Day 19: Sommaroy to Senja
89 km and 600 m climbing and 3,3 km kayaking
When I went to bed last night, i made a mental note to wake up at night to check the sky for Northern Light as it is a clear sky. Big failure. I stayed in dreamland rest of the night.
When I woke up and opened my tent, I was surprised by a dense fog. You could hardly see 10 m. Which made the first 8 km to the ferry a special experience. The scenery was completely hidden today.
Brensholmen Ferry
The first boat of the day would run at 10:15. However I was already on location as of 8 o’clock. Due to the Sunday tradition, the nearby shop was closed as well.
So I run up a small hill besides the quai, put my earplugs in and continued with the audiobook ‘The Alchemist ‘ written by Paulo Coelho. While watching how the fog slow but sure reveals more details of the surroundings. And how cars start to form slowly a queue.
And then, out of the gray, there he is, the boat. A kind of Sinterklaas arrival feeling.
As on all Norwegian ferries, i could enter the boat for free being a cyclist.
After 2:15 hours on a foggy hill, i threat myself with a warm coffee and a typical Norwegian waffle with strawberry jam.
Sometimes, a hole in the clouds results in warm sunshine on my face. However, never longer than some minutes before the fog absorbs again the scenery.
Senja
While cycling in the island Senja, the hide and seek play with the lowhanging clouds continues. Around noon, the sun finally wins the game and a convenient 20 c makes the trip a real Sunday afternoon moment.
Senja Camping
There are not many campings in this island. And as I had to make a detour of 80 km to reach the next ferry, there was no other choice than ending the day a Senja Camping. But what a nice location, at the side of a lake!
The season for tents is clearly over, once again I am the only one with a tent. And same a yesterday evening, i attract once again curious other camping guests who want to know more about my trip and background. While sitting in the kitchen room where also the washing area is, I become a kind of an attraction. Resulting in a series of funny conversations.
At the reception, i noticed some paddles of a kayak. And this time I had more luck, all kayaks are available for rent. So I almost run to the lake with a paddle, to embark enthusiasticly for an evening ‘walk’ on the lake at sunset. A tour of 3,5 km crossing the lake, and floating in the middle of the lake watching the sun.
Tomorrow will be special I hope, as I am heading towards a 2 hour ferry which will cross open sea and more important: whale area. The weather forecast predicts sunny weather till around noon, when the boat will leave as well. It’s 50 km from the camping, I hope i will make it.
Tonight, i really have to fix a wake-up call. As all specialized websites announce a high probability at this island to see the northern light. The sky is clear as well. So tonight would be the best chance of the whole trip to witness the magic at the sky. I hope i don’t sleep through the buzzer.
