The First City in Norway-Tromsø

On the way to came to the city centre after I crossed the bridge on the main road, I noticed this is the city and I came to Tromsø!

In general, people say that northern most city is the world is Hammerfest. And I noticed when I was in there, Hammerfest is a kind of city, where about 9,000 inhabitants are living in. Even before get to the city, there was only rocks and hills. The first impression when I got to Hammerfest was that a city which is islated from the world. It is officially city but for me town is much more suitable word to describe about Hammerfest.

But in here in Tromsø, as I told you above the road to city centre after when I cross a bridge (here is rial isolation because it's island) smells in a city. There was a lot of buss, anyway a lot of people!, student, shops which feels like shining that are enough reason to think about here is the city regardless of the function of it. Even inhabitants are about 65,000, which has enough reason to call as a city even though it is small.

Compared to Tokyo (How big is in Tokyo!), here is much more confortable to live because it is not so complicated. For example, in Tromsø, there is a university called University of Tromsø, which of course is the only university in the whole city. On the way to get to here, I asked somebody that "Where is the university?" And everybody understand that he wants to know about the place of university of Tromsø. And they said the direction to get there without any question about the university which I wanted to know. If I have asked same question in Tokyo, most probably people ask me "Which university that you want to go?". I don't know exactly but we have quite a lot of university in central area. It might be 50-100, especially in some university they don't have one campus at one place of the city.

However, if I would say some complaint about Tromsø to call to a city is that there is no train connection from here, even though ferry is the similar function to train but it is not popular to use as we do in Japan. In order to meet somebody in Eastern Europe, I promised to the person that we will meet the station. I felt the same feeling as I wrote about the university because normally in a city there is only one rail station. If I call my friend to meet in Tokyo and I said only that "Will we meet the station?" And my friend probably replied a little bit angry "A what? which station?"

The first night with my host in Tromsø, we talked about the flight to London, which is directly from here to London cost only 500Kr. with bike fee. The day was on 3rd of October and which is good plan to get to London on my birthday!! But I didn't buy it. One reason, even though the tempreture in outside is only 5 degrees more or less but I want to go to Loforten islands, which everybody say "You should go there! It is really beautiful." Seeing is believing. I have no reason to skip it and I got a lot of people who are supposed to meet me in southern part of Norway, that's why I want to continue of my journey. Well if I drop out of this journey to continue to Edniburgh I will take a train or ferry, which seems much more interesting to get there, won't it?

The first day in Tromsø was fine which is only one time in a 2 week according to my host but it is true! Both yesterday and today were cloudy and rain & snow. I feel sometimes like winter comes. I have been to late to travel in this country. Everybody knows.

Warm people is everywhere I really enjoyed to stay with a family from Slovakia, they are living in Tromsø to study and work. My value about student has been little bit changed since I met a lot of people going to school after they got married. How family is warm!

Yuji @ University of Tromsø, Norway

PS. I saw some polar light the day before to came Tromsø which was not the same light that I thought so. Even so, I kept outside for half an hour to see the dance in the sky!!

Possibility

Since my right leg has started to hurt I have to take some rest to stretch to keep up to the top! It sounds like tough, in some part it is but it is possible.
I threw a lot of things that I have kept on the way to have light bike at Alta, that is why I can still possible to keep ride on my bike.

At Alta, one of the biggest city in Northern Norway, I met an old couple who hosted me for two nights when I rest on a bus stop in the town. As the same thing that I have experienced before left their home they told me that "Do you want to take a ferry from here to Tromsø? I will pay." Interestingly, the former host at Hammerfest, he also told me that "Do you want to take a ferry from here to Alta instead of going by bike in the rainny day!" To tell the truth, I couldn't make an conclusion by myself because I wanted to go by bike wherever I can especially in northern Norway the view is so nice and a lot of place to worth visiting. At the last part of my host at Alta she tried to give some money to keep continue of my journey. I have no reason to refuse but I hesitate to take it because I can use money either which I have or from my parents if I really need it. But at the same time I am tired to make a reason to refuse of it with some problem of English. Finally I took the money which she gave me, it will work for nearly one week of my journey. People are kind in Norway I felt or I would say in country side as far as I know(I haven't visited so called big city yet.)

