more could you want.

16. 6. 2023 - 68 km / 520 hm Vestvågøy - Henningsvær

In beautiful sunshine we leave our super rorbuer in Lofoten Base Camp and set off for the next stage. In Leknes we strengthen ourselves with a full breakfast. We don't yet realize that today is going to take a lot of effort out of us. After only a few kilometers, the first steep climb takes place and the joy of the following descent quickly disappears. The route runs in a north-easterly direction and an extremely strong breeze blows in our faces. One gets the feeling, one drives directly into a wall! Luckily this section is on a side road with very little traffic. However, crossing the bridges at these wind speeds requires full concentration.

We experience a déjà-vue with Jean-Michel, the Frenchman who keeps us again some company until Henningsvæer. Shortly before the stage finish a second déjà-vue with Ole and Jenny the two Germans, who had dedicated themselves in Henningsvær to their second hobby, climbing.

Scenically, this stage is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful we have experienced so far. The winding road along the sea constantly opens up new, breathtaking views. The color of the sea changes almost seamlessly between azure blue and emerald green.

After the huge forests in the south of Norway, a bare bush landscape with many moors now characterizes the area. It is obvious that after the Arctic Circle we have also crossed the polar forest border. The vegetation is similar to that in the Alps at an altitude between 1500 to 1800 m above sea level.

Crossing bridges - a windy task

Between azure blue and emerald green

Henningsvær - our base for the next 3 days

17. 6. 2023 - „Dolce far niente“ Day #1 in Henningsvær

The day begins for me already at midnight, because for the first time in my life I can see the sun not set at this time. A special moment!

The many stairs of our alternative program on to the Reinebringen a few days ago are still deep in our thigh muscles. Therefore the 3 days of break in Henningsvær come in a good moment.

So we spend the day in the pretty fishing village with sweet idleness. Only the release button of our camera is pressed somewhat more frequently on this day, nevertheless, also the weather shows itself from its best side. With absolutely no wind and lots of sunshine, countless mirror images can be produced.

18. 6. 2023 - „Dolce far niente“ Day #2 in Henningsvær

No, doing nothing again, of course not possible!

With a hike to the "Heiavatnet", a small mountain lake about 190 m above sea level and thus also above Henningsvær we keep our engines going. A short "swim" in the cool lake may not be missing either, how refreshing!

Again we are overwhelmed by a breathtaking view over the coastal landscape around the famous fishing village.

19. 6. 2023 - 60 km / 464 hm Henningsvær - Melbu

In bright sunshine and ideal conditions for cycling, we leave the pretty Henningsvær and continue on the well-known E10 coastal road northward via Kabelvåg to Svolvær. In the harbor coffee shop we enjoy espresso, cappuccino and cinnamon bun. The temperature is now so high that it feels more like being in the south than in the north. The landscape reminds us very much of Switzerland as we know it from Lake Walen or Lake Lucerne. Narrow valleys with steep rock faces left and right, similar to our Churfirsten.

In Vestpollen we leave the bike route and take the main road for once, which saves us 30 extra kilometers to Fiskebøl. There we take the ferry to Melbu, where we stay in an AirBnB apartment without a single coat hook.

Coffee stop in Svolvær

Ferry are always exciting, like here  in Fiskebøl

20. 6. 2023 - 58 km / 293 hm Melbu - Sortland

With yesterday's ferry crossing from Fiskebøl to Melbu, we left Lofoten and have now arrived in Vesterålen. Today's stage takes us to Sortland.  We decide to take the extra 10 km on the side road to avoid the main traffic. A wise idea. The number of vehicles on this 25 km section we can easily count on our hands. The route has little incline, the weather is simply perfect (not too cold, not too hot, little wind and most of all dry). We count most of the altitude meters in the climbs over the high bridges.

The narrow coastal strip in front of the mountain flanks seems to be good agricultural land. But we learn from a local that it is only sparsely used. Here, too, the lion's nest still flourishes in large numbers. It seems that our travel speed is in step with the vegetation development.

As so often in the last weeks we meet fascinating characters with the same geographical destination as us. We learn that "man" can also get to the North Cape on foot. The "crazy man" does not carry his luggage on his back, but pulls it along comfortably in his little wagon since the beginning of the year.

Altitude meters are made over the bridges

"Man" can also walk ...