Trip report by Rick McCharles

Part 1 of 3

1. Cycling / Hiking Lyngen Alps to Lofoten
2. Cycling / Hiking Arctic Norway ➙ Lofoten
3. Cycling Bodø to Trondheim + Kristiansund & Atlantic Road

Click PLAY or get a glimpse on YouTube.

I flew into Tromsø, Norway summer 2022. BUT Scandinavian Airlines left my bicycle sitting in Heathrow airport for 5 weeks. … And finally sent it back to Canada. ☹️

Making the best of it, I rented bikes in Tromsø and finally travelled by bus down to Lofoten.

I decided to try again summer 2023. And this time my bike and gear did make it to Tromsø.

Hoo hoo.

Cycling the north of Norway was my #1 goal following the pandemic.

Tromsø to Lofoten / Bodo is the most interesting section, for me.

I spent 2 days in Tromsø getting the bike set-up and packing groceries. Then set off south on a Komoot app route I bought from guru Matthew of CycleNorway.com.

So far it’s mostly been the very popular Eurovelo 1 cycling route.

Day 1 — July 1st, 2023

To start I took a 64km detour 😀 to hike Brosmetinden. Beautiful weather. But WINDY.

That night I set up the tent at Grotfjord beach. Free and fantastic. By law you can camp almost anywhere in Norway at no cost.

Day 2 — July 2nd, 2023

I headed for quaint Hillesøya, a short detour off my route.

There’s a steep day hike up Nordkollen that’s interesting. Rope and chain assist.

I stash my bike in the trees for these hikes.

I put the metal to the pedal to make it to a favourite campsite from the previous summer.

Norway is expensive. I rarely eat at restaurants.

Camp cooking is great — but I do prefer having a picnic table.

Day 3 — July 3rd, 2023

Weather forecast was excellent for one of my main highlights of Norway. The Hesten / Segla hike.

I’d climbed Segla in 2022, posting my most experimental and worst VIDEO yet. 😀

Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.

TRIP REPORT

From Segla I cycled south until reaching a tunnel temporarily closed to cyclists. After an hour or so of waiting around, two of us crossed by putting our bikes and gear inside vehicles.

This young German speed demon (140km/day) and I set up our tents at yet another amazing free government campsite called Ersfjordstranda outdoor recreation area.

Day 4 — July 4th, 2023

The great weather continued.

But for reasons unknown, this July Senja island was tortured by big, slow horseflies. I put on my rain suit for protection.

I was waiting for the ferry — FREE for cyclists in Norway — to the next island ➙ Andøya.

Weirdly, I never saw another horse fly. Only Senja island was plagued.

Early evening I came upon this surprisingly modern building.

An ultra modern toilet block. At a push of a button, those windows could be made opaque. Cool.

I decided to set up my tent. It was me and the sheep.

Day 5 — July 5th, 2023

The following day was long and uneventful. No hikes.

The bike and gear working perfectly, my main complaints were muscular soreness in the upper back and neck. I tried to take more short breaks. I’m in no rush.

Andøya is less popular with tourists. The bog better for  peat and cloudberries.

I needed up camping on the beach.

Day 6 — July 6th, 2023

Next morning I caught the ferry to Lofoten.

It was a great start to my trip.

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On one list, Norway is ranked the BEST nation in Europe for multi-day cycling.

I’d agree. But that list is suspect.

So far as I’ve heard from cyclists, France is best set-up. Germany and Austria quickly improving.

Personally, I’d go to Germany next. In addition, Germany is offering a rail pass for tourists ➙ €49 / month for anywhere in the country. You could hop on some trains with a bike.

Travelogue PART 2 is next:

Cycling / Hiking Arctic Norway ➙ Lofoten