Even I refused there offer my leg has been still hurted and I am very slow. At this moment I am keep more or less 50km per day, that is the sustainable distance for my journey. Few days ago when I was on the very fine autum day in Norway. I visited a husky farm to see how it looks like. They are used for husky race in winter season and I told two tips from the farm. One is about northern light. The sun is going down to horizen at 7-8 o'clock in here. I heard from somebody that in northern Norway the sun going one hours faster in every week. I am not sure if it is true but I am sure that the sun going down very very earlier than before. According to an information from the girl at husky farm that she told me she watched some northern light in two days before the day! Most probably I was sleeping in the tent!! And the another good tip was about greciar called Øksfjordjøkelen which can see from the road about 8 km from the main road. So I thought when I was there I can see northern light above the greciar! That would be so nice! So I finally decided to visit greciar how it looks like. Surely, I could see that greciar which is only greciar connected to fjord in Europe as I heard before and was really nice! To be able to get to the closest point of greciar I had to walk for three hours from the parking place. The day was so fine and I left my rain proof for my tent with my bike. After 1 hour have passed since I started from the parking place I put my tent hopeing that I can see northern light at evening. Unfortunately, rain has started in the middle of the night and everything that I had at that time has started to wet. The rain kept continue to the early morning I couldn' sleep well at that night because I felt cold. Even though rain has continued to in the morning, the weather seemed be fine especially above the greciar and I finally decided to approach it. Two hours later from the place where I put up my tent, I could get to the greciar! It was the first greciar of my life and was really beautiful!! The pass was a little bit slippy but it managed to get! After taking some pictures I left there with very fine heart.

That's why I haven't seen any northern light in my life at the moment. Even last night there were several stars in the sky and I tried to watch in the sky from my tent, which means I was our from my tent of my half body and at the same time the rest of half inside to get warm. I woak up two-three times at night but I couldn't see at all. That why I need a time to sleep in this afternoon actually. Anyway, today is very fine day and hopefully that I can see some northern light in this night.

The thing that I want to say something about for my journey is that I am still keep continue on my way to Tromsø and Lofoten and then to take a ferry to Bodø. I am pretty not sure if this is the last part of my bike or not. But before watching northern light somewhere in northern norway I have enough reason to stay here even though it will take a long time, that is the thing what I am really looking forward to watching.

The weather decided the performance of my journey which I thought I had already known but especially in Norway, having a lot of rain I feel like really that true!!

My journey will continue to Edinburgh.

Yuji @Storslett

PS. Happy Birthday to my father on 26th of Sept. !!

Time is Money

Since I got the first snow in northern Norway, I am wondering if I take either by bus, ferry or hitchhike to down to Oslo. Especially the weather is not good in this area. If rain or snow comes I might get sick or feel frozen.

It has been almost frozen tempreture at night in Finmark. Even in the daytime it is shifting around 5-10 degrees which means very cold! When I was from top of the hill before 30 km to Alta, I was afraid if I fell down in to the ground because of the frozen road. It is possible to pass but it is not safe at the same time!

In addition at this moment my right knee has started to pain again. Considering the road in Norway of up and down hill, it might be get worse if I go by heavy bike. In order to continue of my journey on my bike it is better if I ask for a doctor or (I would say and) reduce my luggege which has been put of my bike, which is 30km altogether.
The possibility from here to get to Oslo is firstly by ferry. There is a good connection by ferry along the coast. It is used to going back and force between Bergen and Kirkenes as a walk for the people who living between those cities but nowadays it is used mainly for the tourist to go to cities between the two. Alta is located northern part of norway about 400 km from Kirkenes. That is the first option which I have to southern norway.

