July 29, 2024
Day 28: Buknesfjorden to Andenes
Beautiful coast and reindeer
“I think if you are a young person on a budget, that would be the time to cycle in Scandinavia. Even though food is expensive, the free camping is everywhere. Being young you are more willing to rough it out,” Rachel says after we pass a cyclist still camped at the water’s edge. Patrick adds, “yeah we are too soft now.” We’ve done of share of low budget touring, now we treat ourselves when we can.
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The Swiss cyclists that camped at the same place we stayed pass us when we stop to shed jackets. Then just up ahead we see them stopped and looking at something, taking pictures. We catch up and there are two reindeer in the field. It’s only a few more kilometers to the bridge over the Risbysundet inlet to Risovhamn. Yet another one of those high bridges that Rachel dislikes. We don’t see the Swiss again. We opt for the longer scenic route along the western side of the island of Andoya.
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4 months ago
The views are beautiful, the weather perfect with only a slight headwind. The road is mostly flat, the traffic light and still respectful. At Nordmela we stop at a café for coffee. The sandwiches look really good, so we share one and then take another one to go. The next stretch is a long straight road for awhile. We have one big hill after Stave, but it’s not bad. And the second hill we expected, is a short tunnel.
In Bleik, we find a bus stall and eat the take-out sandwich. Sometimes when so close to camp we push instead of taking the time to replenish energy. If we waited to eat at camp we would be starving and also throw off our schedule for eating dinner. "A ferry must have just arrived," Patrick observes as within the last few kms we've seen 5 couples cycle touring.
We arrive just outside of Andenes at about 2pm and enter the camping. The reception is closed until 1600, but we go ahead and find a great spot, just above the beach and with a picnic table. After showering, Patrick walks to the store that is a couple hundred meters around the corner.
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https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/119450-Calluna-vulgaris/browse_photos
Tall green stuff with stringy fringes at each node are horsetails, maybe wood horsetail?
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/118537-Equisetum-sylvaticum/browse_photos
4 months ago
The tent pitched, blue sky, a great view, enjoying a beer sitting at the picnic tablet….life is good. There is a kitchen at the campground where we heat up another frozen dinner for each of us. We are only three kilometers from the ferry that we need to catch tomorrow morning.
Today's ride: 69 km (43 miles)
Total: 1,332 km (827 miles)
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4 months ago
4 months ago