FF2: Filling in the Suburbs

[krigl]

Starting a new trip - from Bardufoss eastwards to Alta. We'll be crossing eastern Troms county, and there's plenty to see.


We've left Setermoen, and Bardufoss lies ahead. Alta is over 400 km away, so it's quite a long drive by my standards when touring.


Picking up a heavy load of Maple Syrup. Pancake lovers in Alta are going to have a field day.


The weather was beautiful as we headed towards Nordkjosbotn, where the E6 meets the E8 that goes to Tromso. Just ahead is where I accidentally plunged into the trees last time.


Sadly, the nice weather didn't last, but at least it's realistic. I doubt they get too many sunny days up here, even in the summer. Nordkjosbotn now lies behind us.








Junction just before Skibotn. The road leads south from Skibotn to northern Finland, where we will be heading in a few sets' time - to the ProMods town of Karesuando, though that's actually just over the border in Sweden.


Skibotn.


Loving all the coastal driving you can do here.


Careful!


Olmmaivaggi - fantastic place. It was at this point that I decided that great scenery like this deserves better lighting, and resolved to do a second trip in the other direction.




There's a 'secret road' heading left just before the tunnel, so I took it.




It's a bit more picturesque than just going through the tunnel, but doesn't lead anywhere. Nice to find, with some great views.








And we're down again, at the other side of the tunnel. A worthy detour!


This is the small town of Storslett, which lies maybe 2/3 of the way from Bardufoss to Alta. You can pick up some jobs here, and indeed I will when it comes to the Karesuando trip.






Leaving Storslett.




We've got a bit of climbing to do before we reach Sekkemo, the last place on this route that's still in Troms. That will have to wait till next time.
Cheers! Krigl

[krigl]

Finishing the trip to Alta in Finnmark today..


No tunnel between Storslett and Sekkemo. You have to go over the mountain!


Perhaps I should have brought oxygen?




Are those... surfers? Probably.




Down the other side.


Sekkemo. Last place in Troms county.








Up we go again. Finnmark lies ahead.




This guy gave me a wave.


Passed through Langfjordbotn. We're in Finnmark now, and close to Alta.


Soon we're zipping through Talvik. Stopped here to avoid hitting a cat.


Around Kafjord.




And we've reached Alta.


Time to grab a pizza, it seems.


I was so busy taking in the sights, I haven't even touched my chocolates! No wonder I'm hungry.


Like I said in the last set, I was dissatisfied with the lighting on the last trip, with such great scenery all around. So here are a few shots of a journey in the opposite direction I made a few months later in mid-autumn.


Crossing the bridge towards Kafjord.




Sekkemo again. Next time we'll finish the 'autumn highlights' and start a new trip from Storslett down into Finland.
Krigl

[krigl]

Today we're basically faffing around in beautiful Troms County in northern Norway in the autumn, and then starting a new trip from Storslett down to Finland.


Leaving Sekkemo, destination Bardufoss.


Crossing the mountains to Storslett.




Beyond Storslett.


Approaching Olmmnaivaggi.






Near Skibotn, maybe.




Approaching Nordkjosbotn.


The whole area certainly looks grand in the autumn.


Nordkjosbotn. Tromso to the right, Bardufoss to the left.








Approaching Bardufoss.


Journey's end, autumn highlights complete.


Back in the summer again, picking up some Used Plastics in Storslett, destination Karesuando in northern Sweden.


Goodbye to Storslett.


The Storslett - Olmmnaivaggi road... again. Sorry. Last time, I promise.




I think we'll make this our last Christmas paintjob.


A different perspective on Olmmnaivaggi.




Approaching the turnoff at Skibotn.


Here we are, turning onto the southbound E8.


Off to Finland and Sweden we go.
Cheers! Krigl

[krigl]

Two southbound trips today, firstly from Skibotn to Karesuando, and then from Alta towards Kautokeino.




Majestic mountain vistas near the coast.




We've reached the border with Finland.