The second possibility going down to south is by buss. There is a lot of buss connection between small cities. Especially in northern norway there is no train connection. To be able to ride on a train to south I have to manage nearly at Trondheim. And also I can go to Sweden from Narvik, which is about 400km from here to south.

The last option what I can come out at the moment by hitch hike. But the problem is that I have a bike. If I am alone with a little luggege it might be possible to find a person who carry me to south but if I have heavy bike it might not be possible to find the person. But nobody knows what willl happens before trying to do it.

When I met a person on the way, I normally say that "I am from Japan and traveling by bike from Istanbul to Edinburgh in Scotland." But when I back to my aim for this journey I don't have to go all the way by bike. Of course, I am happy if I go all the way by bike but sometimes especially after my journey is getting longer and longer and have some pain from my knee I feel like that I want to finish somewhere going by bike. Of course, it might be possible all the way go by bike from here to southern part of Norway but it will be one or two month I needed and it means that I don't have enough time to stay in UK. (I am not sure how long do I need but at least few month) To tell the truth, I am little bit tired to be in a situation that I am doing at this moment. Especially, I noticed that when I piched up a bottle from the ground at somewhere on the road in Norway "What I am doing in here? Is that the thing that I am really want to do to use in a year of from my school ?"

Time is money. I want to get to UK as soon as possible.

Yuji @ Alta, Finmark, Norway

Chain at Hammerfest

Since that I have decide that I am not going to use couchsurfing quite often as I'v been, which is an internet site that gave you an accomerdation to stay for couple of days, I am trying to find a place to stay without any appointment before.

The first day at Hammerfest was rain. I thought that it is possible to ask somebody that allowed me to stay overnight. After sunset, I started to visit a house which was lighting. Before asking to each house, I have decided that I am going to ask only for three times a day. Otherwise I thought that I might be get confusing or feel like guilty.

At the first house, I pushed a bell in the house. Even me, I hurried a little bit because I haven't any appointment before and that was my first time to ask somebody that can host me or not.
When the door opened I said "Good evening! I am traveling by bicycle throught the Europe. Today it has been raining and I need a place to sleep. Would you gave me a place to stay for overnight? " The man who opened the door was very gentle and he said "Oh, I really want to host you for one night but my wife had cought a pig flu. So I don't want to recommend you to stay here. Otherwise you might get cold as well. " I paled and said "That's too bad and even I don't have to stay here. Thank you very much for your hospitality. " Then I tried to close the door. But he said again "Do you have money? I will give some money and food if needed. " Then I said that "No! I have money and have some foods I just wanted to talk with you. Good-bye " I was closed the door.
And I decided to continue to it. "Good eveing! .... " The second time was not good because the woman who opend the door was afraid of me even she couldn't door openly and soon she closed the door.
The third trial was to a man who is outside of his house. I asked him that as I did firstly but he said "Not necessary. I will show you a place for camping. "

What I felt from the experience was that it is not a good idea to ask for a person who can host me for one night at evening especially in a city. Hammerfest is not a big city. The total population in the city is less than 10,000 people. However, a lot of people from Africa as well as Asia either to work or refugees. Not every body to opend for those people including me and I thought that some people would feel like bad as I experienced second trial.
The night was very cold and rainy even I couldn't sleep well in the middle of the city.

The next day in yesterday in the mornig after I repaired my flat tire, I met a person who is from Germany in the city library. He is also traveling by bike from Germany through the scandinavian countries. After we talked for half an hour we decided that we are going to stay toghether. He was supposed to left from Hammerfest at the next day to Honningsvag to going up to north cape by ferry. He has a bicycle but he normally use either by bus or ferry from one city to another. His bicycle is only used for cities. After we made lunch we decided to go to swimming pool to get some hot water. Actually, because of the rain I was really feel cold and I needed to get hot water. Facilities in the swimming pool was inside pool, shower as well as sauna. We really enjoyed to stay there even we had staied for 4-5 hours. In swimming pool I met a old man who lives in Hammerfest. I talked with him in the pool every break for swimming and he said lastly when I go out from the pool. "Will we meet tomorrow at 12 o'clock at city library?" and I said "Of course!" The night I staied with German guy to make a fire and eat some pasta with the water from the Sea. It was very clean and good salt. This morning at 5 am I said good-bye to him and kept continue to sleep at 8 am it was also in the middle of the city without rain.

