Polarsykling: We made it!

On the 11th of July, 42 days and 4100 kilometers after pushing off from Kristiansand, we arrived at Norkapp.

Nordkapp, or North Cape in English, is the point farthest north in Europe. There is a large statue on the top of a cliff to mark this distinguished location. The road to the compound is channeled through a gate house where tourists, eager to glimpse the arctic ocean from the cliff edge, fork over $50 per person to gain entrance. We found our way to the iconic podium, enlisted a German couple to take our picture, and sought refuge from the driving wind inside the visitors' center.

While 'Nordkapp' is identified as the northern most point in Europe, there is in fact a spit of land that extends just a little bit farther north, but it is far too small to host the crowds of tourists who arrive in tour buses, on foot, in RV's, cars, and by bike. We took advantage of the fine weather and jogged the 20 kilometers around a bay out to this spit that sticks some 200 meters farther north. We can safely say that this is the farthest north we will be on our trip.

We are headed back south on our way to Bodø, where we will catch a train on the 27th of July to the south of the country. We are happily surprised that the hills we are cycling back over don't seem as bad as we have made them out to be in our minds. As we backtrack, the scenery is familiar for sure, but the vistas, the lighting, and the overall experience is anything but repetitive.