Still quite mountainous, but it won't last.


A customs post, I guess.


Sooo.... 'Reindeer coffee', eh? Those fermented beans are almost as profitable as crack. Alright, pal, hold out your arms. Let's get the cuffs on.


Approaching Karesuando now. I still remember my surprise at finding it was not a northern Finnish town, but a Swedish one.


Here we are: Karesuando, cradle of Laestadianism.


Sweden, this way.


Blaady 'ell, it's still bleedin' August.
They start earlier every year, don't they?
Ohww yes, yes, that they do. Ought to be a law against it, innit?
Shouldn't there just? First snow's not till September and they're already starting.
Yess, yess.


And we're in Sweden.


Alright, let's park up and do the necessaries. Devoured a wrap loaded with pickled herring, and then it was time to teleport...


...back to Alta in Finnmark. Alta is quite a large town, but we're not going to tour it yet. Instead, we're going to head down south once more to another place I visited at the end of the northern Finland tour: Kautokeino. First we'll get rid of these Christmas decorations, replace the paintjob with our 'company livery' and pick up a company trailer from our local Truck HQ.


Yep, we be stylin'.


Used Plastics again, I believe. They're supposed to be going to Kemijarvi, but I'm not going that far - go a tour to do, dammit.


Heading out of Alta.


Bromance is in the air.






Alta Strand... Alta Beach?? Brrrr...


Alta has a connection with Kautokeino, actually. Two Sami Laestadian rebels who revolted in Kautokeino in 1852 were beheaded in Alta and their skulls were sent to the University of Oslo's Skull Collection until 1985, when Sami activists got the university to hand them over and eventually got them a decent burial. 'But we wanted them for Khorne", wailed the Vice Dean.






Started feeling a bit tired...


...so pulled into this forest rest stop for a bit. The journey continues next time.
Cheers! Krigl

[krigl]

Driving down to Kautokeino today.




Scenic scenery coming up!










Seems like the coastal regions of Norway don't have a monopoly on photogenic places.




What on earth is that?


Something is on fire. Something.


I'm going to get to the bottom of this. There's no smoke without fire. You mark my words.


Approaching Kautokeino.






Here we are. Used Plastics, anyone? That's the Sami flag flying there, by the way.










The Co-op said they'd take them.




Had a sandwich while waiting to start my next job.


We're supposed to be taking some ore from the quarry at nearby Bidjovagge to Lakselv via Karasjok.


Ditched the trailer, of course.




The quarry lies ahead. We journey to Karasjok next time.
Cheers! Krigl

[krigl]

There are two routes one can take if one wishes to cross ProMods' Finnmark from the west to Kirkenes in the east - the coastal route from Alta, and the inland, southern route from Kautokeino. We're going to make a start on the latter one today.


At the Bidjovagge quarry near Kautokeino, picking up a cargo of ore. Hitching this one up to the 5th wheel might prove tricky...


We managed it.


On the way back to Kautokeino, looking ore-some.




Goodbye to this nice little town.


Busy little town, too.


The fire is still raging. Shame there are no sources of water nearby that would aid in putting it out.


Oh. Well. Hmm. Maybe it's a sodium hydride fire? Very nasty, those are.


Small village coming up.




Collided with a car in just a moment, didn't get a pic. Reckless overtaking by the AI again.


Another river crossing before the wildflower-filled village of Jergul.






Roadworks as we near Karasjok.




Ah yes, Karasjok's the town with the wonderful tawny golden bushes.


We're just passing through today before turning north to drive to Lakselv, which lies on the coast.


There should be a barrier above that slope, it's not the first time I've seen a car that's skidded off right here.


We'll return here after visiting Lakselv.


Tana bru is the final destination of this leg of the tour. Kirkenes lies beyond, but we'll save that till the coastal section.


Agrotourists at Karasjok's Reindeer Husbandry Centre*. They will view the manufacture of traditional reindeer products like sisna (leather treated with tree bark) and hide, items made from reindeer bone. They will also have the opportunity to try reindeer meat products, and learn about how reindeer are herded and cared for, as well as Sami customs.