At 12 o'clock today Imet him at library and talked about something that I have done before as well as this trip. Because of his kind hospitality I decided that I am going to stay his house tonight! I am from here! We in this afternoon went to city by his car to see some beautiful landscape. Actually today it has been very fine day and I am enjoying to stay with. One thing that I want to mention about Hammerfest was that the is gas plant which is connected to tunnel to the main city but I cannot to enter to that place. Only those people who are working in there can allowed to pass the gate. For me, I feel like strange because I can see from the other side of the city how it looks like but I cannot enter. At night time, the gas plant is shining and beautiful but I have no idea to mention about it at this moment.

In these three days, I met a nice people and what I felt from here in addition to that I told you before was that I don't have to ask people if I can stay with thier house or not. And I decided that only when I have a chance to meet local people I will ask then regardless of weather or times, that would be best way not to disturb their private time.
If I were not in the swimming pool I couldn't meet gentleman and I couldn't stay here neither. But before that, if I couldn't meet German guy, I shouldn't go to swimming pool.
Just take their offer with strong reaction will be making something new !!!

Yuji @ Hammerfest,Finmark, Norway

PS. Since I got a fine pictures at Hammerfest, I have no reason to stay here anymore. Most probably I left to Alta tomorrow trying to find something new!!! I love Hammerfest!!

The Junction

I cannot say good-bye without tears, once if I spend for more than three days. When I left from Arnt's place (he hosted me for 6 days), I cannot say thank you to him without tears, even I cannot say anything just because I moved very much for his hospitality, firstly. I have never cried during this journey to say good- bye to someone that was my first time start to cry. I don't know exactly why teras came out from my eyes but I think I feel like alone as well as my gratitude to him. The days to spend his place was special for me even though I haven't noticed before to say good bye to him.

That's why I was a little bit afreaid to say good-bye to Steffen, who he traveled with me about 10 days since we met at Arnt's place. After we left from Arnt's place, we as well as Cristfer, who is also German cyclist stated to go Olderfjord for two days. Because of our lazy sleeping, Cristfer left to there a little bit faster than us. That's why we, I and Steffen kept continue to travel until the Junction, which is the place we were supposed to say good-bye. Steffen as I told you, he is from Germany by bicycle from Trondheim to up to Northcape. After we met Arn't place we went together to the northernmost point in Europe as well as Nordkapp. Yesterday, we know each other that we were going to go to different way according to each shcedule. He is going back his home from Alta and I wanted to go to Hammerfest. In the morning, it was normal day as we are keep continuing on our jounery but when we get to the junction we got what we were doing. I thought that I must say something to him because he helped me quite. But I couldn't say anything that I thought because if I say something about to him I would most probably start to cry. Since I did to Arnt, I didn't want to cry again or smiling at last. Without anything special to him, I regret that I didn't say to him a lot because after we headed for each ways, I started to cry. So, this time I will write something that I wanted to say him.

Dear Steffen

I am happy to meet you!
I am happy to travel with you in northernmost point in Europe as well as the last part of your trip!
I am happy that every morning when we ate something that you said "You can take my bowl if you want! "
I am happy that I can continue of my journey with your neck warmer & sox.
I am happy to stay with you at one tent to share our culture!
I am happy to meet you!

I feel sad that we are not traveling anymore.
But I hope that we can meet again somewhere in the world.

I am happy to meet you.

good-bye & take care on your rest of journey.

