Welcome To Finland and Santa Clause

A day of rest after the midnight sun allowed most of the crew to get plenty of sleep, clean clothes and for me, 3 games of world cup soccer. Off at 6:30am with a long day of travel into Finland.

We arrive at the only real stop for the day, Santa's Workshop. A picture and a small chat was good, but not really much here. It turns out that the location is right on the Arctic circle just like back in Norway. Heaps of stuff to buy but I was surprised that more was targeted towards the Arctic Circle than Santa.

Our first night in Finland was the end of the Viking Olympics. Our last event was dressing up using garbage bags and foil for an alcoholic punch night. Our team dressed up in formal where making a suit for the boys and cocktails dresses for the girls. We won and walk away with a little souvenir bag and a couple of chocolates for winning the Olympics.

Midnight Sun

We travelled all day today so that we could get to the camp site early. Tonight we travel at 9pm up to Nordkapp, which is the highest point in Europe. The sun doesn't set this far up so it will be cool seeing it change directions while still in the sky.

Christina couldn't afford the trip up so everyone chipped in pay for her and keep the whole group together for what is a massive highlight.

We have a few drinks on the bus and arrive at the visitors centre at 11pm. The whole way there, we are hoping the clouds will open up and stop drizzling. A few even went to the extreme of making up a sun dance and song.

The clouds parted for a small period but we could see the sun go to a low point and then start rising again behind the clouds. The group probably scared everyone else off, singing the sun dance song and being pretty out there, oh well, all good.

The bus ride home was funny with the tour leader Maggie getting smashed and a heap of people hitting the drink hard. Sam managed to jar both ankles back at the visitors centre looking for the perfect picture, so he got a bit of sympathy. We arrive back at the camp site around 3:30 ready for a snooze.

Polar Zoo

Off at around 9am to catch a quick ferry. Our first stop is at 11am, at a small harbour town called Narvik that lost 32 different battleships from 5 different nations during World War 2. We stop only for a few minutes before getting back into the bus.

Polar Zoo is next, with heaps of animals I wouldn't see in the zoos back home. The highlight was seeing the bears, it was also cool seeing Rein Deer, Moose, Wolverine, Wolves and Lnyx in a fairly open environment.

Got to the camp site and Australia's first world cup game was on everyone's mind but that would have to wait as we do a polar plunge. The water was absolutely freezing so straight into the sauna to get warm again. Tv's couldn't find the game so we ended up having everyone in room streaming the game over the internet. Not happy with the result as Germany were by far the better team.

After the game, we headed closer to the beach and a little bonfire. We had a talent contest, a team did a 12 days of Scandi song which won, followed by our mimicking of people from the tour having one person in front and another member using there hands. Other teams didn't really try with a celebrity heads and find the cricket ball games. This ended the night for me around midnight for an early start tomorrow.

Arctic Circle

Off at 9am, we missed out on going to the Svartisen Glacier because the road was closed so we went to a lookout point to get a few pictures. Just about everyone went for a walk up a nearby hill through snow and sludge for a bit of fun and a different view for pictures.

We arrive at the edge of the Arctic Circle for lunch, which had a nice big visitors centre. I got my picture taken and a certificate for a bit of fun to say that I have crossed the Arctic Circle. I also got a little moose doll and a bib as props for a picture of people sleeping on the bus, just a bit of fun.

After lunch we had a snow ball fight for a bonus point in the Viking Olympics. Our team won, with 4 remaining members in a knock-out competition to put us equal first in the current standings.

Stop for the night at Tysfjord, where we have a buffet dinner and cancel Sherades so we can watch the England vs USA world cup match. The dinner was Elk in bolognese sauce which wasn't to bad, it matches the Rein Deer and Moose salami's I had yesterday, also firsts.

I had a couple of 400 ml and 600ml beers on tap while watching the soccer, which went down allot better than any can I had been drinking for the last week.

Rock Carvings

Off at 9am, we arrive to some ancient rock carvings mid morning. Believed to be over 6000 years old, I recognised a Rein Deer and a person in a boat paddling. They looked a child had done the pictures with a very basic design. Looking around further, there was what is believed to be remains of camp site, originating from cave people at the time.

A very scenic day, with a few stops for pictures. A beautiful lake where the mountains reflected of the clear water, a waterfall with raging rapids and lunch was in a picnic area next to a lovely little river.

Arrive into the camp site just as the first soccer match of the world cup started. Disappointed that I didn't get to watch either of the games on first day, but I am sure there will be plenty more to see. A quiz ended the night as part of the Viking Olympics and we came an comprehensive second.

Going to Hell

Up at and gone by 9:00am, it is going to be a long day of travel today. A couple of small stops before our first destination of Trondhein. It is famous for the being the historical capital of Norway and the city of the Viking King. Nidaros Cathedral was exceptional from he outside, it has been a work in progress for near 200 years before being finished in 2001. A large amount of statues were what made the outsite so special.

Next stop is Hell, turns out that this place exists and 352 people live there. I got a few postcards back in Trondhein, so you might be one of the lucky few that I sent from this little town. We spent enough time to have a beer and take a few pictures, it turns out I will be doing the same in hell as I do anywhere else.

Arriving at the camp site around 6, we get to play in a knock out soccer tournament. I guess we had an advantage with more boys than others, so I decided I should be goalie and see how it goes. 10 minute games, we won the first game in penalties, 3-1 and moved onto the finals. The final, we had all the play, but a lucky goal put them ahead with only a couple of minutes to go in the second half. I guess I got aggressive and decided I wanted to win. A run down the right setup the equaliser as soon as I changed positions, then a another run and win the game 2-1. Heaps of fun.

Geiranger Fjord

Up nice and early so we can leave at 6:30am, only a few hours sleep does help. Our first stop is at Trollstigen, it's like a goats track for cars and it is known for housing Trolls. We drove up and it is lucky to allow the bus around those corners, it had to have been built for only one car on it at a time.

A couple more picture stops before getting onto our first ferry, it was only a 15 minute trip. Another hour of driving, then onto a small town which hosted our second ferry for the day. The little town was cute, it was right at the end of the Geiranger Fjord. I looked around for half an hour before getting lucky and finding internet access for a small amount of time.

Onto the ferry, very scenic and lasts for about an hour. Everyone were like Japanese tourists taking snap after snap of waterfalls and unbelievable views. It really reminded me of Milford Sound.

We returned to the camp at 3:40 which seemed very early for a bit day, a few naps and quiet time before getting ready for the first official challenge of the Viking Olympics, the sing the next line competition. The team came an honourable 3rd, with “Go For Rowz” getting off to a good start, not missing a song and gained all the points.

Dinner was had and then the second challenge, the suck-a-ton, which involved eating your lollipop the quickest. We came 3rd again and “Go For Rowz” are off to a huge lead now winning the second event also.

Bestie and myself had planned a hike this evening up a mountain next to camp, 8:15pm was to be the start time. The turn out was huge and we left with 15 people in the group. About a half way up, we lost a few and got to the top with 11 people all very happy with there achievements. The view was stunning, seeing the sunset around midnight. It took a good 2 ½ hours to get up, we start walking down to make sure we still have plenty of light for the tricky decent. I lead the steep section with the team, with a slower pace to make no one is in a hurry.

Made it down around a third before I left the team at a run to see if I can catch Bronnie on the internet before she starts work. I made it down the rest of the hill and another 2km back to camp in around 30 minutes. I just missed her by around 3 minutes for her last msn message, I was real disappointed and hurting a fair amount from the rain until Bronnie said hello from her mobile. The end to a enjoyable and fulfilling day.