Ohhhh... so that's what it means. I thought... Never mind. Do you think they have a cafe?


Karasjok is now behind us, and we're driving north to Lakselv.


It's an amazingly colourful drive and destination, but that will have to wait till next time.

(*I made up the Reindeer Centre - wouldn't like to cause confusion. However, Karasjok is a centre of Sami culture and you can go there to experience reindeer feeding/calving and the local food and culture. Sounds pretty cool.)

Cheers! Krigl

[krigl]

Simple but beautiful trip this time through ProMods' northern Norway - from Karasjok up to Lakselv.


Just north of Karasjok.


The guards here are vigilant.


Probably shouldn't be photographing those golf balls.






Restrictions no longer apply.






Entering Lakselv.




I'm wondering if this region is meant to be in autumn, rather like part of PM's Iceland lies under perpetual snow, or if the local trees really have this colour in the summer.


No need for that side-eye. How about standing a little to the left?


Lakselv is a breathtakingly lovely place. It lies on the 'northern route' between Alta and Lebesby, and below Honnigsvag and the Nordkapp, so we'll be back here again in a few sets.








Should we drop off our cargo at this reindeer farm?




Sure, why not.


What an ore-full thing to do. Teleporting back to Karasjok now.


Filling up at Karasjok's local Circle K.


Can't believe they're still... wait a mo, that car was red when we passed it yesterday, wasn't it?


Well, anyway, picked up this cistern filled up with 'wheat'. I didn't know you could carry grain in such a trailer, but I gues you can.


Time to leave town.


Heyyyy....??!!


Shaking my head ruefully as we take our leave of Karasjok and head eastwards once more to another place we visited when touring northern Finland - Utsjoki. Next time.
Krigl

[krigl]

Today our journey eastwards through Finnmark takes us to Utsjoki (Finland) to the end of this leg in Tana bru (back in Norway).


Passing the colourful waterfront houses of Karasjok.




The E6 follows the Karasjohka river all the way to our destination.


This means a lot of fun twists and turns.




Twists and turns are also a little tiring, so we stopped off to take a break.


Got out and had a little walk, during which I found there was no way out of the layby on the other side: we were going to have to turn around in this relatively narrow space. Turned out okay in the end.


Crossing one of several tributaries to the Karasjohka.




And there's Utsjoki on the other bank.


Utsjoki is in Finland, and it's the last Finnish place on this tour.


Stopped at the border kiosk.


They want my wheat? Perhaps.


Perhaps will just have to be good enough.


It's for the reindeer, mate. Bye-ee!


''Yes?''


Utsjoki is quite a small place, but it does have two jobsites, a hotel, and a fuel vendor.


I put Uulan saasto into Google translate and it said 'Filipino detected'. Apparently in Filipino this means ''It will rain soon''. After changing Filipino to the slightly more likely Finnish option, I obtained ''Uula pollution''. Uuuuuuuullllllaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!


The chances of anything coming from Mars is a million to one, they said. In any case, my plan was to head for the second local jobsite (farm) and perhaps pick up something to haul just a little way along the road to Tana bru, but I missed the turning and instead found myself on another 'secret road' heading eastwards on the other side of the river to the E6.


The road is the 970, named Nuorgamintie, and it took us into Norway, whereupon it became the un-named 895.




There's Tana bru in the distance. Both the village, and the bridge after which it is named.




The 895 meets the E6 at the tiny village of Skiippagurra, which could almost be a place in Australia. Today we're going left.


Caravan park by the river Tana.


A photographer concentrates fiendishly as we cross the bridge. Next time we'll briefly check out part of Tana bru and the E6 back to Utsjoki, and then teleport back to Alta to start the next section of the tour.
Cheers! Krigl

[krigl]

This time we visit Tana bru, Utsjoki and Alta, and meet some of the locals...