Yuji @ Hammerfest, Finmark, Norway

PS. I cannot write everything without tears....not bad!!

North Cape

Since I am very comfortable to stay in Arnt's place as well as bad weather for the day that I wanted to leave, I have been staying for 6 night already. Hopefully that I am leave for to day to either Alta or Hammerfest with Steffen, the guy that we went toghther to going up to the northernmost point in Europe. In addition to up to the northernmost point in Europe, we & a couple from Israel went up to the north cape yesterday by car from Honningsvag, which is located 30 km south from the north cape.

It was very very fast go by car because the road which we took from Honningsvag was the same one that we have already go by bike. And even, there is no other route to get there except for that route that we took already. We took only for half an hour to get the place that we wanted to park the car because normally when we get to north cape we should pay about 250Kr.(30 Euro) per person to get there. Not only we but also my host thought that it was unfair to pay only we want to get in the point because it was just the place. That's why we started to go by walk to get the point from the other side of north cape. And even in north cape there was no fence or gate to get inside of the place.

To tell the truth, I felt in the North Cape that there is a only place that people, I would say tourist want to go. Of course, the cape has beautiful criff and worth visiting for those people who want to see some beautiful northern Norway. In addition to that the reason why I couldn't feel like special was that I am used to going by bike instead by car. Probably, I am always take my bike to go to every place that I want to go. Even I felt like it was easy to go and comfortable but for me I thought or expected that I should go harder when I go up to the North Cape. Or more than that go to the cape, I am enjoying to ride on my bike to going up to the hard place especially if the route is steep pass. Actually, few days ago when we get to the northernmost point in Europe I was very happy on the way back from the place that we left our bike after we finished hiking from the northernmost point. Because the weather was very fine and even we could see sun set without cloud, that's why that cycling must be one of the memory in Northenmorst part in Norway.

On the way back from the North Cape, we visited the suvenior shop that we have already tried to get in by bicycle few days ago. When we were in there go by bike, the shopkeeper wave his hand from the other side of road in his house. We didn't know the reason why he wave his hand negatively but we thought that we didn't want to go out from his house to be able to see something that to two cyclist that he didn't know if we buy something or nor. Actually, we didn't know about that we want to buy something from the shop but at the same time we also felt that it was unfair not to try to sell to us just beacuse of cyclist. At that time, I felt that I didn't want to make any trouble with him if I enter to the shop because it was open. So we left there without any trouble with him.
Then, yesterday we came back to the same place without bicycle and he came from his house instead waving his hands. Actually, there were a lot of suvenior that worth watching especially it is made as a traditional thing that wa related to Sami. The shopkeeper was actually the same guy that wave his hand to us. It doesn't matter for me if he is the person or not. But for Steffen he was tried to ask him "why didn't you come to us to be able to see something in the shop?" after few second he said something like that we expected. After that he also said to him that "We might buy something from here if we find something that we wanted to buy. You should open to everybody those person that might want to buy something from here." He didn't say anything like "I am sorry or anything that apologize that he have done."
During that the one moment, I was really feel like bad because I thought that it might be feel like bad if we ask him the reason why he wave his hand to us. I thought that 99% of the reason why he did do was that just because he thought that we were not going to buy anything from the shop as I told you before. So, I said after that we were out from the shop to him. "Why did you ask him?" I thought that it was a lettle bit crazy to ask him the reason why he did do so. And he, steffen said to me, "Of course we know about 99% but I thought it might another reason not to try to sell us. And even I wanted to say that we might buy something from the shop. Not every cyclist that is the same that want not to buy anything from his shop."
Even I understand what he wanted to make clear but for me I really feel like bad because it was really clear that we were going to bad situation after asking him the reason why he have done.
What I felt from that evperience was that people in Japan or I am the person who want to know about the person without language. We normally think about what this guy not only just for him but also for everybody who I meet thinking about at this momnent without language, it is face or atmosphere or I am not sure why Japanese people or me trying to do it normally. Of course, sometimes that I really want to know or if I couldn't understand the situation, I will ask him/her. Even sometimes I didn't ask them otherwise it might be worse the situation.
I don't think that not every Japanese people have the same feeling that I felt but I thought that is one of the reason why Japanese peolpe couldn't learn in English very fast.
Speaking is important but if there is two persons, politics will start!!

