Northern Lights Norway September 2021

Tricky

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So with my 60th Birthday fast approaching my wife surprised me by booking two nights in Lodge/Cabin accommodation at Leknes on the Lofoten Islands.

We packed up our Camper Van and headed north. :)

We booked the Harwich to the Hook Ferry on Saturday 11th which would give us 5 driving days to reach our destination.

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Overnighting near Onsabruck we then headed the next day for the Puttgarden - Rødby Ferry.

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As we needed to get north rather sharpish I choose to go via Sweden which is a faster route.

Campsite near Helsingborg Sweden.

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Parked up near Jonkoping. The weather was pretty good. :thumb2

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We found this little place on booking.com and had it all to ourselves!

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Another nice day weather wise beckoned (which did make me wish we had come on the bike...)

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Lappland. :beerjug:

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Wild camp sunset near Arjeplog. Top Gear (or was it Grand Tour?) did a special from this area in the winter... driving on the lakes covered in ice and snow. A local told us that car manufacturers also use the area in the winter for testing their new vehicles.

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The next morning. Destination Bodo and the Ferry to the Lofotens. :bounce1

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Cold first thing. Minus 3 overnight.

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At the border the guards pointed out an eagle flying over but I wasn't quick enough with the camera to take a pic of it.. :mad:

Welcome to Norway!

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We had booked on the Bodo to Moskenes Ferry which duly departed bang on time. :thumb2

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Like being on a pleasure cruise but minus the awful onboard entertainment and food poisoning. :D

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We checked into our Lodge for two nights and the owner informed us that they had seen the Northern Lights last night and there was a good chance for tonight as well!!

Waiting for it to get dark...

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Bingo... :bounce1:bounce1:bounce1

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We actually hadn't gone expecting to see them but it was a wonderful bonus!!

Sunrise the next morning. Happy Birthday to me. :rob

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I was so delighted and humbled to open this card from my fellow colleagues and associates in the Gnarley Bar.

Each one had signed their name individually. Which was a nice touch. Thanks guys. :thumb2:thumb2

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The Lodge was pretty decent.

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What followed was a chilled out day with plenty of walking around and taking pics of our beautiful location.

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Not a too shabby mode of transport maybe... Kind of in a Dad's Army way. I was expecting to see an Enfield rifle or two poking out of the
port holes :nenau

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A liquid lunch wiped me out however... :beer:

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I'm only a bit jealous, well actually I'm mega jealous.

Me and her were originally planning to go to Norway for a month this year but it'll have to wait until either 2022 or 23 now. Did you have any problems getting into Norway?
 
Fantastic! :thumb2
It’s that trip I’m going to do on my 1150 next year. Very lucky seeing the lights too!m:thumb2
 
Superb. The aurora was spectacular by the looks of it too. Brilliant fishing up there - my halibut awaits for when I can get there. :D
 
Went to Tromsø in February 2009. A great place for exploring the area - a snowmobile in the nearby mountains. So silent, with no light or noise pollution.

Fond memories of the place.

Sad bit was that my father passed away less than 24 hours after our return.
 
I'm only a bit jealous, well actually I'm mega jealous.

Me and her were originally planning to go to Norway for a month this year but it'll have to wait until either 2022 or 23 now. Did you have any problems getting into Norway?

We purchased two Lateral Flow Tests (one pre-depature and one 72 hours before our return Ferry) and a Day 2 (return) PCR test from a company called Chronomics for £100 each.

On our journey North there were Border checks in place between Germany and Denmark, Denmark and Sweden, and Sweden and Norway. They just looked at our passports and checked our double vaccination status. Everything was very relaxed. On our return there were no border checks.
 
Leaving Leknes we drove up the Lofotens heading back to the mainland.

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Coffee stop with cake. :rob

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Back on the mainland at Narvik scene of a major sea and land battle in 1940.

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We found a campsite at Ballengen just south of Narvik.

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That night we were treated to another Light Show. :bounce1

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This one went on for hours...

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I had my headphones on listening to this


:bow:bow:bow:bow:bow:bow
 
Another beautiful day dawned.

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Heading south now.

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This place really is Gods Own Country!! :D

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Crossing the Artic Circle heading south.

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And "Livin the Dream" :D

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Back in Sweden now we found a great campsite near the coast with its own Bistro. :thumb2

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I got the jump on the other guests by being the first customer to order the Kangaroo Steak that evening. :aidan

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Not quite Darwins Arch but nice rock formations all the same!

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Malmo Bridge.

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Home on the Ferry to Harwich. :thumb2

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