Crossing the Tana bru to Tana bru. Sounds to my non-Norwegian ears a bit like a craft beer, perhaps with a dash of New Nordic pizzazz.


''Can I get a Tana bru?''
''Sure - the Rene Redzepi edition (served with wet hay, sauce of woodruff and a duck egg) or the Kenneth Foong (with extract of tundra-foraged cladonia rangiferina and vinegar dust)?''


Little did I know, however, that Tana bru has a well-deserved reputation as the Funkiest Town in Finnmark.


This unassuming domicile is famed throughout the region for it's veranda parties.


These crazed funkateers were absolutely killing it as we rumbled past, and the bass was almost shakin' the roof off that mutha.


I likes me a bit o' funk now and again, so we pulled up to watch. Them guys sho' nuff got MOVES.


''Yes?''


Alright, alright, I know I'm not hip enough to crash your little soiree.


The journey back to Utsjoki was uneventful, my head still buzzing. If this day gets any funkier, I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to take it.


It would be bad form not to drive the last remaining road, as I doubt we'll make it back. My life would be forever autumn.


So, it's goodbye to Utsjoki and Finland in general.


''Can you fix it, then?''
Back in Alta now, in the far west of Finnmark, and we're almost ready to embark on the eastward coastal section of the tour.


But not quite, as Alta is a large place packed with things to see. Like the local boat shop and this church, which I imagine is a stand-in for the Northern Lights Cathedral. Have to say I like the design of this one too, but the actual cathedral is very cool, nice inside as well.




Some of the roads around Alta take you out into farmland.






Spotted these local lads parked up for an impromptu game of footie. Stopped by to say hello and do my ''Hi, I'm Anni'' Danish pigtailed sweetie thing. Predictably, I was brutally ignored.


''That was offside, dumrian!''


''It farkin' wasn't!''


''No way was it offside, you bunch of tosks.''


It's raining men, hallelujah. I tried to tell them they should all just chill, and go check out the pardy goin' DOWN in Tana bru, but my words fell on deaf ears. Men, huh.


Touring the outskirts a little more.


Backed up a side road to get a shot of this flower-bedecked bridge. Then I heard a roaring noise behind me...


...and a 737 came barrelling past and lifted off into the air at the last possible moment. Actually, there was no roaring noise, it was pretty much silent, but I imagined the sound.


This was a unique opportunity for a runway-side snapshot. I did ask for permission.


They said no, of course, but the main thing is to ask. Off on a short holiday myself soon, might manage to post one more set before I go. We'll be finishing off Alta and then setting out towards Hammerfest.

Arrrgh. Haven't managed to do any trucking these last few days, it's been really hectic, sorry. Will hopefully be back posting again next week on Monday or Tuesday.

Cheers! Krigl

[krigl]

Back in the saddle again after a short holiday. This time we take our leave of Alta and start the first part of our trip along the northernmost and most northerly northern coastal route of northern Norway. You just can't get much northier.


Early February in Valletta, Malta, where I've just been, is about the same temperature as a warm summer's day here in western Finnmark.




Let's go check out the airport and then pick up some cargo from the local marina.










Local suburb.




Off to the marina now.


Looking back at Alta.






Ah, it's that bridge.


Ah, it's that guided missile cruiser. Or whatever it is.


Not every day you pick up a Queen.


Our royal cargo is heading to a marina in Hammerfest for specialised repairs. Killer whales have been sighted off the coast again, and the owner didn't want to risk a sea voyage. Even asked the Hammerfest marina if they could put wheels on it and convert it into a fancy caravan.


It's an elegant and valuable piece of kit, and I orca be careful with it.






So it's farewell to Alta.


I love hauling boats down narrow winding roads. Nothing beats pulling the ridiculously expensive pride and joy of a member of the chattering classes while a 2 km tailback extends behind me filled with fuming drivers gnawing off their own fingers in frustration.




What a landscape!




The journey to Hammerfest will continue next time.
Thanks for looking in! Krigl