Yuji @ the last day at Sarnas, Finmark, Norway

PS.
Lastly, I really want to say thank you for our host, "Thank you !! Mr. Arnt at Sarnas for quite a long time with big heart!!" . I expected that I was going to stay in here for only two nights but actually I stayed for extra four nights. I met people from Poland, Israel, Slovenia, Germany, Finland as well as our great host in Norway. To stay with that international environment must be one of another good experinece in Northernmost City in Europe.

Northernmost point in Europe

I met Steffen who is from Germany we decided to go to northernmost point in Europe.

We took a bike from Hanningsburge where is 30 km south from Nordkapp. In the afternoon of that day, (actually it was three days ago) we started to go to the northernmost point instead of north cape. The point is very close to the north cape. When people try to get there, they need to start to walk from 7 km from northcape and then to walk for 3 hours. The day we were very tired because the day before we couldn't sleep well to talk with him as well as a couple from Poland.

We started to walk from that point at 4pm and then to walk to the camping place which we heard from Polish couple because it is the place that it is good to put a tent. We met a one couple from Germany they were worried about us because it was too late and especially when we said that we are going to sleep in a tent they said "What ? There is only stones and wet !" We felt that it was very strange and conservative. After few second, we also met two guys from Poland. One of them I don't know why but the guy have a round thing. Then we asked him "what is that one?" But he couldn't say anything. After him the another guy followed and said " We got a metal from northernmost point in Europe". And we thought again that what is the strange guy quite a lot on the way! But that was the last group who we mat during the whole trip to northernmost point.

On our first plan was to get to the northermost point but we couldn't and it was too late. So we decided to stay the place that we found near the coast that we heard from Polish couple, who had already passed of that way. We checked the weather for tomorrow that was supposed to fine. After putting on our tent we soonly started to sleep hoping for the weather.

The next day, yesterday, the weather was very fine as we expected! We wake up at 10 am , it was a little bit late and started make for a walk to northernmost point in Europe. We get there in 30 minutes from the camping place and we finally get there! The place was quiet and nothing especially but it was suitable for that place different from rial noth cape, I guess there should be a tourist place. I felt that I couldn't go farther anymore. Generally, I all the way came up to here from Islanbul to north more or less, but the way going up to north was end in yesterday. From now on I am going down to south even though latitude is quite high for these one month. One thing that I noticed on the way back from the point was that the sun is getting faster to set. I am not sure actual time when the sun going down to the horizen but I think it is before 8 pm.

Even though we couldn't have enough time to go to north cape but for me it was tortally OK because firstly I don't like so much of touristic place. Moreover north cape is not rial northernmost point. And I was really feel like good to hike the point even thouth I though people who want to take there, they must be strabge!

Sunny Day in Norway!

Two days have passed since I came to here in Norway!
I will try to write something about the first impression in Norway from now on. Every countries where I have passed was that the first week, especially first day is really important and find a lot of differences between the country which I was in before the day, for example in this case in Finland.

What I noticed during the two days was that, firstly people are quite open to foreinger, that is easy to travel as well as communicate with local people, normally they can speak English as I felt in Finland even though they are older generations. Secondly, the view was really really beautiful, there are quite a lot of mountains different from Finland, actually I was a little bit bored since I spent for over one month in Finland with a lot of forest except for reindeer! Thirdly, if I forced to say something, the girls are more beautiful than Finland especially in a little girl! In addition those notification, the Norwagian language is quite similar to English, which seems easy to learn especially Finnish is regarded as one of the hardest language to learn. The sound from radio sometimes I thought even English!

