July 15: Artic Circle Fun!
Woohoo! Who said cold couldn’t be fun? Today’s ride north from Trondheim to Bodo via the Arctic Circle was mainly about putting on some miles, not an easy feat given the speed limits in Norway. But the Arctic Circle Visitor’s Center provided a perfect rest stop and a rare opportunity as well.
Leaving Trondheim this morning my mission was to cover almost 450 miles heading north, putting me that much closer to Nordkapp and giving me time tomorrow and the next day to explore the coastal area south of Bodo and the Lofoton Islands. With the speed limit often only 36, 42, or 48 miles an hour, the trip today was more of an exercise in patience than in endurance.
Despite the fact I was traveling on what would be considered main roads, the ride was still spectacular. I traveled through dozens of tunnels, crossed a multitude of bridges, and was treated to views of more lakes, fjords, and rivers than I could count. The landscape was colored with every possible shade of green – light green meadows, forest green trees, and dark green wildflowers topped in purple.
The further north I headed the cooler the temperatures got. When I saw the sign telling me to be on the lookout for reindeer crossing the street, I knew I must be getting close to the Arctic Circle. After passing the towns of Mosjoen and Moirana, I pulled into the visitor’s center.
I’m not usually the type of person to visit these places. But I couldn’t help being captivated by the dome shaped building with a wide swath of pavers running down the middle of the floor at the exact latitude of the arctic circle: 66°34’. I was also intrigued by the big red post office box, as I had written letters to my children and my support team back home and was waiting to find a place with envelopes and stamps for the US. The friendly staff sold me everything I needed and cheerfully stamped all the envelopes with “Arctic Circle.” How fun!
As I walked back outside to my bike, I was approached by two friendly bikers who wanted to hear all the details regarding how I managed to get my bike to Norway. They asked if they could take a picture of me and my bike with all of us pointing to the Oregon plates and I happily agreed. I’m including the picture here even though my hair is a mess as the guys were just so darn cheerful.
Just two hours later I pulled into Bodo, treating myself to a delicious burger and homemade ice cream topped with caramel popcorn and nuts before checking into my hotel. I am so excited to be in Norway.