People in Scandinavian both Finland and Norway, they can easily understand that I am from Japan. Before then I sometimes be thought that I am from China or Thailand, even still I sometimes asked from someone that "Are you from Thailand?" especially I am still a little bit burned my skin and basically my skin is a little bit dark as a Japanese. When I was in Finland I asked in a shop was that "Hello! (in Thailand)" I forgot the word. But the woman thought that I am from Thailand. Actually, a lot of people from ASEAN countries to Finland in order to work as a farmland and something like that, that's why she thought that I am from Thailand. However, basically people who I met during the journey they said "Are you from Japan?" even some people ask me "Are you from Japan by bicycle ?" with a little joke, I thought a lot of people traveling in scandinavian countries. Surely, people are used to meeting people from Japan.

I came up from the border to up to here in the sea, that was only 70km or so, but those beautiful mountains has started after I stopped Karasjok, that was the first stop in Norway. We, in Japan have also a lot of mountains but our mountains are mostly in the village and middle part of land. Wheres the mountains which I saw yesterday as well as today were very close to the sea, that was one of the feature of the land making fijord, or I would say rock without grass!

I am supposed to stay in Norway in the middle of October. In Finland, I couldn't have a time to catch a salmon from a river but I hopefull I can catch some fishes from the sea. It is free to try do fishing, anyway. In addition to that attraction, I wanna watch some northern light even though midnight sun has already gone!

Yuji @ Lakselv, Norway

PS. Right now, I am going up to farther north ! In these two days, the weather has been perfect! Not only just for sun shine but also wind is my supporter!

From Euro to Krone

The last day of Finland, I ate finally the meat of reindeer with potatos that was very soft and tasty even though I have tried to vegetalian! But I think it is not bad to eat meat for cycling!

Today, I cross a border to Norway, that is the country which neither haven't used Euro nor non-EU member! To tell the truth, nothing have been changed from Lapland to Finmmark, that is the name of Northern part of Norway. Trees has started to trun to red, (actually yellow) that was really beautiful and worth visiting! We have still have high tepmreture in a daytime, but it is shifting between 10-15 I cannot go by bike with harf shirts anymore!

The last night as I told you above, I stayed at Karigasniemi, the very small village with a cottage of Matti & with his wife and two lovely dogs! That was really beautiful place and close to a river. Without any car traffic and any noise, that was really really peaceful place and I thought that I want to live that kind of place after I finish my job. Some people may say that slow life seems to be simple but I think that is the best way of life for human being which is surrounded by nature. We, human being are originally from forest and then to make a city in proper place.

Unfortunately, today is the rainy day but Karajoki in Norway is located 20km from the border that is really helphul for me to keep going.

On the way to get here, I met a party who are from Norway and they are making a long journey to South Africa, called cape2 (double cape from Nordkapp to Cape town in S. Africa). The man, Bojor, who I met in Estonia was also making a journey to S. Africa. It is quite common rute for Norwegian?

By the way, I am still wondering either if I take a ferry from Norway to England, I think that connection is from two cities of Norway, Bergen & southern city in Norway (I forgot the name of the city) to Newcastle or trying to down to Sweden, Denmark... from France to Dover. I am still have a time to go either which I take but I probably take a ferry from Norway because of my economy as well as power and at the same time, I want to make a planning for next journey after got to England. If I couldn't enough time to go to Africa by bicycle, I will take a bus or train but at the same time I want to see Russia as well as southern part of Asia for the last part of this journey. Anyway, I am going up to Nordkapp on 7th of Sep. But actually, I am going up to Nordkapp just because it is the northernmost point of Europe. Morover, I am interested in visiting to Hammerfest in white bear city! According to those people who I met during this journey, I will be in a hard life to over the coast to Oslo different from flat Finland but I would be fun in those beautiful senary!

Yuji @ Karajoki, Norway